Spéléo Québec
Spéléo Québec is a Montreal-based nonprofit founded in 1970 and recognized by Quebec's Ministry of Education as the national public utility organization for speleology and canyoning, operating training programs, managing the Caverne de Saint-Léonard tourist site, running educational outreach, and stewarding the Québec Explo digital platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Spéléo Québec does
Spéléo Québec is a Montreal-based nonprofit founded in 1970 and recognized by the Quebec Ministry of Education as the national public utility organization for speleology and canyoning in Quebec. The organization serves four primary constituencies: the general public through guided tours of Caverne de Saint-Léonard (the only urban tourist cave in Montreal, managed by Spéléo Québec since 1981 and drawing roughly 4,000 visitors annually); educational institutions and day camps through school outreach programs and VR experiences; speleology and canyoning practitioners through the École québécoise de spéléologie et de canyonisme (EQSC), which offers technical training unique in North America; and youth in vulnerable situations through donation-funded outreach.
The organization's core assets include physical sites (Caverne de Saint-Léonard, owned Grotte de Saint-Casimir/Trou du Diable), training infrastructure (EQSC with a certified instructor cadre and the Spéléo-secours emergency hotline at 1-855-980-0911), a 55-year exploration archive including the international Mexpé project (mapping Sistema Tepepa to ~31 km in Mexico's Sierra Negra), and the Québec Explo digital platform launched in April 2026 in collaboration with Rando Québec, which aggregates site access, safety, geological, and community-sharing data for speleology and canyoning sites across the province.
Revenue is generated through five streams: membership dues, EQSC training course fees (deliberately priced at cost to maintain accessibility), Caverne de Saint-Léonard tour revenue, book and equipment sales, and donations eligible for the Quebec Placement Loisir et Sport matching program (up to 405% match on donations over $25). The organization operates on a small base of approximately 6 staff, with program delivery heavily reliant on volunteers and certified instructors. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the Yoplanning Pro booking platform, the Membogo membership platform, and on-site visits, supplemented by school and camp partnerships and a network of regional cave operators.
Spéléo Québec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spéléo Québec
- Legal name
- Spéléo Québec
- Website
- https://speleo.qc.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Spéléo Québec is a Montreal-based nonprofit founded in 1970 and recognized by Quebec's Ministry of Education as the national public utility organization for speleology and canyoning, operating training programs, managing the Caverne de Saint-Léonard tourist site, running educational outreach, and stewarding the Québec Explo digital platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spéléo Québec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Adventure & Speleology Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Caving & Speleology Tour Operators (THAAADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Canyoning, Caving & Technical Exploration (THAJABAG), Cave, Geology & Volcanic Experiences (THAJAIAI)
Keywords
Where Spéléo Québec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Spéléo Québec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide access to training programs, equipment discounts, technical advice, and community services. Membership is required for most EQSC training courses and activities.
- Training Course Fees: The École québécoise de spéléologie et de canyonisme (EQSC) offers technical speleology and canyoning training courses during the summer season. Course fees are calculated based on organization costs and instructor compensation. Many courses operate at cost or below to keep training accessible.
- Cave Tour Revenues: Guided visits to Caverne de Saint-Léonard during summer season generate revenue. The site attracts approximately 4,000 visitors per year. Revenue also comes from visits to other cave sites including Grotte de Saint-Casimir (Trou du Diable).
- Donations with Government Matching: Spéléo Québec is a registered charity. Donations over $25 qualify for the Quebec government's Placement Loisir et Sport matching program, which can multiply a $100 donation by up to 4.5x ($450 total). The organization offers free activities to youth in marginalized situations.
- Book and Equipment Sales: Sale of educational publications including 'Cavernes du Québec: Guide de spéléologie' ($34.95 + $12 shipping) and the French Canyonism Technical Manual ($50 + $12 shipping). Member discounts available on purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Caverne de Saint-Léonard Tours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Training Courses (EQSC) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | School Programs - Une Caverne dans ta cour |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Reality Experiences |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Publications |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Spéléo Québec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spéléo Québec is a Quebec-based non-profit federation (founded 1970) that delivers speleology and canyoning services including guided public cave tours at the Caverne de Saint-Léonard (Parcours Découverte and Parcours Aventure), training and certification through the École québécoise de spéléologie et canyonisme (EQSC), educational programs for schools and day camps (Une Caverne dans ta cour/ton camp/sur ta tête), and the Mexpé underwater cave exploration project. It also operates the Québec Explo digital platform connecting the caving community and sells publications such as the Cavernes du Québec book and the Manuel technique de canyonisme.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- École québécoise de spéléologie et de canyonisme (ÉQSC): The training school of Spéléo Québec, founded in 1972, offering technical training programs in speleology and canyoneering for all levels. Unique in North America.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90,000+ visitors welcomed to Caverne de Saint-Léonard since 1981
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Spéléo Québec
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Spéléo Québec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Spéléo Québec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rando QuébeccoreStrategic collaboration with Rando Québec (creator of Balise Québec platform) to develop the Québec Explo digital platform. Built on Rando Québec's proven technological infrastructure, the platform provides comprehensive information on speleology and canyoning sites in Quebec with community features.
- Arrondissement de Saint-Léonard and Ville de MontréalcoreLong-standing partnership since 1981 for management of Caverne de Saint-Léonard. Collaboration on the Centre d'interprétation project to build a speleology interpretation center above the cave, the first in Canada. Joint efforts on community outreach programs including 'Accès souterrain'.
- Parc naturel régional de PortneufcorePartnership for management and visitor access to the Grotte de Saint-Casimir (Trou du Diable), the second longest cave in Quebec. Spéléo Québec owns the cave property; Parc manages visitor access.
- Ministère de l'Éducation du QuébeccoreGovernment ministry that recognizes Spéléo Québec as the national public utility organization. Provides funding through programs including PAFprojets for platform development, training, and outreach activities. Mandates Spéléo Québec for georeferencing of cave and karst sites.
- Réseau plein air QuébeccoreMember federation within the Réseau plein air Québec network. Collaborates on safety guidelines, best practices, and the national outdoor activity network. Includes 11 member federations representing various outdoor activities.
- Fédération française de spéléologie (FFS)coreLong-standing relationship with the French Speleological Federation for training standards, technical exchange, and instructor certification. French school (EFS/FFS) training used as basis for EQSC program. Ongoing collaboration for instructor development and program updates.
- Speleo CanadacoreNational speleological organization of which Spéléo Québec is a member. Coordinates Canadian speleology activities, represents Canadian interests internationally through the UIS, and shares resources and knowledge across Canadian cave organizations.
- Union internationale de spéléologie (UIS)minorInternational speleological union providing global coordination of cave exploration, research, and conservation. Spéléo Québec represented Canada at UIS congresses and participates in international standards development.
- Nature-Action QuébecminorCollaboration on bat conservation efforts. Partnership includes bat protection recommendations for cave management, site-specific adaptations at Grotte du Trou du diable, and integration of conservation into responsible speleology practice.
- Nation WôlinakminorPartnership with the Wôlinak Abenaki Nation for cave inventory and protection on ancestral territories. Spéléo Québec shares geolocated data from its archives to support bat hibernaculum inventory projects. Formalized through a partnership agreement for future collaborative actions.
- Canadian Cave ConservancyminorCanadian nonprofit organization dedicated to cave conservation. Spéléo Québec is a member, supporting efforts to protect significant cave sites across Canada.
- Fédération internationale de canyonismeminorInternational canyoning federation of which Spéléo Québec is a member, supporting the development of canyoning as an organized sport and promoting safe practice standards internationally.
- École de technologies supérieures (ÉTS)minorTechnical university partnership through the Cavernautes project (2024) with the INIT Robots laboratory, exploring the use of aerial technologies for cave exploration and documentation.
- Université ConcordiaminorUniversity research partnership through the Mexpé project, hosting neuroscience researchers to study challenges of conducting research protocols in subterranean environments.
- Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)minorAcademic partnership through the Cavernautes project (2024) with the NXI Gestatio laboratory, developing immersive art-science-exploration experiences for public engagement with cave environments.
- Aventure ecotourisme QuébecminorQuebec ecotourism association that promotes outdoor adventure activities. Association provides marketing visibility and network connections for speleology and canyoning operators.
- Regroupement Loisir et Sport du QuébeccoreUmbrella organization for leisure and sport organizations in Quebec. Spéléo Québec is a member, receiving organizational support and participating in provincial leisure and sport initiatives.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Spéléo Québec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Aventure Écotourisme Québec (AÉQ): Quebec's ecotourism trade association, comparable as an ecosystem/network peer — Spéléo Québec is a member and AÉQ provides marketing visibility and industry standards for outdoor-adventure operators in Quebec.
- Réseau plein air Québec: Quebec outdoor-activity federation of which Spéléo Québec is a member, comparable as an ecosystem peer coordinating safety guidelines and best practices across 11 Quebec outdoor federations.
Direct peers
- Canadian Cave Conservancy: Canadian nonprofit focused on cave acquisition and conservation, directly comparable to Spéléo Québec in cave-stewardship mission and on whose board/partnership Spéléo Québec participates.
- British Caving Association (BCA): The UK national caving body, comparable as a federation representing cavers, providing training schemes, conservation advocacy, and access coordination — a direct peer in role and governance model.
- National Speleological Society (NSS): The US national caving organization, providing the closest international analog as a membership-based federation offering training, conservation, exploration grants, and grotto network support — directly comparable in mission and operating model to Spéléo Québec.
- Fédération Française de Spéléologie (FFS): The French national speleology federation, directly comparable to Spéléo Québec in mandate (training, site stewardship, safety standards, community). Spéléo Québec's EQSC program is built on the FFS training framework, and the two organizations have a long-standing instructor-exchange partnership.
- Fédération Française de Spéléologie — Canyon Commission / Fédération Internationale de Canyonisme: The international canyoning federation, of which Spéléo Québec is a member, provides the most direct analog for the canyoning-training and standards component of EQSC's expanded mission.
- Speleo Canada: Spéléo Québec's national umbrella body in Canada, coordinating pan-Canadian speleology, representing Canadian interests at the UIS, and aligning standards — directly comparable as a peer federation in the same country.
Broad incumbents
- Sépaq (Société des établissements de plein air du Québec): Quebec's government-owned outdoor parks and attractions operator managing dozens of natural sites nationwide. Comparable as a broad Quebec outdoor-recreation operator that competes for similar tourist and outdoor-education demand, though much larger in scale.
Emerging players
- Rando Québec: Quebec outdoor-activity platform operator (creator of Balise Québec), directly comparable as the digital-infrastructure partner for the Québec Explo platform and as an emerging peer in outdoor-activity site aggregation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spéléo Québec social profiles
Digital presenceSpéléo Québec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spéléo Québec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Spéléo Québec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spéléo Québec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Spéléo Québec
What does Spéléo Québec do?
Spéléo Québec is a Quebec-based non-profit federation (founded 1970) that delivers speleology and canyoning services including guided public cave tours at the Caverne de Saint-Léonard (Parcours Découverte and Parcours Aventure), training and certification through the École québécoise de spéléologie et canyonisme (EQSC), educational programs for schools and day camps (Une Caverne dans ta cour/ton camp/sur ta tête), and the Mexpé underwater cave exploration project. It also operates the Québec Explo digital platform connecting the caving community and sells publications such as the Cavernes du Québec book and the Manuel technique de canyonisme.
Is Spéléo Québec a public or private company?
Spéléo Québec is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Spéléo Québec founded?
Spéléo Québec was founded in 1970. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Spéléo Québec based?
Spéléo Québec is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Spéléo Québec make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are training Course Fees, cave Tour Revenues, donations with Government Matching and book and Equipment Sales.
Who are Spéléo Québec's main competitors?
Others on record are Aventure Écotourisme Québec (AÉQ) and Réseau plein air Québec. Direct peers are Canadian Cave Conservancy, British Caving Association (BCA), National Speleological Society (NSS), Fédération Française de Spéléologie (FFS), Fédération Française de Spéléologie — Canyon Commission / Fédération Internationale de Canyonisme and Speleo Canada. Sépaq (Société des établissements de plein air du Québec) is listed as a broad incumbent. Rando Québec is listed as an emerging player.
Does Spéléo Québec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spéléo Québec.
What industry is Spéléo Québec in?
Spéléo Québec's product category is Outdoor Adventure & Speleology Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAADAH, Caving & Speleology Tour Operators, with a secondary code of THAJABAG, Canyoning, Caving & Technical Exploration. Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 7900.