Our mission
A story of the fight against francophone poverty in Greater Vancouver
La Boussole is a charitable organization whose mission is to support Francophones in precarious situations in Greater Vancouver. Through a full range of services and activities, the community center welcomes, supports and guides people according to their needs and facilitates their social integration.
Founded in 1996, La Boussole cultivates the diversity of its community and raises awareness of the challenges some of its members face: poverty, social and/or linguistic isolation, addiction or mental health problems.
Our ambition is to unite the community to help those who need it most while reducing the stigma that weighs them.
Our history
Our values
Respect
Inclusiveness
Solidarity
Integrity
Richard hojjat
Richard moved to the Vancouver area in 2019 after 15 years of directing teams in France and has highly developed managerial skills. With this asset and convinced that human potential and collective intelligence are fundamental drivers of success, he is passionate about organizational development. As a talent catalyst, he naturally identifies with the values of La Boussole and decides to join the team in November 2022 as Executive Director.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KHADIM GUEYE
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Khadim Gueye is responsible for community engagement. After having obtained his license in English Literature in Senegal, his native country, he flew to France and validated a Masters in International Law there. Before arriving at La Boussole, he worked in the Embassy in collaboration with various international organizations in The Hague, and also in the French National Education as a secondary school teacher.
Yann Carpentier is a social worker. He arrived in Vancouver in 2018.
With a solid experience in an emergency shelter in Paris, he decided to put his career in social work on hold. For many years, he devoted himself to his passion for cooking.
He worked as a cook in large houses in Paris, Sydney and Vancouver. Interested by the situation of the Downtown Eastside, he decided to return to his core business and joined the team of La Boussole in September 2022.
yann carpentier
OUTREACH WORKER
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ELIZABETH KORAYA
EMPLOYMENT ADVISOR
Elizabeth Koyara is an employment counsellor for La Boussole at WorkBC in Vancouver.
After studying political science at York University in Toronto, she worked with non-profit organizations in African countries and in a shelter for francophone women. Prior to joining our team, Elizabeth worked as an Employment Counsellor at WorkBC in Chiliwack.
Our team
MARION ROIG
Marion Roig is the Health and Social Programs Manager at La Boussole.
Originally from France, she lived in Quebec City for a year and a half, before chance brought her to the west coast of the country.
She loves: the ocean, reading, cooking and hiking.
She hates: lemon and rain.
SOCIAL AND HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER
Just arrived in Canada and Vancouver, Aurélien takes over the position of Communications and Advocacy Manager, after 7 years spent in communications agencies in Paris.
Big fan of music, theater, sports and human relations, he is delighted to join La Boussole's team and its many projects, each more interesting than the last!
Aurélien Derozier
COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY MANAGER
Yann Carpentier is a social worker. He arrived in Vancouver in 2018.
With a solid experience in an emergency shelter in Paris, he decided to put his career in social work on hold. For many years, he devoted himself to his passion for cooking.
He worked as a cook in large houses in Paris, Sydney and Vancouver. Interested by the situation of the Downtown Eastside, he decided to return to his core business and joined the team of La Boussole in September 2022.
yann carpentier
OUTREACH WORKER
MASSIMO Passalacqua
EMPLOYMENT ADVISOR
Massimo Passalacqua is an employment counselor. He comes from Belgium, where he studied social work. Before arriving in Vancouver, he had the chance to make a living from his passion as a musician.
Nathalie AStruc
Nathalie Astruc is a project coordinator at La Boussole. Originally from La Reunion, she arrived in Vancouver at the end of 2019 after a globe-trotting career and multiple professional lives.
Involved in the arts (music, theater and literature) here and elsewhere, she discovered La Boussole as a volunteer.
CULTURAL AND COMMUNITARY PROGRAM MANAGER
MAKALÉ SIMBA
Makalé is a newcomer to Vancouver.
She used to take care of children with disabilities and loves to exchange and share with people.
She also loves nature and cooking, but her passion is photography: taking the emotion, sharing the expression and engraving it to make beautiful memories.
PEER SUPPORT WORKER
JOSEPH BÉGIN
COMMUNITY HELPER
Born in Canada and originally from the Eastern Townships in Québec, Jo arrived in Vancouver in August 2010.
Jo is passionate about social justice, green economy and everything that contributes to building a better world. he has a colourful personality with the need to share and help empower whoever wants.
He arrived at La Boussole in June 2022 as a beneficiary, then joined the team in September 2022. He provides valuable assistance to the food support program and the eco-solidarity thrift store Ensemble.
Our board of directors
SOPHIE RASQUIN
PRESIDENT
Élody Croullebois
VICE PRESIDENT
SIMON CHICOINE
TREASURER
AURÉLIE FERRERO
SECRETARY
FLORENCE LE DOUJET
MEMBER ADVISOR
Lou-Anne Brocard
ADVISOR
JENNIFER WEST
ADVISOR
Our space
La Boussole has a space in the co-working offices of 312 Main. The community center thus has new equipment in a pleasant and friendly environment.
The proximity to public transport and accessibility for people with reduced mobility makes the space truly inclusive and facilitates our activities.