About - Experience Unik

Our mission

Provide bilingual respite, day camps and zootherapy services in the Eastern Ottawa region. We aim to make a positive difference in the lives of families with children, teenagers, etc, living different challenges by welcoming them in a unique family environment or by visiting certain establishments in the region.

Our clientele

Our clientele is very large! It includes people of all ages living with certain challenges such as disorders:

intellectuals
physical
social

emotional
cognitive
mental health

Who we are

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Marie-Josée Chénier

Owner of Expérience Unik
Special education teacher
Certified in animal therapy
Various experiences with people with special needs, especially with autistic clients

Valérie Villeneuve

Bachelor of Social Sciences
Diploma in Rehabilitation and Criminal Justice Techniques
Various experiences with children in daycare as well as program assistant for young people with special needs
Experiences in the field of equine assisted therapy zootherapy

Our role

Our role is to create a bond of trust and respect towards each of our clients in order to develop their strengths, their interests, as well as provide them with a calm, safe and fun environment. We also offer them stimulating activities and programs tailored to their needs.

Code of ethics

Our team

Our team is made up of bilingual speakers as well as several students and volunteers. Each member of our team contributes, in their own way, to the proper functioning of our Unik services.

Guided tour of our Unik site

Our Unik location is located in the countryside in Hammond (2838, Nolan Road, Hammond, On.) Our clients have access to the Unik House, our small farmhouse, our animals, the picnic and play areas as well as to our trails.

Where does Experience Unik come from

Unik Experience is owned by Marie-Josée Chénier, a native of Sarsfield, a small village east of Ottawa. She grew up on a paternal dairy farm, with her parents and two sisters.

As a small child, she already helped her father take care of animals. It was at this time that her passion for animals began!

In 1996, she obtained her diploma as a specialized educator. She worked 20 years in a school environment, with children with special needs.

In 2016, she worked 1 year for the Treatment Center for Children and Adolescents; Emerging Minds. This professional path therefore allows Marie-Josée to accumulate a wealth of experience allowing her to start her own business.

In 2017, she obtained a certification in zootherapy and she officially created her company; “UNIK Experience”. The purpose of this is to make a positive difference with families with children, teens and adults living with different challenges in the region. (schools, daycares, residences for the elderly…).

Photo: Miguel Lalonde photography Editing: Anne Lizotte Communications