Imagine Hochelaga Roundtable

Joannie Lafrenière holds degrees in journalism and photography. She is interested in all the captivating people who cross her path. Combining her anthropological curiosity with her love for humour, human beings and pop culture, she approaches documentary making as the art of encounter, and her camera as the tool for real connection.

Her previous films, The woman who saw the bear, Snowbirds and King Lajoie, have been shown on television and in theatres around the world. She feels privileged to have recently completed Gabor, a documentary feature film about the oh-so-inspiring individual that is Gabor Szilasi.

Joannie lives, works and plays in Montreal and wherever life takes her.

Benoit Bordeleau is originally from Buckingham (Outaouais). His creative approach, combining wandering, writing and photography, has led him to lead and participate in several collective projects, particularly on the web. He holds a doctorate in literary studies (UQAM, 2016): his research focused on representations of the Hochelaga neighbourhood in Quebec literature. He is currently working as coordinator of the Montreal chapter of the Littérature Québécoise Mobile partnership.

Caroline Breault (aka Cab) is a comic book writer based in Montreal. She is the author of the Nuclear Winter series published by Boom! Studios (Hiver Nucléaire with Front Froid), and has also illustrated covers for American publishers. Her new book is titled Utown (Nouvelle Adresse) and is about friendly bums in a gentrifying neighborhood. Cab likes vacant lots, architecture, hot drinks, and pen ink.

Jean-Philippe Pleau is a sociologist. He hosts and produces the radio program Réfléchir à voix haute, on ICI Première. Previously, he co-hosted the program C’est fou with anthropologist Serge Bouchard, on the same channel. He was also the producer and co-host of the radio program Le Sportnographe, from 2009 to 2012. In February 2023, he published his first book, Au temps de la pensée pressée, with Lux Éditeur.