Meet our year-round operations team!
Jacqui & Gabrielle are both heavily involved in the international camping community and leadership development in & outside of that community.
It has been their mission to provide a camp that best serves the emotional well-being of girls and gender minorities.
Camp Ouareau has been family operated for nearly 20 years.
Jacqui Raill
Director - Jacqui’s camp philosophy is building a partnership between parents and camp so that every camper’s experience is positive and unique. Jacqui and her family, became the owners of Ouareau in 2002; they have worked diligently to develop programs and activities while maintaining Ouareau’s traditions. Jacqui’s lifelong camping experience has enabled her to contribute to the international camping world; she has been on the boards of the Quebec Camping Association (ACQ), the Canadian Camping Association (CAA), and the International Camping Fellowship (ICF).
She’s got awards!
In 2009, the Quebec Camping Association awarded Jacqui the Honour Award, which recognizes her exceptional contribution to the camping community and her commitment to Camp Ouareau. In 2019 she was awarded the Ron Johnstone Lifetime Achievement Award, she was the first women in Quebec to receive the award!
Gabrielle Raill
Director - Passionate about girl empowerment, team building, and leadership, Gabz takes the lead in camper development. Always looking for new and interactive ways to engage individual growth and a sense of belonging. As an internationally recognized speaker amongst camp professionals on leadership and training, she is also one of the founders of the Women in Camp Summit and the Thanks to Camp movement.
Also ze awards…
In 2006, the Ontario Camping Association (OCA) honoured Gabz with the Ron & Mickey Johnstone Youth Leadership Award and in 2017 she received the Jack Pearse Award of Honour by the Canadian Camping Association.
Alexane Desbiens
Logistics Coordinator - Having learned English at camp herself, Alexane is always ready to speak with families about our programs and assist them through the registration process and is dedicated to creating a positive customer experience through intentional communication strategies. She is passionate about the positive impact of a camp experience on a young woman’s life and on the importance of learning a second - or third language.
Alexane holds a Master’s Degree in Information Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from McGill University and uses that experience to care for our archives and to share them with our community.
Chany Lapierre
Logistics Coordinator - Having been a camper, CIT, staff, and Leadership Team member at camp from 2008-2018, Chany has returned to Ouareau to support youth in creating a positive community. In charge of our site logistics, she helps run our kitchen and health centre during the summer and works on operational development as well as staff hiring and management throughout the year.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Resource Conservation from the University of British Columbia.
Michaela Hirsch
Development Team Coordinator - Having spent her last 13 summers at Ouareau, Michaela now leads the off-season development team in staff hiring and management. With her unique knowledge of camper needs and staff standards from her experience as both Senior Unit Head and Staff Coordinator on the Leadership Team, Michaela ensures that the team’s work throughout the year will benefit our entire community the following summer.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiology with a Minor in Psychology from McGill University.
Meet our operational consultants
Heidi Turcotte
Organizational Development Coordinator - A great strategist, Heidi brings her business background to support Ouareau in their talent acquisition process, talent management initiatives and their strategic planning. She strongly believes that Ouareau is one of the best companies that helps forge tomorrow’s female leaders in the workforce. Heidi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business as well as a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development.
She has experience as a consultant and now works as an organizational development professional in the pharmaceutical industry.
Natasha Nardozza
Educational Development Coordinator - With a Bachelor’s degree in Education from McGill University, Natasha brings a passion for teaching and learning combined with nearly 10 years of camp experience. Her unique point of view enables staff and CITs to retain and apply the pertinent information.
Stephanie Zipkin
Financial Advisor - Passionate about self-development and the outdoors, Stephanie loves being part of creating a community that promotes a safe, creative and inclusive environment for staff and campers. Being also a candidate for the practice of the CPA profession and currently working at an accounting firm as an auditor, Stephanie brings a financial perspective to camp’s operations in order to optimize camp’s processes.
Let’s not forget Tootsie!
Tootsie is our camp dog! Patient, kind and fluffy, she’s always there for a cuddle and makes sure the squirrels are in order.
Psst… Known as one of Ouareau’s secret weapons, Don Raill, responsible for the restoration and building of all the crazy good majestic infrastructures on camp.