Influences on Dr Clown
Both of the main models of hospital clowns – Big Apple Circus Clown Care (New York) and the Robo Project (Winnipeg) – have influenced the development of Dr Clown.  From the first model, we have adopted the type of character for our clown-doctors and the work in pairs.  From the second, we have borrowed the emphasis on a discrete clown-patient relationship, in which listening and tenderness take priority over theatrics.  Dr Clown also recognizes the inspiration it has drawn from the French organization Le Rire Médecin.

History

	1999 - 2001: Preparation for start-up      Research and market study.      Autumn 2000: First pilot project at the CHSLD Résidence Paul-Lizotte (Montréal-Nord), with the sponsorship of the Fondation Paul-Lizotte.      Participation in “Light it up!” workshop given by Dr Patch Adams’s Gesundheit! Institute (Ottawa and Killaloe, Ontario).      Participation in a national conference on social clowning, organized by Clownwise (Winnipeg).  With the financial assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts, Dr Clown meets with Canadian therapeutic clowns.      Pilot project with Leucan at the Pavillon Vidéotron (hematology-oncology) at the Sainte-Justine Hospital.      Training with Fools for Health (Windsor, Ontario), with the financial assistance of Therapeutic Clowns Canada.      Participation in several parties at various Montreal pediatric hospitals, with the financial assistance of the Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada.
	2002: Start-up      Dr Clown wins first prize for its business plan from Youth Employment Services and the Fondation du maire de Montréal pour la jeunesse.      Incorporation of Dr Clown, June 20, 2002.      First pediatric program in Quebec at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, with the financial assistance of the Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada.      First internships for Dr Clown with Le Rire Médecin (France), Therapeutic Clown Canada (Ontario) and Francine Côté (Quebec).      Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant at the Sainte-Justine Hospital, with the financial assistance of the Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada.
	2003: Growth      Hôpital de réadaptation Villa Medica (for adults).      Second program at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, set up  by the hospital’s foundation.      Sainte-Justine Hospital, with the financial assistance of Clarica (principal donor).      Jewish General Hospital (for adults).
	2004: Development      Thanks to the financial support of the Fondation Notre-Dame de la Merci, we have begun a second long-term care program at CHSLD Notre-Dame de la Merci. Weekly visits started October 20th.      We have initiated an innovative project with the students of the École Nationale de l’humour and the residents of CHSLD Résidence Paul-Lizotte long term care facility. The intent of the project is to initiate the students to the work and art of therapeutic clowning, by way of a clown workshop delivered by our artistic Director Francine Côté, followed by a course on Ethics taught by our Psychosocial Director Florence Vinit, PhD. Students also had the opportunity to observe the clowns by participating in their weekly visits to the residence. Feedback from both students and teaching staff is highly positive, and we are currently looking into further developing our relationship.      Members of Dr Clown’s administrative and artistic teams met with their equivalents at Big Apple Circus Clown Care, the first ever clown-doctor program in existenceestablished in 1986. They spent two days observing their clowns in hospital and studying their organizational structure.

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