Our history

Since 1979, Kéroul has been working to improve access to tourism and culture for people with restricted physical ability. The organization, formerly known as Roulbec, was recognized as the preferred partner of the Ministry of Tourism as early as 1987. Because it's sometimes difficult to grasp just how far we've come in 40 years, we've published a brochure outlining the organization's history and impact.

Kéroul (1979-2019), forty years of outreach (pdf), presents a timeline of highlights, the products and services offered by the organization today, and Kéroul's key players and networks.

Kéroul achievements

Over the years, Kéroul has had a considerable impact on many tourism, cultural and transportation projects:

  • Inclusion in the 1995 Quebec Construction Code of measures to improve the accessibility of new buildings, including the requirement that 10% of hotel rooms be accessible.
  • Recognition of accessibility and training criteria for disabled and elderly guests in the Tourism Industry Quality Program.
  • Recognition of customers with restricted physical ability in Tourisme Québec's tourism policy (2005).
  • Consideration of accessibility issues for people with restricted physical ability in Tourisme Québec's Plan de développement de l'industrie touristique 2012-2020 (2012).
  • Creation of the Ministry of Tourism's Programme d'accessibilité des établissements touristiques (PAET), managed by Kéroul.)
  • Addition of measures concerning service accessibility and the needs of people with disabilities as part of Bill 17 on paid passenger transportation by automobile (2019).
  • Launch of Destination pour tous in 5 Quebec municipalities and MRCs (2025).

Kéroul name

Kéroul is a contraction of the words “Québec” (Kébec) and “roule” (roll).

André Leclerc, fondateur de Kéroul

Authentique, fougueux, passionné, travailleur acharné… À l’origine de Kéroul, André Leclerc est à la fois un militant dévoué et un homme d’affaires accompli. Lui qui vit avec la paralysie cérébrale, il est confronté aux préjugés depuis toujours, mais il est surtout déterminé à les faire tomber.

Comme il a le goût de voyager et fait le constat que les infrastructures touristiques ne sont pas adaptées aux besoins des personnes à mobilité réduite, André Leclerc entreprend de changer la situation, projet par projet.

Le rassembleur

Grâce à son caractère jovial et sa conviction que c’est à plusieurs qu’on va y arriver, il interpelle, mobilise et rallie des collaborateurs de tous les profils, de tous les horizons et de toutes les compétences. Avec eux, André Leclerc va développer les services de Kéroul, et contribuer à modifier les structures, les lois et les mentalités.

Le batailleur

Dès les débuts, cet homme rencontre des embûches, à commencer par le milieu des personnes handicapées lui-même, dont les protagonistes estiment que le tourisme n’est pas une priorité. Qu’à cela ne tienne! Il persiste et fonce. Il choisit ses combats, dont le Code de construction, l’hébergement et le taxi seront des éléments dominants. Il se révèle déterminé, voire entêté. Le relationniste Les relations publiques sont au cœur des actions d’André. Le téléphone est son instrument privilégié d’intervention. Il s’assure aussi d’être assidument présent aux événements de l’industrie touristique pour rappeler l’existence et les besoins de la clientèle qu’il représente auprès des différents intervenants.

L’héritage

En 2019, alors âgé de 65 ans, André passe le flambeau. Il laisse à ses successeurs une organisation qui jouit d’une grande crédibilité, en bonne situation financière, avec des objectifs clairs, un réseau étendu et des projets structurants.

Tout est possible : biographie d'André Leclerc

Anything is possible is the story of a determined man with cerebral palsy who refused to accept the limits imposed by society. Thanks to his entrepreneurial spirit, his personal fight turned into a collective service through Kéroul, an organization dedicated to making tourism and culture accessible.

To order the biography, contact us at 514 252 3104 or by e-mail at info@keroul.qc.ca.

World Summit 2014

In 2014, Kéroul launched the first Destinations for All World Summit from October 19 to 22. More than 360 participants from 31 countries took part in 140 conferences to explore topics related to transportation, culture and accessible tourism. The discussions and exchanges led to the signing of a declaration for A World for All, an important document for determining the way forward and containing 40 specific measures to implement the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) recommendations for accessible tourism at international level and in their respective countries.

The declaration was signed by the Summit's co-chairs, Yvor Ambrose of ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism) and André Vallerand of CED (World Destination Centre of Excellence), in the presence of Carlos Vogeler of UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) on behalf of the event's participants.

Objective

Encourage international industry associations active in tourism, culture and transport to identify actions they will take to significantly facilitate travel for people with disabilities.

Resources

  • Make public the action priorities of sector organizations (establishments, attractions, services, transportation) with a view to significantly improving universal accessibility in tourism, culture and transportation.
  • Launch an international index of directories of good practice in tourism, culture and transport for people with disabilities and ensure that this index can be hosted on a website to facilitate consultation and updating.
  • Initiate international harmonization of accessibility norms and standards for tourist establishments, sites and transportation services.

Executive Committee

The Steering Committee will determine the Summit's major orientations: objectives, themes, schedule, choice of speakers and moderators, etc. The member organizations of the Steering Committee are :

  • World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
  • Global Destinations Center of Excellence (CED)
  • European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)
  • Tourisme et Handicaps (France)
  • Fundación ONCE (Espagne)
  • Access Tourism New Zealand
  • Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH, USA)
  • Kéroul, Tourism and culture for people with disabilities
  • Quebec Ministry of Tourism
  • Transports Canada – Centre de développement des transports

Awards and distinctions

What better way to select your next outing than with a series of tourist establishments that have won awards for their accessibility and commitment to disabled customers?

The Mention Kéroul, now in the Accessible Tourism category of the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec's Prix Excellence Tourisme, recognizes the work of an organization offering outstanding accessible tourism services.

Prix Excellence Tourisme: Kéroul award winners

  • Gîte Vita Bella B&B, 2017
  • Hôtel Château Laurier Québec 2014
  • Parc national d'Oka / Camping des Dunes 2012