Our lecturers

Alexandre has worked in the field of exercise science for around 20 years, as a physical trainer, group course instructor, and master trainer/teacher. A kinesiologist by training, he is interested in several aspects of physical fitness and has developed specific expertise in training older adults (a clientele he particularly cherishes) and outdoor activities (notably hiking and mountaineering).

A passionate teacher, he never stops sharing his knowledge and is meticulous about staying up to date on the latest scientific data, from which he draws practical and effective applications.

Allison Russell is a YMCA certified personal trainer with over seven years of experience and a Level 1 Agatsu kettlebell coach.

She works exclusively with women, focusing on creating inclusive, empowering fitness spaces. Specializing in size-inclusive fitness, Allison helps clients develop healthy relationships with movement and addresses body image in her sessions.

Through her private studio and online coaching, she promotes strength, mobility, and mental well-being, encouraging movement as a form of self-care. Allison is dedicated to helping women build a lifelong positive relationship with fitness.

Cheryl Gillen has been an instructor with the YMCA for over 35 years, teaching at various centres including Cartierville, Westmount, NDG, Saint-Laurent, and the West Island.

In addition to being a certified Pound® instructor, she has taught a wide range of classes over the years including hi/low aerobics, step, toning, HIIT, circuit, aerobox, stretch and strength,  aquafit, fitness for seniors, just to name a few. Is there anything she cannot do? Come join her for this energizing fun filled event!

Louise is the coordinator of physical activities at the West Island YMCA in Montréal, Québec and is an educator for YMCA Canada. As a consultant, Louise’s projects include the development of the Therapeutic Exercise and Active Living program (YM-YWHA) and the ongoing development of the YMCA Canada Personal Training Certification program.

Louise studied physical education at McGill University and holds a certificate in sports therapy. In her free time, Louise enjoys teaching group fitness classes and networking with other fitness specialists.

Luce Boulianne has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Montréal. She also completed a professional master’s degree in kinesiology, with a specialization in pre/postnatal training.

A lecturer, FIT trainer, and the assistant director, territory operations for the YMCAs of Québec, Luce has also been a private trainer for over 20 years. As a CrossFit amateur athlete and coach, she uses the CrossFit methodology with her clients.

Martin has been working for the YMCA for over 25 years and teaching at the University of Montréal’s School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences since 2001. His kinesiology specializations include training for athletes and non-athletes, fitness assessments, exercise physiology, and the effects of exercise on health.

He is self-employed and works as a trainer for a diverse clientele. Additionally, he is a lecturer and co-author of the series Mythes et réalités sur l’entraînement physique, la musculation, la course à pied et le vélo, published by Éditions de l’Homme.

An award-winning presenter, Nathalie is a top coach and motivator in the fitness industry. She blends decades of international experience with degrees in psychology and exercise science.

As Vice President of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada and a canfitpro advisory panel member, she uses her joie de vivre to foster profound and lasting changes with her clients and audiences.

Sarah is a registered kinesiologist, certified exercise physiologist, and group fitness instructor with over 21 years of fitness industry experience. She is the owner of Continuum Fitness and Movement Performance in Ottawa, a personal coaching studio offering one-on-one coaching instruction, athletic therapy, physiotherapy, and registered massage therapy services (www.continuumfitness.ca).

Sarah specializes in bridging the gap between rehab and a return to sports activities, focusing on correcting muscle imbalances and perfecting alignment, movement patterns, and optimizing kinesthetic awareness. She is the creator of the Prenatal and Postnatal Strength workout DVDs. Sarah is a former international fitness competitor, a nationally ranked race walker, and a regular fitness expert on CTV’s Morning Live Ottawa.

Currently the Assistant Director of Operations at the Saint-Roch YMCA, Simon Louis-Seize completed a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at Laval University in 2008. He co-founded weightlifting club Les Athlétiques in 2009, where he was the head coach until 2022.

From 2008 to 2017, he was a fitness trainer for Excellence Sportive Québec-Lévis (ESQL) and the Institut National du Sport (INS). He also worked as an athletic trainer for Laval University’s Rouge et Or athletics team and coached several Quebec teams in football and weightlifting. From 2017 to 2021, he trained Canadian Armed Forces members at Valcartier (Personnel Support Programs).

Simone Samuels, B.A. (Hons.), J.D., B.C.L. is a consultant in equity, diversity and inclusion and a weight-neutral personal trainer/group fitness instructor. She has held senior management positions in EDI in the federal government, non-profit and post-secondary education sectors.

A graduate of York University, Glendon Campus and McGill University's Faculty of Law, she currently serves as the Senior Advisor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Division of Students at York University.

A trained lawyer and fitness professional, she has provided consultant services to fitness organizations in Canada, the US, and the UK, and has delivered courses on weight stigma, fatphobia, anti-racism, allyship and anti-oppression.

Simone is a canfitpro-certified fitness instructor specialist and personal training specialist and has taught a variety of formats in a wide range of gyms, community centres, and fitness centres, both online and in person, big box and small, for almost ten years. She is also a Canadian Aquafitness Leadership Alliance certified aquafit instructor and a canfitpro PRO TRAINER.

Simone was the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion reviewer of the canfitpro Personal Training Specialist textbook, helping to create an inclusive curriculum for future personal trainers in Canada. She has won multiple awards and commendations in the fitness industry, and was notably named as a top3 finalist in canfitpro’s Fitness Professional of the Year Award.

Simone is a tireless advocate for making the fitness and wider world a more inclusive place.

Sonia, a graduate of Concordia University, has been certified since 2012. She has completed the FMS functional assessment training and works with an active population to ensure safe physical activity.

Passionate about sports and athletic therapy, Sonia has worked with college and high school teams, as well as with football players from the provincial and national leagues. She has dealt with a variety of injuries. Currently, she works with the general population at Clinique Au Sommet and with Concordia University’s football team.

Valérie Gautherot has been teaching at the YMCA for 24 years. She loves including a wide variety of exercises in her aquafit courses and wants to share these exercises with the next generation of instructors.

After her aerobox workshop, this workshop (re)explores exercises that use common equipment found at the pool.