From Outreach Work to Social Entrepreneurship: The Story of Horizons Tatamis 

For several years, Nicolas Lachance-Barbeau spent his days meeting young people on the streets and in the parks of Saint-Laurent. As a street worker with RAP Jeunesse, his primary goal was to build relationships with them. Martial arts, which he had been practicing for a long time, quickly became a way to achieve that.

At first, Nicolas simply taught classes in the neighborhood parks. It was one way among many to connect with young people and create a space where they could talk about respect and perseverance as much as they could about fighting techniques.

Then, the same faces started coming back—week after week. What was supposed to be a one-time activity slowly began to take on a much more significant role.

At the same time, Nicolas is completing a master’s degree in social work focused on the use of martial arts as a tool for psychosocial intervention. The more he delves into his research, the more he discovers the potential of this approach. The project is taking shape and finding its place in the neighborhood.

After operating for nearly a decade as part of RAP Jeunesse, Horizons Tatamis officially became an independent organization in 2023.

The team now supports nearly 150 young people and reaches more than 1,000 people each year through an approach that combines martial arts, social intervention, and social entrepreneurship.

A Mission That Hits the Mark

At first glance, Horizons Tatamis looks like any other dojo. People there practice jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and other combat sports. But behind the tatami mats, the mission goes far beyond sports.

The team primarily supports young people between the ages of 12 and 25 who are experiencing psychosocial problems or who are at risk of experiencing them.

Referred by schools, community organizations, or professionals in the network, they find in Horizons Tatamis a place where they can be active, build confidence, and, above all, form bonds with the adults around them.

The goal isn’t to train fighters. It’s to give young people a place they want to come back to. And many of them keep coming back for a long time.

Some have been with Horizons Tatamis since its early days.

• Teenagers who took part in the first classes held in parks have gone on to become coaches.
• A former participant now works with the team every summer.
• Another is now the administrative manager after discovering this interest through his involvement with the organization.
• Others have chosen to pursue studies in social work or psychoeducation after working alongside the staff at Horizons Tatamis.

Staying Vigilant in the Face of Growth

Horizons Tatamis quickly outgrew the scope of the initial classes offered in Saint-Laurent. Word of mouth is spreading, and more and more young people are walking through the dojo’s doors. This is good news, but it comes with a significant challenge: how can the organization continue to grow without losing what makes the project so strong?

“Growth must not outpace the team’s administrative capacity. Sometimes it’s better to say no—to focus on doing the projects you have well—rather than taking on too many. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to deliver the level of quality we aim to provide.”

As its activities expand, Horizons Tatamis must therefore streamline its operations, clarify responsibilities, and implement management tools tailored to its new reality.

That’s where PME MTL comes into the picture. Thanks to a referral from the Consortium for the Development of Cooperative Enterprises, Horizons Tatamis is receiving support in strategic planning and business development.

This helps the organization better structure its growth without losing sight of its mission or the community obligations that come with it. It’s invaluable support for a founder who sees himself first and foremost as a social advocate rather than an entrepreneur.

By working with the PME MTL team, Horizons Tatamis also benefits from networking with other businesses and social economy organizations. After all, even the best fighters need a good team in their corner of the ring.

This preparation pays off. After several years in its first location, Horizons Tatamis joins a collective of organizations united by a common goal: to purchase the Saint-Laurent YMCA and transform it into a community hub. The project came to life in 2024, and the team moved into new facilities featuring service offices and a tatami area nearly twice as large as before.

For Nicolas, this move represents much more than just a matter of square meters. It reflects how far they’ve come and opens the door to new possibilities. But they still had to secure the resources to make them a reality.

A Solid Foundation to Ensure the Project’s Long-Term Viability

The expansion of its facilities and the growth of its activities have led Horizons Tatamis to reevaluate its financial model. This is especially true since, at the beginning of the year, the organization had to cope with the loss of a grant worth approximately $100,000. But rather than scaling back its ambitions, the team sees this as an opportunity to strengthen the model it has been building for several years.

“Martial arts have always taught me that when you find yourself in a difficult situation, there’s always an opportunity that presents itself,” explains Nicolas.

To support its growth while ensuring that its services remain accessible, Horizons Tatamis has chosen to adopt a social entrepreneurship model that combines public funding with self-generated revenue.

In particular, the organization offers Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and yoga classes to the public, in addition to organizing competitions. The revenue generated is reinvested directly into its social mission, enabling certain young people to participate in various activities for free or at a low cost.

“The more commercial aspect ensures financial viability, which in turn strengthens the social aspect,” Nicolas emphasizes.

Furthermore, Horizons Tatamis can now count on mission-based funding from the Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent — a significant source of support that helps sustain its core activities and provides greater stability.

This combination of self-generated revenue and public funding allows the team to continue developing its services without losing sight of what has driven it from the beginning. Because, at the end of the day, Horizons Tatamis’ greatest victories aren’t won on the tatami mats. They’re built into the life journeys of the young people who find their place there.

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Horizons Tatamis is supported by PME MTL Centre-Ouest.