ASCENSION FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTING HIGH-PERFORMANCE QUEBEC AMATEUR ATHLETES IN THEIR QUESTS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT
ACHIEVING DREAMS TOGETHER
OUR ATHLETES ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR SPORT.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES.
OUR PURPOSE
Ascension Foundation is a volunteer-based non-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting high-performance amateur athletes from Quebec.
Every year, thousands of athletes train full-time… while paying out of pocket to represent Quebec and Canada in competition.
Competitions, equipment, treatment, nutrition, travel — just a few examples of the expenses they must cover. The result: an average annual shortfall of $38,000 for the best among them¹.
And yet, these athletes inspire an entire generation to embrace an active, resilient, and ambitious life.
That’s where Ascension Foundation comes in. We support those who aim for the highest peaks — often the Olympic or Paralympic Games — but who lack the means, the network, or the luxury to wait. Indeed, we help athletes who have to cover over $8,000 in expenses every year just to pursue their passion.
What do we do? We offer financial aid, personalized support, and we rally businesses to provide products and services free of charge or at reduced prices.
All so they can focus on what really matters: training, progressing, and dreaming bigger.
(1) 2019-20 status of the high performance athlete
THE FOUNDATION IN THE MEDIAS
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OUR ATHLETES
Photo credit: Louis Charland
Frédérique Chiasson
Track & Field, Team Quebec, Rouge & Or
Frédérique is a 200m specialist who is authentic, cheerful, and resilient. Curious to discover how far she can go, she moves forward with perseverance, saying yes to opportunities that help her grow. Her versatility and open-mindedness fuel her constant drive to push her limits and inspire others to forge their own path. Through it all, she aims to have a real and human impact beyond sport.
Olivier Desrosiers
Photo credit: FIE
Fencing, Team Canada
Olivier has wielded his sabre with resilience and perseverance for Team Canada on various levels, since 2019. Olivier always brings his combative spirit to his training and work, and places great importance on them. The best feeling in the world for him is rediscovering his love of fencing during every competition.
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Photo credit: Yves Longpré
Myriam Djouaher
Short track speed skating, Team Quebec
Myriam is a competitive and passionate speed skater. Myriam began skating at the age of 7 and moved to Montreal at 15 to pursue her dreams. Her ambitious and unyielding nature extends beyond her skating dreams, as she aspires to study in the healthcare sector and make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Photo credit: Lawsuns
Corinne Fréchette
Rugby, Team Quebec East, Rouge &Or, Club de Rugby de Québec
Corinne is a fierce rugby player across multiple teams. She is a strong believer in team spirit and helps her teammates to excel. She is deeply committed to the sport and aims to contribute to its development within the community. Despite being down-to-earth, she plays with a fire burning inside, giving it her all—no matter the score.
Marc Gélinas
Fencing, Team Canada
Marc is a persevering sabreur on Team Canada who leads by example, strives for self-improvement and never turns down a challenge. His passion for sports, outdoor adventures, technology, nature, music and learning new languages reflects his creativity and hardworking spirit.
Alisson Gobeil
Paraswimming, Team Canada
Alisson is a passionate para-swimmer known for her resilience and unwavering commitment. Persistent and determined, she forged her path to the highest level despite significant challenges, proving nothing is impossible when you put your heart into it. Beyond the medals, Alisson aims to inspire the next generation as a mentor, showing young athletes they too can achieve their dreams.
Photo credit: @photo.graphie.lavie
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Ève Godin
Rugby, Team Quebec East, Rouge et Or, Club de Rugby de Québec, Team Canada U20
Ève is a passionate rugby player who always gives her all — both on and off the field. Determined, focused, and dedicated, she stands out for her strong work ethic and her commitment to giving her best. She deeply cares about the development of her team, as well as the growth of rugby in Quebec and across Canada.
Photo credit: Siuxy Sports
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Sierra Hasse
Rugby, Team Canada U20, Team Quebec West, Carleton Ravens, SABRFC
Sierra is a hard-working athlete with big aspirations for her rugby career. Passionate about empowering women through sport, she believes rugby is a powerful tool for herself and to inspire young girls. While she thrives on the intensity of the game, Sierra equally values the friendships she builds, the bonds she creates, and the joy she finds in every moment.
Kiana Marcil
Olympic boxing, Team Quebec
Kiana is a fighter who has been practicing combat sports since the age of 11. From Brazilian jiu-jitsu to judo, and then to Olympic boxing, she is an exceptional athlete thanks to her ability to learn quickly and her perseverance. She is a thoughtful young woman, oriented toward others and endowed with a strong sense of introspection. Curious by nature, she has a strong interest in psychology, as well as in arts and culture.
Catryana Marcotte
Mountain bike, Team Quebec, Team Siboire QuiRoule
Catryana is a determined and resilient mountain biker who enjoys going off the beaten path, in every sense of the term. Cycling, a family affair, is a passion, thanks to its technical and tactical aspects that allow her to push her limits. Driven by a constant desire to learn that brings new challenges, she finds just as much joy in sharing her knowledge by coaching younger athletes.
Photo credit: Miha Matavz/FIS
Aurélie Moisan
Alpine Snowboard, Team Canada
Aurélie is a passionate snowboarder with a positive, radiant energy, for whom her sport is first and foremost about family and fun. Driven by a desire to push herself, she enjoys stepping outside her comfort zone and challenging her own limits. Fueled by adrenaline in competition, she feels completely free and focused. Beyond performance, Aurélie strongly believes in gender equality in sport, a value that guides her journey.
Grégory Michel
Track and field, Team Quebec, Vert&Or
Grégory started running at the age of 6, inspired by a family deeply rooted in athletics. A 110m hurdles specialist, he stands out for his determination and passion for sport: qualities he brings to his constant pursuit of improvement. As a physiotherapy technologist, he aspires to help people regain their full physical capacity after an injury.
Karen Paquin
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Photo credit: Siuxy Sports
Rugby, Team Canada, Team Quebec East, Club de Rugby de Québec
Karen has played with Team Canada since 2012. She started in rugby sevens, where her speed made waves. Now focused on rugby fifteens, her impressive strength shines through every contact. A role model for young athletes, she shares her passion by coaching the women’s college team at CNDF. Off the field, she loves paddling an ice canoe and enjoying sushi.
Jordan Pierre-Gilles
Short track speed skating, Team Canada
Jordan is an excellent speed skater drawing inspiration from Kobe Bryant's talent and will to win. He is dedicated to hard work, always seeking ways to improve and raising the bar. In his free time, he coaches and mentors young skaters, inspiring them that people of all cultures and backgrounds can achieve success, just like he has.
Marie-Frédérique Poulin
Track and field, Team Quebec
Flag-football, Université Laval
Marie-Frédérique is a passionate athlete who specializes in the 400m hurdles and runs with intensity across multiple events, on top of flag football. She shows great discipline, is unafraid of obstacles, and is a strong advocate for women’s sports. She aims to make a positive impact on the community having completed her studies in public health.
Photo credit: Arianne Bergeron
Sabrina Poulin
Rugby, Team Canada, Team Québec West, TMR Rugby
Sabrina is an amazing rugby player for each and every team she's a part of. She lights up the field with her energy and passion for the game. She is a giver and always eager to help her community. With her remarkable skills, she inspires others who love the sport, and her joyful play makes her stand out as a star athlete. To top it all off, she is a huge help to the Foundation!
IN ACTION !
Olympic boxing
Kiana Marcil
​Hôtel Congrès Le Victorin, Victoriaville
January 16-18
Fencing
Olivier Desrosiers, Marc Gélinas
Salt Lake City, USA
January 23-25
Short track speed skating
Salt Lake City, USA
January 29-February 1
Myriam Djouaher
Track and field
Marie-Frédérique Poulin
Boston, USA
January 30
Calendar subject to change
JOIN US
STAY UPDATED WITH THE FOUNDATION AND ITS ATHLETES
OUR VALUES
THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE US
WHO WE ARE
Sophie Bouchard, M. Sc., CFA
President, CEO and Founder
At a young age, Sophie has always wanted to support amateur athletes in some way. With her ambitious spirit, she took action to fulfill her dream of helping athletes achieve theirs by creating Ascension Foundation.
With a master’s degree in Finance and extensive professional experience, Sophie joined in 2018 a start-up to oversee financial operations. During her five-year tenure, the company grew significantly. She contributed to its growth by managing operations and serving on the executive committee. She was always known for her willingness to help her colleagues with problems and her talent for finding practical solutions.
As a Chartered Financial Analyst, Sophie takes great pride in holding herself to the highest standards of ethical conduct. She believes in upholding the values of honesty and integrity in everything she does!
CONTACT US
Mailing address
3835 Wellington, PO box 103
Verdun, QC
H4G 1V1
