CEGEP students join an archaeological dig at the ancient Greek city of Argilos

In 5 seconds Every summer, students from two Quebec CEGEPs join university students at the Argilos archaeological excavations in northern Greece, led by UdeM’s Jacques Perreault.
Students enrolled in the History and Civilization program at Collège Lionel-Groulx and CEGEP de Rosemont with their supervisors.

For over a decade, Jacques Perreault, an archaeologist and history professor at Université de Montréal, has involved CEGEP students in excavations of the ancient Greek city of Argilos—an experience that often transforms their academic careers.

The UdeM-CEGEP collaboration was the brainchild of Ariane Poulin, head of the Liberal Arts Program at Montreal’s CEGEP de Rosemont. It all began in the fall of 1995, when Poulin, then a UdeM undergraduate, enrolled in Perrault’s Introduction to Greco-Roman Archaeology course. She had found her calling!

Three years later, after earning her bachelor’s degree in history, Poulin joined the excavations at Argilos. It was the first of many summer trips to northern Greece, and the experience inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in classical studies with a focus on archaeology. Her thesis explored the architecture of Building ‘A’ at Argilos.

As Poulin developed her expertise, Perreault gradually gave her more responsibilities at the site, and in 2004 she became a team supervisor for UdeM students. That role prompted her to explore the possibility of expanding this formative experience to include CEGEP students.

Springboard to university studies

View of the excavations carried out on the plateau of the archaeological site of Argilos.

In 2002, after becoming a history teacher at CEGEP de Rosemont, Poulin approached Perreault with the idea of having students from her Liberal Arts Program participate in the archaeological dig at Argilos.

Her goal was ambitious: to help students apply their theoretical knowledge in a real-world context, while connecting them with university students, lecturers and professors.

As a result, the Argilos site began welcoming students from CEGEP de Rosemont in 2012. Six years later, the program was expanded to include students from Collège Lionel-Groulx, a CEGEP in Ste-Thérèse, north of Montreal.

Mylène Desautels, head of the Liberal Arts Program at Lionel-Groulx, supervises her school’s students in the archaeological field program. She makes sure they arrive at Argilos with a solid grounding in the facts, even though they still have much to learn.

“We teach them how knowledge is built on scientific principles and evidence,” Desautels explained. “It’s through the meticulous and rigorous work of archaeologists at excavation sites like Argilos that we’re able to reconstruct the history of ancient civilizations.”

In the program’s methodology course, students learn how our understanding of the ancient world is built from primary sources—texts and objects that shaped the material culture of the civilizations studied. 

The Argilos field program immerses students in research and the academic environment, often inspiring them to pursue further studies at UdeM after graduating from CEGEP. 

Under an “articulation agreement” between CEGEP de Rosemont and Université de Montréal, many students are also able to transfer their CEGEP credits or receive advanced standing when enrolling in a major in history at UdeM. 

Learning by doing

Teachers Ariane Poulin and Mylène Desautels

“Argilos offers hands-on, real-world experience that is invaluable for skill development,” Poulin said. “In fact, some students who struggle in their classroom studies blossom when they come to Argilos.”

This observation underscores a key strength of experiential learning: its ability to uncover potential that traditional classroom instruction doesn’t always tap.

At the Argilos site, students discover not only practical archaeology, but also their ability to adapt, work in teams and think critically.

Both Poulin and Desautels also highlighted how the Argilos archaeological field program offers students the chance to connect in a setting that’s very different from the classroom.

The bonds students form there often prove valuable when they transition to university, giving them a built-in network of friends who share their passion and experiences.

The experience of Lévis Châtillon, from CEGEP de Rosemont

Lévis Châtillon

“As soon as I heard about the Argilos program, I jumped at the chance. What’s really exciting is digging and finding something from the past, and then getting together with the whole group to figure out what it is. It’s fascinating! I like that archeology requires both physical and mental strength. I want to pursue a career in this field, which is why I’m going into classical studies and anthropology at UdeM this year.”

An unforgettable internship for Eve Dupuis-Walloch, from Collège Lionel-Groulx

Eve Dupuis-Wallock

“It’s been an incredible experience in terms of both learning and socializing. The team spirit with my roommates and the people at Argilos has really motivated me to continue my studies at UdeM.”

A student at Collège Lionel-Groulx, Pierre-Luc Dutil has found his way

Pierre-Luc Dutil

“Going to Argilos gave me the chance to visit Europe for the first time and also to explore my passion for archaeology. Despite the early 6 a.m. wake-ups, I loved every aspect—digging, uncovering artifacts, taking notes, even working in the hot sun all day. The team spirit and friendships I made were amazing!”

Learning to take your time for Anthony Papineau, from CEGEP de Rosemont

Anthony Papineau

“In class, we learn about history from books, but Argilos gave me the chance to do something concrete. I wanted to get my hands dirty and contribute to history. Being part of a team and connecting with both CEGEP and university students were highlights for me. The biggest lesson I learned was to take my time and really pay attention to the things we uncovered. I plan to return to Argilos as a history major.”

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