Intro
KlezKanada aims to enact a meaningful expression of its values around accessibility, mobility, and inclusion. Accessibility needs are anything you need to be able to fully, safely, and comfortably participate in KlezKanada’s programs.
Website
The KlezKanada website has an accessibility widget provided by Federation CJA Montreal. This can be activated by clicking on the blue circle in the lower left corner of your screen.
Summer Retreat
Summer Retreat
As the Summer Retreat settles into our new site “Dos bisele glik” (Le P’tit Bonheur), we want to keep our community informed about the venue, as well as provide the opportunity for more accommodations around accessibility.
Accessibility needs can look like requiring an outlet to plug in a sleeping aid, needing a shuttle between areas of the site, needing large-print handouts, needing a quiet room to retreat to, and more!
We're in the later stages of a professional accessibility audit for Dos bisele glik (Le P’tit Bonheur). This audit will help us make decisions about the ways we can improve accessibility at the venue moving forward. We are pleased that the venue is collaborating with us to make this audit happen! Information about the current accessibility status of the site, as professionally audited, is located on the Keroul website here.
If you are registering for the Summer Retreat, please let us know your access needs as soon as possible, and by July 3 at the latest, so we can work with you to get them met. We will do our utmost to meet your needs, though we cannot guarantee that all needs will be met. There is a dedicated place for the expression of your needs in the registration form.
If you would like to ask questions or communicate something about your accessibility needs before registering, please contact info@klezkanada.org
Registration
Registration for the Summer Retreat is done via an online form. Participants who need to register via a paper form or by phone, may contact us at info@klezkanada.org to request an alternative method of registration.
Site Description
Dos bisele glik (P’tit Bonheur) is a summer camp setting and participants should expect a rustic vacation experience. The buildings are four-season buildings with heated rooms, windows, and linoleum floors.
Distances, Roads, and Pathways
- The 2025 Summer Retreat will only be taking place on the “Auberge” side of the site, so transit between programming spaces and accommodations will be minimal. Parking will also be on this side.
- Programming and accommodations will be within two buildings (Auberge and Chalet) and nearby outdoor areas around the vicinity of the buildings. Participants should expect a short walk between programming spaces.
- The site features different types of roads and pathways, including paved roads, gravel surfaces, paved paths, and dirt paths. Due to variable weather and country conditions, we strongly suggest that participants bring supportive closed-toe shoes with grippy soles.
- Programs also take place on grassy lawns and a sandy beach.
- Participants will not need to use outdoor walkways at night to access programming and accommodation. Nonetheless, we are working to make sure the paths are lit at night, and we recommend that all participants bring a flashlight or headlamp.
- Auberge Tent 1: On the beach, accessed across the lawn or down a short flight of stairs (5-6 stairs).
- Auberge Tent 2: On the left side of the main parking lot, by the lake. Accessed along a short dirt road.
Auberge Tent 3: On the lawn outside the Dining Room. Accessed along the front of the building via a paved pathway plus a short walk across the grassy lawn. - Mile End Tent: Accessed by a dirt pathway from Auberge.
Stairs
- Some entrances have a small lip or stair at the entrance.
- All buildings have stairs in between floors.
- Some programming spaces are accessible from the outside pathways (as opposed to inside stairs) but a few programming spaces are only accessible by one flight of stairs.
- Auberge Grand Salon and Rooms 1 and 2: Ground Floor
- Auberge Rooms 3-4: Semi-Basement Level, down a short flight of stairs (4-6 stairs).
- Auberge Petit Salon, Dining Room, and Rue Platz (Quiet Room): Second Floor, up one flight of stairs from ground floor, or accessible via outside dining hall ramp entrance.
- Chalet Living Room: Main floor, accessed by one flight of stairs from the outside (8-10 stairs).
- Auberge Tent 1: On the beach, accessed across the lawn or down a short flight of stairs (5-6 stairs).
- Accommodation in the Félix wing of Auberge is generally accessed via stairs. There is an elevator (see below). In addition, the second floor can be accessed from the outdoors via a ramp leading into the Dining Room.
- Accommodation in the Sablon wing of Auberge is only accessible via stairs.
- The Auberge building has a freight elevator that is safe for people to use BUT that requires a staff presence. This elevator will ONLY be available for participant use with prior approval. The staff will have a list of participants approved for elevator use.
Sleeping Accommodations
- Accommodation in the Félix wing of Auberge is generally accessed via stairs. There is an elevator (see above). In addition, the second floor can be accessed from the outdoors via a ramp leading into the Dining Room.
- Accommodation in the Sablon wing of Auberge is only accessible via stairs.
- Most beds are bunk beds. Most of the bunk beds are solid wood, with a low bottom bunk. A few of the bunk beds have metal frames. The bunks are 77” long between the frame.
- All mattresses are standard camp mattresses. These are foam, with a waterproof covering.
- All rooms are shared. We recommend that participants bring earplugs and eye masks.
- Most accommodations are adjacent to programming spaces and there may be some sound bleed.
- Rooms have power, with several plugs in each room.
Seating
- The chairs in programming spaces include cushioned wooden-backed benches (these look like wooden couches), wooden chairs without arms, folding chairs without arms, and plastic lawn chairs with arms.
- The dining areas have a mixture of chairs without arms and wooden picnic tables.
Lighting
- The venue lighting is mixed. Please note that some rooms have fluorescent lighting.
- Strobe lights will not be used during any concerts or events without prior warning. In the unlikely event that strobe lighting will be used, it will be announced in advance and signs will be posted at the entrance to the event space.
Internet Access
- Dos Bisele Glik has WiFi access.
- BUT participants should be aware that WiFi can be slow, limited, and spotty in the mountains and with such a large group of people. We highly recommend downloading anything you need before arriving at the retreat.
- Participants are expected to disconnect from the WiFi when not using it, to keep the network as functional as possible. We hope that participants enjoy a mostly unplugged week at camp.
Programming
- Locations
- Programming takes place in the indoor classrooms or outdoor tents described above.
- Sometimes faculty may suggest moving a class outdoors. If you are not able to participate in an outdoor class for any reason, please let your instructor know when this suggestion is made.
- Materials
- Some workshops distribute printed materials. These materials are not usually provided ahead of time.
- All printed materials provided by faculty will also be made available digitally during the week of the Summer Retreat.
- Not all classes prepare or provide printed materials, including sheet music. This is at the discretion of the instructor. For example, some music classes focus on learning by ear and do not provide sheet music.
- If you require materials in large print or another format, please request by July 3.
- Content
- We do not ask our faculty to provide content notes for common sensitive subjects. However, if you have concerns, we encourage you to ask the Faculty member, one of our Programming Coordinators, or our Artistic Director about the content in advance of the class.
Sensory Information
- Please be aware that participants jam, work, and socialize all over camp. This should be expected and is part of the community culture. While we try to define quiet areas for certain buildings, this is relative and signaled by signage. Our staff does not enforce quiet areas.
- Most accommodations are adjacent to programming spaces and there may be some sound bleed.
- All rooms are shared. We recommend that participants bring earplugs and eye masks.
- The Rue Platz / Quiet Room in the Auberge building is set aside as a space for participants to get away if they need an indoor space to rest quietly, are experiencing sensory overload, or otherwise want a space to retreat to. This is a small room with four cushioned, wooden-backed couches, a window, and doors that close. This room is accessible by elevator for participants who cannot use the stairs. Please note that this elevator requires staff presence and prior approval (see note above, re: stairs).
- KlezKanada does not currently have a scent-free policy, but we encourage mindfulness around the strength of scents we all bring into shared spaces.
Meals and Dining
Meals
- Our standard catering is vegetarian/pescatarian. The kitchen and site are strictly peanut, nut, and shellfish free. Please also be mindful of not bringing any snacks with these allergens with you to camp.
- Dos Bisele Glik (P’tit Bonheur) will be catering for the 2025 Summer Retreat. They can accommodate allergies and intolerances, with advanced preparation. Please let us know if you are gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant, or have any other allergies in your registration form.
- The kitchen at Dos Bisele Glik is not under rabbinical supervision. If you require meals that are certified kosher, please note that on your registration form. These meals will be prepared ahead of time and brought packaged to the retreat without additional cost.
Dining
- All meals will be served buffet-style. People with mobility issues or challenges with lines can request assistance from the dining hall manager in getting their meal.
- Snacks will be available in the Dining Room mid-afternoon and after the evening concerts.
Financial Accessibility
We have a number of programs in place to make the Summer Retreat financially accessible.
Smoking and Other Substance Use Policy
- Smoking is permitted ONLY IN DESIGNATED AREAS. The smoking areas will be designated on site and in the program brochure.
- Responsible use of alcohol, cannabis, and other legal substances by adults of legal age is permitted and alcohol is served on the premises. However, we expect that those who choose to drink, will consume responsibly and with respect for and awareness of those around them. Please note that the legal age to consume alcohol in Quebec is 18 and the minimum age for legal cannabis use in Quebec is 21.
- Illegal substances will not be tolerated. Reports of usage will be dealt with immediately by the program administrators.
COVID-19 Safety Policy
Our full COVID-19 Safety Policy can be found here.