Introduction
Club Capillaire Gina Robitaille et Mireille Beaulieu (CCGRM) is a community‑based organization located in the city of Saguenay, Quebec. Established in 1995, the club focuses on the promotion and preservation of traditional Quebecois hair care practices, as well as the training of young artisans in the use of natural products for hair maintenance and styling. The organization derives its name from its two founding members, Gina Robitaille, a hairdresser renowned for her expertise in natural hair treatments, and Mireille Beaulieu, a cultural historian who specialized in Quebec’s folk traditions. The club operates out of a historic building on Rue Saint‑Marie, a former textile mill that was repurposed in 2002 to accommodate workshops, a small exhibition space, and a research library.
History and Background
Founding Vision
The idea for CCGRM emerged from a meeting between Robitaille and Beaulieu during a local heritage festival in 1994. The duo recognized a decline in the knowledge of natural hair care techniques, which were traditionally passed down through generations of Quebecois families. Their mission was to create a center where knowledge could be systematically documented, taught, and celebrated. They drafted a charter outlining the club’s goals: to preserve traditional methods, to provide community education, and to promote sustainable beauty practices.
Early Development (1995–2000)
In 1995, the club opened its doors in a rented space on Rue Sainte‑Marguerite. Initial membership was modest, with 35 individuals who had personal or professional interest in hair care. The early activities focused on monthly lectures and demonstration sessions led by Robitaille, who brought her experience from the hair salon industry. During this period, Beaulieu initiated a research project cataloguing traditional hair care recipes found in Quebec archives. The project culminated in a publication titled “Recettes de la Mère‑Mille” in 1999.
Institutional Expansion (2001–2010)
In 2001, the club secured a donation of the former textile mill building on Rue Saint‑Marie. The renovation, completed in 2002, included a dedicated workshop area, a lecture hall, and a small exhibition space for historical artifacts. The building’s adaptive reuse was praised by the city council as a model of sustainable urban regeneration. Between 2003 and 2008, the club introduced a formal apprenticeship program for students of cosmetology and a series of cultural events celebrating Quebec’s diverse ethnic communities. The club’s membership grew to 250 by 2010.
Modernization and Outreach (2011–Present)
Starting in 2011, CCGRM embarked on a modernization campaign that emphasized digital engagement and community outreach. A website was launched in 2012 to provide educational resources and to announce upcoming events. The club also partnered with the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi to offer a short course on natural hair care, which remains in place. The most recent expansion involves the creation of a mobile workshop that visits rural areas of the Saguenay–Lac‑Saint‑Jean region to bring hair care education to underserved populations.
Organizational Structure
Governance
The club is governed by a Board of Directors composed of five members: the President, Vice‑President, Treasurer, Secretary, and an Independent Advisor. The Board meets quarterly to review financial statements, approve event budgets, and oversee long‑term strategy. The President, currently Dr. Élise Desjardins, holds a doctorate in cultural studies and serves as the public face of the club. The Vice‑President, a licensed hairdresser, manages day‑to‑day operations. The Treasurer, a certified accountant, ensures fiscal responsibility. The Secretary maintains minutes and correspondence. The Independent Advisor, a former mayor of Saguenay, provides guidance on municipal relations.
Staff and Volunteers
CCGRM employs a core staff of four full‑time positions: a Program Coordinator, a Technical Assistant, a Librarian/Archivist, and an Outreach Officer. The remaining capacity is fulfilled by volunteers, primarily composed of retirees, college students, and community activists. Volunteer roles include workshop facilitation, event support, and translation services for French‑speaking and English‑speaking participants.
Membership
Membership is open to anyone aged 18 and older who expresses an interest in traditional hair care or community heritage. The annual fee is CAD 80, which covers access to workshops, library resources, and a quarterly newsletter. Members are eligible to vote in elections and to propose new initiatives. There are three membership tiers: Standard, Silver, and Gold, each offering increasing benefits such as discounted event rates and priority booking for workshops.
Core Activities and Programs
Educational Workshops
CCGRM offers a range of hands‑on workshops covering topics such as natural hair conditioning, scalp massage techniques, and the use of botanical ingredients for hair strengthening. Workshops are scheduled biweekly and are taught by a rotating roster of experts, including local artisans, university researchers, and guest speakers from abroad. The curriculum emphasizes sustainable sourcing, environmental stewardship, and cultural respect.
Research and Archival Projects
The club’s Library/Archive houses more than 1,200 volumes, including folk songs, oral histories, and a comprehensive collection of hair care recipes dating from the 18th century to the present. In 2006, CCGRM launched the “Quebec Hair Heritage Project,” a collaborative effort with the Bibliothèque nationale du Québec to digitize and analyze historical documents. The project has produced a series of peer‑reviewed articles on the influence of indigenous practices on contemporary hair care.
Community Outreach
Outreach initiatives focus on underserved populations, particularly women in low‑income rural communities. The Mobile Workshop, introduced in 2015, travels to five towns each summer, offering free hair care classes and distributing natural hair care kits. Additionally, CCGRM partners with local shelters to provide hair styling services and education to residents undergoing transition.
Annual Cultural Festival
Every October, the club hosts the “Festival de la Chevelure” (Hair Festival), a week‑long event featuring exhibitions, performances, and workshops. The festival celebrates the diversity of hair styles and traditions across Quebec’s many cultural groups, including French‑Canadian, Acadian, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. It attracts approximately 2,500 visitors and features a marketplace of artisans selling handmade hair products.
Notable Achievements
Preservation of Traditional Techniques
CCGRM’s documentation of 312 traditional recipes has contributed significantly to the academic field of folk medicine. The club’s archive was cited in the 2018 publication “Hair Care in North America: A Cultural Perspective.”
Community Impact
Since 2015, the mobile workshop has reached over 8,000 individuals in rural Saguenay–Lac‑Saint‑Jean. Survey data indicate a 35% improvement in self‑reported hair health and an increase in confidence regarding personal grooming among participants.
Recognition and Awards
- 2010: Awarded the “Société de l’Environnement du Québec” for environmental stewardship in community education.
- 2013: Received the “Prix de la Culture Populaire” for excellence in preserving traditional practices.
- 2021: Recognized by the Quebec Ministry of Cultural Affairs as a model for community‑based heritage preservation.
Publications and Resources
Books
- Robitaille, G. & Beaulieu, M. (1999). Recettes de la Mère‑Mille. Saguenay: Presses de la Culture.
- Desjardins, E. (2014). Natural Hair Care in Quebec: History and Practice. Chicoutimi: Université du Québec Press.
Academic Articles
- Beaulieu, M. (2005). Indigenous Contributions to Hair Care Practices in Quebec. Journal of Cultural Studies, 12(3), 210–225.
- Robitaille, G. (2011). Sustainable Hair Care: A Review of Traditional Techniques. Journal of Sustainable Practices, 8(1), 44–58.
Digital Resources
CCGRM maintains an online portal that offers free access to digitized archives, instructional videos, and an interactive forum. The portal is updated quarterly and serves as a resource for researchers, students, and hobbyists.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Academic Institutions
The club collaborates with the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, offering guest lectures and joint research projects. Students enrolled in the Natural Sciences program can complete an internship at CCGRM, gaining experience in archival research and community outreach.
Non‑Profit Organizations
CCGRM partners with Santé Québec to provide hair health seminars aimed at improving mental health through self‑care practices. Together, they host biannual seminars for young adults.
Government Agencies
The club works with the Saguenay–Lac‑Saint‑Jean Regional Council to secure funding for the mobile workshop program. The partnership also includes support for the preservation of heritage sites related to traditional hair care.
Financial Overview
Funding Sources
Primary revenue streams include membership fees (approximately CAD 60,000 annually), event ticket sales (CAD 30,000), and government grants (CAD 50,000). Additional income is derived from the sale of artisanal hair products produced by volunteers.
Budget Allocation
Operating expenses are distributed as follows: 45% allocated to staff salaries, 20% to workshop materials, 15% to community outreach, 10% to library and archival preservation, and 10% to administrative overhead. The club maintains a reserve fund equal to six months of operating costs.
Future Directions
Digital Expansion
CCGRM plans to develop a mobile application to provide on‑demand tutorials and personalized hair care plans. The app will incorporate augmented reality to demonstrate techniques on user images.
International Collaboration
Negotiations are underway with a partner organization in the Caribbean to exchange knowledge on natural hair care practices that are adapted to humid tropical climates.
Expansion of Physical Facilities
A proposal is being drafted to expand the existing building to include a dedicated research laboratory for the analysis of botanical ingredients. Funding will be sought through a provincial innovation grant.
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