AKWA on the Canal de l'Ourcq
Our Story: From Vision to Reality
As residents of the 19th arrondissement and Pantin, we have a deep connection to this neighborhood and its canal. Our ambition is to highlight this unique heritage in Paris by offering an activity that enhances it.
When the City of Paris launched the project call in June 2024, we seized the opportunity to create a place that reflects us and brings us together—locally rooted and environmentally respectful!
We combined our respective experiences and expertise to create AKWA."
Our Team: Passion and Expertise at Your Service
Rodrigue FALEME
CEO
Trained as an urban planner, Rodrigue first led event communication for the Decathlon group. He then founded the communication agency Azilis, which he managed for nearly 20 years. Later, he became Deputy General Manager of Solidarité Sida, where he oversaw the Solidays festival, a major event of solidarity and music that attracts over 260,000 people every year.
Karine ARSLANYAN
Deputy CEO
Holding a Master's degree in Tourism and Event Management, Karine spent 10 years in Montreal as the partnerships and filming manager for the Montreal Metro. She then became a project director in a marketing agency. Since returning to France in 2014, she founded her own company and has led over a hundred large-scale event projects for clients such as Paris 2024, Solidays, Sodexo, ADP, and the Road Safety Authority...
Lise FERRIERES
Administrative and Financial Director
Master's degree in management from Audencia. VP Finance & Corporate Affairs at PROPHESEE since 2018, responsible for finance, HR, IT, logistics, and legal. Lise has over 15 years' experience in finance, both in major groups (AREVA, SCHNEIDER) and startups.
Our commitment to the environment
At AKWA we are committed to combining environmental excellence with social inclusiveness.
Every aspect of our project is designed to have a positive impact.
Responsible nutrition
We offer a 100% vegetarian catering service, designed to satisfy enthusiasts of healthy and sustainable cuisine. Our dishes are prepared with seasonal products, selected for their quality and environmental respect. Each recipe highlights natural flavors and a strong commitment to responsible eating, allowing you to enjoy delicious meals while supporting agricultural practices that are kind to the planet.
Environmental Protection
Our priority is to reduce our carbon footprint and actively contribute to the climate goals of Paris and the surrounding area. To achieve this, we implement concrete actions such as waste sorting, use of reusable dishes, and waste collection operations along the Canal. We also ensure that our activities do not generate any river pollution and work to preserve biodiversity.
Inclusion
We are committed to total accessibility, offering a range of services adapted to people with reduced mobility. Our “Legend” boats are specially designed to accommodate these people, offering an inclusive experience on the Canal. In addition, we have put in place a policy of inclusivity in hiring and a fare offer accessible to all, with discounts for certain publics. Our aim is to guarantee a fair and pleasant experience for every visitor, without distinction.
Our partners: together to revitalize the Canal de l'Ourcq.
We are committed to working with local and dedicated partners to offer you the best products and services! Discover the network that brings the Canal de l'Ourcq to life, and together, let’s support local development.
Your opinion counts
Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to share your AKWA experience? Our team is here for you. Whether it’s for a reservation, a potential partnership, or feedback on your visit, feel free to contact us. Your feedback helps us constantly improve our services and create new exciting experiences on the Canal de l'Ourcq.
