About us
Our mission
Since 1981, Mira has been dedicated to increasing the autonomy and social inclusion of people living with visual or physical disabilities, as well as youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), by providing them with specially trained guide dogs or assistance dogs free of charge.
All of Mira’s services and activities are guided by the principle of bodily equality: what is accessible to everyone should also be accessible to a person with a disability. In this spirit, the organization’s mission focuses on the following objectives:
Enhance autonomy and promote social inclusion of people with disabilities through guide and service dogs;
Provide all services free of charge to beneficiaries, regardless of their income;
Improve mobility and orientation skills so that individuals can move freely within their environment;
Develop a safe, tailored plan for each beneficiary based on their level of autonomy and their adaptation or rehabilitation needs.
Manifest
Life is an adventure in itself.
No matter what it throws our way, it takes courage.
Sometimes, we even need a little helping paw to keep moving forward.
It requires heart, determination, and strength of character.
At Mira, we help people living with disabilities unleash their potential, to regain independence in their daily lives. Since our very beginnings, we’ve embodied perseverance, courage, and determination. We don’t let anything stand in the way of achieving our goals.
The bond that grows stronger each day between a dog and their beneficiary guides our commitment. We take pride in giving as many people as possible confidence and independence through our devoted dogs. We aspire to a world that is more inclusive, energetic, and equipped for everyone to take life on with flair. Our dogs become pillars, companions, and sources of hope and unconditional love.
We believe that every dog finds their person, and every person finds their dog.
Here, we change lives, one dog at a time.
Our co-founders
Éric St-Pierre (1947–2025)
Éric St-Pierre was a cornerstone of social innovation and community support in Quebec. As co-founder of Mira, he devoted his life to transforming the lives of people with disabilities through guide and assistance dogs trained with creativity, precision, and love. A visionary and passionate leader, he turned what was once considered a “crazy idea” into a world-renowned organization dedicated to helping people gain greater autonomy and dignity.
Renowned for his entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional skill with dogs, he empowered Mira to develop innovative programs and set unmatched standards of excellence in guide and assistance dog training. His determination and ability to unite partners, donors, and volunteers around Mira’s mission enabled the foundation to weather countless challenges and secure a unique place in the hearts of all Quebecers who witnessed its growth.
"It’s extraordinary how my head is full of dogs. I could write for hours about each of them without ever exhausting the well of inspiration. Did I give my life to the dogs, or did they take it from me? For me, the answer is the same: together, we made Mira, or if you prefer, together, we gave ourselves the power to do good."
— Éric St-Pierre, 2001
Our co-founders
Johanne Hallé
Johanne Hallé is a key figure in the world of social innovation in Quebec. As co-founder of Mira, she dedicated her life and the majority of her career to nurturing and growing the organization. Serving as Director of Services, she embodied with warmth and dedication the principle that the beneficiary must always remain at the heart of the foundation’s mission.
Known for her deep compassion for the people Mira serves, Johanne Hallé ensured that every individual received exemplary service characterized by respect, empathy, and care. She also played a pivotal role in Mira’s growth, courageously overcoming the challenges and uncertainties of its early days, helping transform it into a globally recognized organization. After a career marked by unwavering commitment, Johanne Hallé retired in 2021, leaving behind an invaluable legacy.
Our history
1975 to 1981
The Birth of Mira
Éric St-Pierre discovered his talent for training dogs at a very young age. He became a guard dog trainer and built his first kennel in 1975 in Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. A particular request changed the course of his life: a friend from the Institut de Nazareth et Louis-Braille asked him for advice about a guide dog poorly suited to Quebec’s winter conditions. Realizing that no French-speaking guide dog school existed in Canada, Éric St-Pierre decided to embark on the adventure. On January 22, 1981, Mira was born.
In 1990, new facilities allowed Mira to diversify its services. The following year, Mira became the first school in the world to provide guide-dogs to children under 15. At the same time, Mira expanded its services further by creating a program for people with physical disabilities. To support these initiatives, a second training center was acquired in 1994 in Saint-Césaire. Mira also collaborated with researchers and universities to push its innovations even further.
In 2006, Mira became a member of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF). Two years later, Mira built a whelping facility capable of accommodating 300 puppies per year, along with a veterinary clinic. In 2010, Mira launched the service dog for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) program.
In 2013, Nicolas St-Pierre, son of the co-founders, became Assistant Executive Director. Two years later, he officially took over as Executive Director, ensuring the continuity of his parents’ work. To date, Mira has provided nearly 4,000 guide and service dogs free of charge to individuals seeking a better quality of life and greater independence. The organization places around 100 guide and service dogs each year.
Mira’s expertise continues to grow, strengthened by the addition of experienced professionals to the team and through numerous collaborations with various universities, resulting in innovative and unique research projects.
Éric St-Pierre, co-founder of Mira, passed away at the age of 77, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy. His vision, dedication, and passion continue to guide the organization, supported by Nicolas and the entire team, ensuring that Mira’s mission carries on and continues to grow.
To learn more about Éric St-Pierre, get a copy of the book “Mira, ma plus belle histoire d’amour.”
Our facilities
Our accreditations
The International Guide Dog Federation develops, monitors, and evaluates the standards applied by its members to ensure high-quality service for guide dog users and handlers around the world. Mira is a certified member of this organization.
Assistance Dogs International is a global coalition of non-profit programs that train and place assistance dogs, committed to the highest standards of excellence in the field. These standards have become the international benchmark for evaluating service quality. Mira is a certified ADI member.
Mira holds a Category 2 cat and dog owner or keeper license, issued under the Regulation on the Safety and Welfare of Cats and Dogs in effect since November 7th, 2013.
