Bubble

With 17 years of experience as a pilot, Johann-François has participated in the festival 17 times. He has flown in Canada, the United States, Mexico, France, and China. His record: a Canadian flight duration record, which he holds with Sébastien Poupart.

In addition to his in-flight achievements, he has earned numerous distinctions in the field of ballooning. An instructor since 2019, he also holds a night flight qualification. He has served as director of ÉPMQ, director of AMQ, and president of the CBA, actively contributing to the organization and regulation of aeronautical activities.

A personal and memorable anecdote:
“My first flight happened while I was still a fetus. My mother, one of the first female pilots in Quebec, taught my father how to become a pilot. After many flights as a passenger and taking part in festivals as a crew member, I started as a student pilot at 16. I became a pilot in 2007 and flew in my first festival as a pilot at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — the largest event of its kind in the world. To this day, I’ve participated in over 60 festivals across North America and Europe. This is only the beginning of the adventure, and I’m determined to keep exploring the world by balloon.”

His passion for flight comes from his mother, who was the first woman to handle a burner in Quebec and the second to earn her pilot's license.