Canadian visionary, entrepreneur and philanthropist Guy Laliberté might not be a household name, but Cirque du Soleil most certainly is.
As co-founder of one of the world’s largest and most profitable entertainment companies, Laliberté was involved with Cirque du Soleil since its inception in Montréal, Québec in 1984. He completed the sale of his stake in the Cirque brand in 2020 after exponential growth and a long and highly successful run. Now he’s selling his Outremont, Québec mansion too.
s a young man, Laliberté literally ran away to the circus by starting as a street performer, mastering fire-breathing, stilt-walking and playing his father’s accordion. Rounding up his fellow busking entertainers—a small but mighty troupe of clowns, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and musicians—he co-created a modern take on circus with artistry at its core.
Over the past four decades, Cirque du Soleil has grown to its present-day numbers: 180 million spectators across more than 450 cities in 60 countries. Twenty different titles make up the company’s library of shows, including Mystère, Echo, Alegria and others that tour internationally, plus six permanent shows in Las Vegas, including the aquatic odyssey O, tributes to The Beatles, Michael Jackson and more.
In the spirit of giving back, Laliberté created One Drop Foundation in 2009, providing safe water and sanitation to countries that desperately need it and raising over $75m. As an individual possessing both artistic and business savvy, merging his artist’s sense of wonder with the practical intention of learning and exploring, to grow One Drop he became Canada’s first space tourist.
Laliberté owns homes in French Polynesia, Ibiza and Hawaii, and now his Quebec residence is currently on the market. Purchased in 2006, the stately mansion was built in 1930 and sits on a nearly 16,000-square-foot lot.
“When I bought the house, it was in very poor condition,” says Laliberté. “I saw an opportunity to make it my own and give it a touch of creativity. On all my properties, I collaborate with my childhood friend, the architect Richard Dulude. We enjoy imagining unique and creative living environments and designing one-of-a-kind rooms that bring the house to life and tell a story.”
Don’t expect carnival stripes or whimsical references to Laliberté’s brilliant career under the Big Top though. This home was deeply renovated to offer calm and feels grounded and warm, not circus-stimulating. Fitting for a creative individual who’s made a career in entertainment and traveled the world to simply want to relax in a place of peace—at home.
Listed with Marie-Noëlle Nadeau and Christina Miller of Profusion Immobilier Forbes Global Properties, the estate is located in upper Outremont, an affluent, mostly French speaking enclave of Montréal. Historically, Outremont dates to the 19th century and remains an upscale neighborhood with close proximity to excellent schools, hospitals, universities and the nearby shops, cafés and restaurants of Avenue Laurier. “Mr. Laliberté’s home is on what I think of as the most beautiful street in the area, and you can walk everywhere from it,” says Nadeau. A scenic walk around the base of Mount Royal from the estate will lead you into the heart of the city within an hour or so as well.
The mansion with its stone façade and slate roof houses some 50 rooms that spread across 13,000 square feet of living space and five levels. Laliberté and Dulude worked closely with talented artists and craftspeople to ensure that renovations were unique and, wherever possible, surpassed the functional to take the form of true works of art.
The multidisciplinary artist Daniel-Vincent Bernard created aluminum pieces for the exterior walls. And Jean-Pierre Morin—best known for his monumental public art installations—is responsible for the property’s atmospheric fireplace and garden torches. Woodwork throughout the home’s interior was by Ross Monro of Treebone Design, and intricate moucharabiehs (Arabic screens in wood) and partitions were digitally crafted by Christian Chauveau. Michel Bernier and Carole Lachance collaborated on one-of-a-kind cabinet doors and glass art. The results showcase collector Laliberté’s eclectic tastes and his support of master artists, many of whom are local.
A commanding front gate marks the street entrance, defying anyone not to stop and admire its intricate design with swirling scrolls, hearts and a nod to Cirque-like masks. Through the gate the pathway is walled with stone, the stairs are slate and lead up to the mansion itself.
One main-floor surprise is a dining room with solarium that can host 20 guests comfortably. A red stained-glass window was inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, a book Laliberté claims influenced him profoundly, with the chapter On Children engraved within that cherry-hued window.
The home’s top floor hosts the primary suite and, although no photos were permitted, the mystery (or Mystère?) is intriguing. Skylights provide city and mountain views, and a cathedral ceiling encourages calm. The bathroom was designed by Le Moine Urbain with a black bathtub carved from a single block of stone.
Throughout the home, a neutral color palette ranges from pale biscuit to warm amber and cognac, then deepens to cinnamon and cayenne anchored by espresso and slate grey. The only real pop of color is the same bold red in the dining room. On the main floor a red crushed-velvet rug sits under a large coffee table, and in the family room a beyond-bright red sectional sofa encourages guests to settle in. Might the oversized love throw pillow be a knowing wink to the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name?
“Yes, the estate is grand,” says Nadeau, “but also comfortable and cozy. I like the home’s different zones: you can picture yourself drinking your coffee here or sipping wine there… it’s like each room is well adapted to different times of the day, activities and life.”
70, Av. Maplewood is listed at $9.3 million (CAD$12.75 million).
Profusion Immobilier is a member of Forbes Global Properties, an invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.
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