Kativik Regional Government

Cirqiniq Program Evaluation

The Cirqiniq Program was created in 2009 by the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) and the Cirque du Monde program, a Cirque du Soleil initiative for vulnerable youth.  The program combines circus techniques together with educational and social intervention to help youth at risk with their personal and social development by nurturing their self-esteem and trust.  Cirqiniq’s initiation was rooted in the results of a study commissioned by the Quebec Human Rights Commission which highlighted the mental health challenges faced by children and youth at risk in the region.  The KRG was interested in conducting an evaluation of the program to assess the quality of its implementation, its sustainability, training methods, partnerships and the benefits it was bringing to participants. It also wanted to ensure that results of the evaluation were communicated broadly and effectively.

SVS was hired in partnership with Harry Cummings and Associates (HCA) to carry out the evaluation.  Our team brought a specific focus on ensuring that the information gathered through the evaluation was published effectively.  The evaluation included examining the extent to which the program was encouraging youth to pursue education and development opportunities, avoiding risk behaviours and promoting mental well-being for leaders and participants. 

We worked in conjunction with HCA and community leaders to formulate an evaluation strategy and implementation plan that would reach the diverse range of demographics involved in the program and provide a comprehensive picture of the areas of success and potential improvement for the program since its inception.  As the results were acquired and organized, our consultants began working on a plan to communicate the results to the organizers and participants in the program.  We also provided a series of recommendations surrounding the communication methods the program was currently using and where they could grow to become more effective in the future. 

Project Impact

Our team ensured the use of efficient and effective communication throughout the evaluation process.  By looking beyond the study to how its results were to be communicated, we established an intentional framework promoting a transparent study that the community could be engaged in.  We ensured that information was being exchanged with the KRG communication department and was dispersed into the community.  The results of the evaluation justified the positive impacts and benefits of the program to assist in future funding applications and provided focal points for improvement moving forward.