VIPASSANA IN QUÉBEC

Since 1979, Vipassana meditation courses have been offered in eastern Canada in rented sites. Later on, devoted students began searching for a permanent location to hold courses.

In September 1999, their efforts led to the purchase of a property in Sutton, Qc. During the next ten years, courses were offered to thousands of students, but the centre rapidly became too small to meet the ever-increasing number of course applicants. This was followed by two years of renewed consideration of the options to enlarge the center as well as intense searching for a new site.

Fortunately, a new, larger, nearly turnkey centre was at last found near Montebello, Québec, and purchased in February 2011. This 600-acre property, located on an exceptional site in its own valley five km. north of Montebello, is halfway between Montréal and Gatineau/Ottawa. Some 130 students can be accepted in each course (80 more than at the Sutton centre). Two 10-day courses per month are offered, nearly every month.

FINANCES

There are no fixed charges for courses, not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from previous students who have completed at least one ten-days course, have experienced the benefits of the practice, and wish to give others the same opportunity that they had received. Neither teachers nor assistant teachers profit in any way; they and the course organizers offer their services as volunteers, free of charge.

EASTERN CANADA VIPASSANA FOUNDATION

The Eastern Canada Vipassana Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization, owns and operates the Québec Vipassana Centre. It is governed by a Board of Directors who are old students established in their practice: appointed annually, they serve voluntarily with the volition to help others