Mira co-founder Eric St-Pierre dies at 77
Posted February 23, 2025 4:42 pm.
Last Updated February 23, 2025 4:43 pm.
Mira co-founder Éric St-Pierre passed away Friday at the age of 77, the organization announced Sunday. St-Pierre leaves behind quite a legacy.
His Quebec-based foundation trains assistance dogs for people with motor or visual disabilities as well as youth with autism spectrum disorder.
“Éric was much more than a founder; he was a mentor, an innovator and a source of inspiration for all those who had the chance to cross his path. His love for dogs and his determination to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities were the driving forces that guided each step of the foundation’s development,” Philippe Angers, chair of Mira’s board of directors, said in a press release Sunday.
St-Pierre developed a passion for dog breeding as a child, training his dogs on the family farm. He then took professional training to become a guard dog and sniffer dog trainer.
It was during a discussion with an instructor friend he realized there was no French-speaking guide dog school in Canada.
He then set up Mira in January 1981, becoming the first French-speaking centre of its kind in the country. Unable to obtain grants, Éric St-Pierre’s family travelled to shopping centres every weekend to collect donations to cover the high costs of training.
Beginning in the 1990s, the organization focused on developing new services, including creating a guide dog program for young blind people.
“His sincere affection for each person accompanied by Mira was evident in his daily commitment, and it was this closeness that always motivated him to push the limits of what was possible,” the foundation said in a press release.
Since Mira was created, more than 4,000 dogs have been given free of charge to people in need. St-Pierre’s son, Nicolas, took over the reins of the foundation in 2015.
“My father was a true captain, always ready to face storms and adjust the sails to lead Mira to new horizons. His spirit of innovation, resilience and determination were the wind that carried this great adventure. It is an honour for me to continue his work, while remaining faithful to his vision,” he said.
In 2011, Éric St-Pierre received the insignia of Knight of the National Order of Quebec to recognize his contribution to society.
