The Canadian Association of Therapeutic Clowns

Manuel Rodriguez  is a graduate of The National Theater School in Havana, Cuba. He has studied puppetry with Mijek Trenar in Prague, and clown with Helen Donnelly and Francine Coté. Recently he performed in the "rock.paper. sistahz" Festival, “The Race” with  Miko Sobreira and in several cabarets around Toronto including the Red Nose District and the Student Soiree at the Toronto Festival of Clowns where he co-won the Mark Purvis Bursary in 2011.  TV and film credits include  “XXI”, “Street without exit” and “Lulaliens”. He has been working as a Therapeutic Clown Practitioner  at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilatation Hospital since November 2010.

Helen Donnelly has an Honours BA from the University of Toronto, and a graduate of the UC Drama Program there. Her theatrical clown skills took her into the circus realm: she toured with Cirque du Soleil and currently works with local circuses as clown. She also has created her own clown shows for festivals and the theatre. She is a trainer of theatrical clowns and teaches her workshops regularly throughout the year to both artists and non-artists. (www.helendonnelly.com) In the past she worked as a therapeutic clown at SickKids and was the Training Development Coordinator, Programs Coordinator and therapeutic clown for the former Dr Clown Toronto. On top of her circus and theatrical clown projects, she continues her work at Holland Bloorview as therapeutic clown and artistic trainer.

Kathleen Le Roux is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada's Directing Program and Queen's University Drama. She has worked as an actor, director, producer and theatrical clown for 16 years, in both theatre and television and has been a therapeutic clown for 8 years. She is currently the General Manager Dr Clown's former Toronto Division (www.drclown.ca) and worked in the programs at Sick Kids and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab as a replacement therapeutic clown.