Founder

Michael Deunov Cornellier

Michael Deunov Cornellier was born in Quebec in 1953. His early years in primary school felt dull and uninspiring, and he began dreaming of creating a different kind of school—one deeply rooted in nature. Education fascinated him, especially the human connection it offered, and he was particularly drawn to working with children. As a teenager, he decided to become a physical education teacher.

He explored various educational theories, and his reflections on the concept of the soul led him to the works of Rudolf Steiner, who taught that a spiritual world exists and that human beings are intimately connected to it at their core. In 1979, at the age of 26, Michael met Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov (1900–1986), a French philosopher and educator of Bulgarian origin. This encounter confirmed his calling: to create his own school where his vision of education could come to life.

After organizing a successful summer camp focused on nature-based learning, Michael founded the integrated educational project he had long envisioned: La Cité Écologique, established in 1984. In 2003, he helped create a second ecovillage—La Cité Écologique of New Hampshire. In 2016, he was honored with the prestigious Kozeny Communitarian Award.

Today, Michael continues to offer guidance and support to the second generation of leaders now steering La Cité Écologique in both Quebec and New Hampshire.