Journal Centraide Vol. 13 No 1 - WINTER 1999

Volume 13, Number 1, Winter 1999
JOURNAL
CENTRAIDE
Campaign 1998: $33 million
Centraide’s campaign: behind the figures
page 2
A musical event to celebrate
Campaign 1998
pages 4 and 5
1999, a year dedicated to seniors
pages 6 and 7
A society for all ages
The United Nations has proclaimed 1999 International Year of Older Persons. Centraide demonstrates its solidarity with older persons
through the work of its agencies. See articles on pages 6 and 7.
CENTRAIDE’S MISSION
To maximize financial and volunteer resources so that Centraide —
particularly through the funding of and in partnership with community agencies — can promote mutual aid, social commitment and
self-reliance as effective means of improving the quality of life in our
community, with special emphasis on its most vulnerable members.
493 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal (Québec) H3A 1B6
On December 17, co-chairs R. Lamar Durrett and Paul Desmarais, Jr. proudly
announced that Centraide Campaign 1998 had raised over $33 million. This all-time
record for Centraide is the fruit of an outstanding effort by the co-chairs, the members of
their campaign cabinet, and thousands of volunteers in the workplace. Photos on
pages 4 and 5.
A WORD FROM THE AGENCIES
CENTRAIDE’S CAMPAIGN: BEHIND
THE FIGURES
by Lorraine Decelles, Coordinator, La Maison d’Aurore
7
:15 a.m., February 27, 1998 – I report to
Relance-jeunes et familles, a communitybased agency on Ste-Catherine Street East. I’m
here to attend the first meeting of Centraide’s
1998 campaign cabinet, on which I will serve as
chair of the Centraide Agency Campaign
Committee (CACC).
It’s a cold February morning, but the atmosphere
inside the agency is warm and friendly. Over 30 other
volunteers, mostly leaders of the community, are here
with me to give some of their time and energy to Centraide Campaign 1998. They will strive to raise as
much money as possible in their respective industries. Looking around, I’m impressed by their obvious
enthusiasm. I’m proud to be part of a network of
community agencies that so many people are eager
to support.
7:30 a.m. – The meeting begins. Everyone takes
turns stating their objectives and explaining the situation in their particular industry. I’m stunned. I
already knew the fundamentals of the campaign, but
this morning I’m able to appreciate the extraordinary
scope of the whole operation. When the other cabinet
members state their aims, I think of the hundreds of
volunteers in the field whom they represent. I think of
the multiplicative effect and imagine what all that
concerted action can achieve.
It’s now my turn to speak. As coordinator of a
Centraide supported agency, I’m aware of how vitally
important this campaign is to the agencies. So I talk
about the agencies’ major needs. I know that I’m
pleading to the converted, stating my case to volunteers who are already convinced of the importance of
their mission. I assure everyone that the supported
agencies and their volunteers are going to multiply
their efforts during the campaign to make donors
more aware of Centraide’s action. They will participate in the campaign kickoff and in local campaign
events. Some agencies, such as La Relance, will welcome the members of the cabinet and host their
monthly meetings. Others will hold caring days on
which groups of volunteers will come to the agency to
get involved by performing practical tasks. Yet other
agencies will roll out the welcome mat for corporate
representatives who wish to participate in a working
session or simply to visit. Almost all of the agencies
will participate in the speakers’ program by sending
representatives to Montréal’s various workplaces in
order to tell donors what their contributions will be
used for and thank them.
8:40 a.m. – We now ask our hosts at La Relance,
executive director Marie-Madeleine Lafrenière and
chairman Jean-François Pelletier, a police officer, to
say a few words about their agency. They give us a
these dedicated, enthusiastic and creative volunteers
will campaign for Centraide in their various workplaces in addition to performing their regular jobs.
9:00 a.m. – The meeting winds up. It was an
unforgettable and enriching experience. There will be
about a dozen such meetings until the end of the campaign. I fully appreciate their value. I am eager to
start galvanizing my own troops…
7:30 a.m., December 17, 1998 – We have come
together for our last cabinet meeting. The co-chairs
inform us of the wonderful result – $33 million! –
that will be announced this afternoon at the campaign’s official closing ceremony in Wilfrid Pelletier
Theatre at Place des Arts. I can already hear the
applause that will greet this announcement. How I
wish that all of the countless donors and volunteers
who supported Centraide’s campaign could hear it as
well. After all, the applause is for them.
This means a lot to
Centraide agencies
Lorraine Decelles
moving account of the tremendous problems facing
hundreds of young people and families in their
community. They explain how they use the donations
they receive to offer homework assistance to potential
dropouts, some respite to families under unbearable
stress, and other much needed services. The members
of the cabinet are provided with a host of examples,
images and impressions that will help them to motivate and mobilize their troops of volunteers. For several weeks during October, November and December,
To a Centraide agency, the wonderful result achieved
by Campaign 1998 is very reassuring.
It means that we will be able to carry on with our
day-to-day task of helping those who turn to us for
help. To continue promoting self-reliance. To continue improving the quality of life in our neighbourhoods. To continue supporting young people, their
families, the elderly and the disabled, and helping
them to find lasting solutions to the difficult problems
confronting them.
Thanks to the success of the campaign, we will
also be able to develop new projects to tackle the
problem of hunger, to undertake innovative projects
with local schools, to fight poverty and its harmful
effects. Some Centraide agencies will also be able to
hire more staff and enlist more volunteers to work in
their communities.
Behind the figures, Centraide’s campaign is the
population of Greater Montréal coming together to
build mutual aid in the community.
The campaign has taken on a new meaning
for me.
ON THE HONOURS LIST
Our heartiest thanks
to everyone who participated in Campaign 1998!
The $33,048,858 raised by the campaign come from donors in the
workplace, corporations and institutions, donors from the community
and foundations. The following contributed $100,000 or more to the
campaign. (Results as at January 31, 1999.)
Biggest donors from the community
• Fondation Marcelle et Jean Coutu
• The George Hogg Family Foundation
JOURNAL
Journal Centraide
CENTRAIDE
2
Director of Communications:
Claude Benjamin
Editor:
Marlène Laberge
Photos:
Alain Décarie
Composition and layout:
Laperrière Communication
Printing:
Bilodeau Inc.
Distribution:
Poste Destination
• Succession J. A. de Sève
• Fondation J. A. Bombardier
Legal deposit:
Bibliothèque nationale du Québec and
National Library of Canada
2nd quarter 1987
ISSN 1193-283X
Return postage paid
Canadian Publications Mail Sales
Product-Agreement No. 0531634
Articles may be reproduced providing the source
is mentioned.
Change of address notices should
be faxed to Fabienne Tessier
at (514) 282-0795.
Biggest workplace campaigns
• Government of Québec
• Government of Canada
• Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc.
• Hydro-Québec
• City of Montréal
• Nortel
• Mouvement Desjardins
• Royal Bank of Canada
• SNC䉬Lavalin Group Inc.
• The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc.
• National Bank of Canada
• Université de Montréal
• Bell Canada
• Scotiabank
• CAE Electronics Limited
• McGill University
• Bombardier Inc. and Canadair
• Power Corporation of Canada
• CIBC
• Canada Post Corporation and Union
of Postal Workers
• Lévesque Beaubien Geoffrion Inc.
• Nesbitt Burns
• Provigo Inc.
• Air Canada
• The Laurentian Bank of Canada
• Petro-Canada
• Costco
• Samson Belair / Deloitte & Touche
Biggest corporate donors
• Hydro-Québec
• Royal Bank of Canada
• National Bank of Canada
• Bank of Montreal
• Imasco Limited
• Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc.
• Bell Canada
• Alcan Aluminium Limited
• CIBC
• Scotiabank
• Mouvement Desjardins
• Power Corporation of Canada
• Molson Companies Limited
• Canadian National
• Nortel
• The Laurentian Bank of Canada
• The Toronto-Dominion Bank
• Quebecor
• Air Canada
THE CENTRAIDE SUPPORTED AGENCIES SAY
“Action-autonomie” Le collectif pour la défense des droits en santé mentale de Montréal • Accueil liaison pour les arrivants (ALPA) • ACEF de la Rive-Sud • ACEF de l’est de
Montréal • ACEF de l’île Jésus • ACEF du nord de Montréal • ACEF du sud-ouest de Montréal • Action centre-ville (Montréal) • Action santé de Pointe-St-Charles • Action travail des
femmes du Québec • À deux mains / Head & Hands • Alternative – Centregens • Ami du déficient mental (Montréal) • Amitié-soleil • Ancre des jeunes • Ano-Sep (anonyme
séparée) • Antre-temps Longueuil • Approche sécurisante pour polytoxicomanes anonymes (ASPA) • Association de distribution alimentaire de la Rive-Sud • Association de Laval pour
la déficience intellectuelle • Association de loisirs des personnes handicapées physiques de Pointe-aux-Trembles et de l’est de Montréal • Association de parents de l’enfance en
difficulté de la Rive-Sud de Montréal • Association des personnes handicapées de la Rive-Sud Ouest • Association lavalloise de parents pour le bien-être mental • Association
québécoise des parents et amis du malade mental • Association Sclérose en plaques Rive-Sud • Ateliers d’éducation populaire de Mercier • Auberge communautaire du Sud-Ouest
• Au coup de pouce Centre-Sud • Autisme et troubles envahissants du développement • Base de plein air Jean-Jeune • Bénado • Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Montreal
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters of West Island • Bouffe-action de Rosemont • Bureau d’aide et d’assistance familiale Place St-Martin • Bureau de consultation jeunesse • Cafétéria
communautaire Multi Caf • Camp Amy Molson • Camp Carowanis • Camp familial Les Cèdres • Camp Gatineau • Camp St-Donat • Camping familial communautaire • Canadian
Mental Health Association (Montréal Branch) • Canadian Sickle Cell Society • CARI Saint-Laurent (Centre d’accueil et de référence pour immigrants) • Carrefour communautaire de
Rosemont, L’Entre-Gens • Carrefour d’aide aux nouveaux arrivants • Carrefour d’alimentation et de partage de Saint-Barnabé • Carrefour d’éducation populaire de Pointe Saint Charles
• Carrefour d’entraide Lachine • Carrefour des femmes d’Anjou • Carrefour des pitchou • Carrefour familial du Richelieu • Carrefour familial Hochelaga • Carrefour Le Moutier
• Carrefour populaire de St-Michel • Carrefour québécois de la famille (La Maison des parents) • Catholic Community Services • CCSE Maisonneuve • Center-City Crafts Shop • Center
for AIDS Services of Montreal • Centre Au puits • Centre communautaire Bon courage • Centre communautaire de loisirs de la Côte-des-Neiges • Centre communautaire des aînés
St-Michel/Rosemont • Centre communautaire Le Rendez-vous (Laval) • Centre communautaire Val-Martin • Centre d’action bénévole de Boucherville • Centre d’action bénévole de
Montréal-Nord • Centre d’action bénévole de Saint-Hubert • Centre d’activités pour le maintien de l’équilibre émotionnel de Montréal-Nord • Centre d’appui aux communautés
immigrantes de Bordeaux-Cartierville • Centre de bénévolat de la région de St-Jean • Centre de bénévolat de la Rive-Sud • Centre de bénévolat de Laval • Centre d’écoute et de
références Face à Face • Centre d’éducation et d’action des femmes de Montréal • Centre de formation à l’autogestion du Haut-Richelieu • Centre de formation populaire • Centre
de formation pour femmes • Centre de plein air Marie-Paule • Centre de solidarité familial - Sourire sans faim • Centre des femmes de Laval • Centre des femmes de Verdun
• Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs • Centre du Vieux moulin de LaSalle • Centre éducatif communautaire René-Goupil • Centre pour hommes opprimants et colériques – CHOC
• Centre social d’aide aux immigrants • Cercle des handicapés visuels Ville-Marie • Châteauguay Volunteer Bureau • Chez-Nous de Mercier-Est • Chic Resto Pop • Chinese Family
Service of Greater Montreal • Citizen Advocacy Haut-Richelieu • Citizen Advocacy Montreal • Cloverdale multi-ressources • Club des familles de demain • Club St-Laurent des aveugles
(Montréal) • Colonie de vacances des Grèves (Domaine des Pins) • Comité d’action de Parc Extension • Comité d’animation du troisième âge de Laval (CATAL) • Comité d’éducation
aux adultes de la Petite Bourgogne et de St-Henri (CEDA) • Comité du logement du Plateau Mont-Royal • Comité logement de la Petite Patrie • Comité logement Rosemont • Conseil
canadien des aveugles de Longueuil • Conseil des handicapés visuels de Laval • Conseil régional des personnes âgées italo-canadiennes • Contactivity Center • Corporation
Compagnons de Montréal • Corporation de développement communautaire de Laval • Corporation Félix-Hubert d’Hérelle • Corporation Foyer de Mariebourg • Corporation L’Espoir
du déficient • Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association • Coup de pouce jeunesse de Montréal-Nord • Croisée de Longueuil • Dawson Community Centre • Écho des femmes
de la Petite Patrie • Éducation-coup-de-fil • Enfants de l’espoir de Maisonneuve • Entraide chez nous • Entre Parents de Montréal-Nord • Epilepsy Montréal • Familles à Cœur
• Federation CJA (Federation of Jewish Community Services of Montreal) • Fonds de charité du mouvement d’éducation populaire et d’action communautaire du Québec (MÉPACQ)
• Fonds de dépannage du nord-ouest de Montréal • Friends for Mental Health, West Island • Greek Canadian Senior Citizens’ Association “Asklypios” • Grossesse-secours • Habitations
l’Escalier de Montréal • Halte-femmes de Montréal-Nord • Hébergement la CASA Bernard-Hubert • Hirondelle, Welcoming and Integration services for immigrants • Infologis Mercier
• Information and Referral Centre of Greater Montréal • Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal • Je Passe Partout • LaSalle Black Community Association • LaSalle Youth
Centre • Local Ensemble • Loisirs thérapeutiques de St-Hubert • Madame prend congé (Centre des femmes de Pointe-St-Charles) • Maison d’Aurore • Maison de Jonathan • Maison
d’entraide St-Paul et Émard • Maison de quartier de Fabreville • Maison de quartier Désormeaux • Maison de quartier Villeray • Maison des enfants de l’île de Montréal • Maison
des grands-parents de Villeray • Maison du partage d’Youville • Maison Marguerite de Montréal • Metropolitan Montréal Deaf Community Center • Mon Resto • Montréal Association
for the Intellectually Handicapped • Montreal Diet Dispensary • Montreal Harvest • Montreal Italian Women’s Centre (Centro Donne) • Mouvement action-chômage de Montréal
• Mouvement action découverte pour personnes handicapées de la région de Châteauguay • Mouvement des personnes d’abord de Montréal • Mouvement jeunesse Montréal-Nord
• Mouvement québécois des camps familiaux • Mouvement SEM (Sensibilisation pour une enfance meilleure) • N.D.G. Black Community Association • N.D.G. Community Council
• N.D.G. Senior Citizens’ Council • Nous nous intégrons en commun (NIC) • Option Consommateurs • Organisation d’aide aux sans-emploi (ODAS-MONTRÉAL) • Organisation
d’éducation et d’information logement de Côte-des-Neiges • Organisation montréalaise des personnes atteintes de cancer (OMPAC) • Organisation populaire des droits sociaux de la
région de Montréal • Parentèle de Laval • Parentr’aide • Park Extension Youth Organization (PEYO) • Parrainage civique de la Vallée du Richelieu • Parrainage civique de l’est de
l’île de Montréal • Partage humanitaire • Passages: centre de secours aux jeunes prostituées de Montréal • Patro le Prevost • Phoenix Foundation • Pilgrim Project • Place Vermeil
• POPIR (Projet d’organisation populaire d’information et de regroupement) • Pro-Gam • Programme communautaire d’aide aux études “Je réussis” (Société ressources-loisirs de
Pointe-aux-Trembles) • Programme d’aide aux jeunes mères célibataires en difficulté: L’Envol • Project Change – Services for the elderly • Project PAL • Projet TRIP (drug abuse,
assistance, information, prevention) • PROMIS (Promotion, intégration, société nouvelle) • Quebec multi-ethnic association for the integration of handicapped people • Radio
centre-ville Saint-Louis • Rank and File • Recreation for the Handicapped • Regroupement des aveugles et amblyopes du Montréal métropolitain • Regroupement des camarades du
Vallon • Regroupement des centres de la petite enfance de la Montérégie • Regroupement des centres de la petite enfance de l’île de Montréal • Regroupement des cuisines
collectives • Regroupement des familles monoparentales et recomposées de Laval • Regroupement des organismes du Montréal ethnique pour le logement (ROMEL) • Regroupement
information-logement de Pointe-St-Charles • Relais communautaire de Pont-Viau • Relance-jeunes et familles • Rencontre châteauguoise • Rendez-vous familial Pointe-St-Charles
• Re-Nou-Vie • Réseau d’aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal • Réseau d’entraide de Saint-Léonard • Réseau d’entraide de Verdun • Réseau d’information et d’aide
aux personnes assistées sociales • Resto Plateau • Scouts Canada (Quebec Provincial Council) • Scouts du Montréal métropolitain • Service bénévole comté L’Assomption • Service
bénévole de l’est de Montréal • Service d’action bénévole “Au cœur du jardin” • Service d’aide communautaire Anjou • Service d’aide et de liaison pour immigrants – La Maisonnée
• Service de la promotion humaine • Service d’entraide Vie Nouvelle • Service de nutrition et d’action communautaire • Service d’interprètes, d’aide et de référence aux Indochinois
• Services-Échanges de Lachine • Solidarité de parents de personnes handicapées • Solidarité-psychiatrie • Suicide-Action Montréal • Travail de Rue Action Communautaire (TRAC)
• Union des travailleurs et travailleuses accidenté(e)s de Montréal (UTTAM) • Verdun Citizen’s Action Committee • Volunteer Bureau of Bordeaux-Cartierville • Volunteer Bureau of
Montreal • Volunteer Bureau of Saint-Laurent • West-Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped • West-Island Citizens’ Advocacy • West Island Volunteer Bureau
• West-Island Women’s Center • Women’s Center of Montreal • Women’s Shelter Foundation “Chez Doris” • Yellow Door Elderly Project • YMCA of Montreal• YWCA of Montreal
thank you
3
$33,046,858: AN OUTSTANDING RESULT WHICH REFLECTS THE STRONG SPIRIT OF SOLIDARITY IN OUR COMMUNITY
PHOTOS: Alain Décarie
entraide of Greater Montreal’s 1998 campaign raised $33,046,858, or $3 million
more than la st ye ar’s . Under the co chairmanship of R. Lamar Durrett, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada,
and Paul Desmarais, Jr., Chairman and
Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation of
Canada, Campaign 1998 largely exceeded its $32.2
million objective, posting a year-over-year increase
of 10%.
“It is with imme nse pride that we anno unce
this result to you,” said Mr. Desmarais to the
C
1,400 volunteers, donors and representatives of
Centraide supported agencies who had gathered
together for the campaign’s closing ceremony. “We
share this success with each and every one of you,
because you are the ones who made it happen by getting involved and taking the necessary action to build
mutual aid in our community.”
Mr. Durrett emphasized that Centraide’s network of mutual aid is its greatest strength. “Our community created Centraide to give itself the means of
restoring hope to citizens in distress,” he said.
“Thanks to the concerted efforts of thous ands
of donors and volunteers, 500,000 people in Greater
Montréal will be able to turn for help to the 250
community-based agencies supported by Centraide.”
Mr. Durrett and Mr. Desmarais expressed their
gratitude to the many volunteers, donors and agency
representatives who worked so hard to make the
campaign a success by offering them a Holiday
Season concert. This was performed by the Montreal
Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by the children’s
choir of FACE School, on the occasion of the campaign’s closing ceremony.
Under the direction of Jacques Lacombe, the Montreal Symphony
Orchestra and the children’s choir of FACE School performed
a program of music for the Holiday Season. The audience was
invited to join in and sing along while they played some familiar
old favourites.
Guests enjoyed a light lunch in the lobby of Theatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts before the ceremony.
Santa Claus, wearing an elegant dinner jacket for the occasion, greeted
guests and hosted the closing ceremony.
Students from Louise Lapierre dance school revealed the campaign result with their
umbrellas while performing a dance evocative of the campaign kickoff.
4
Our thanks to Power Corporation of Canada and Air Canada for covering the costs of the campaign,s
closing event. Our thanks also to CARA and Hydro-Québec for their contribution, and to the students
of Louise Lapierre dance school for their participation.
5
1 9 9 9 , A Y E A R D E D I C AT E D T O S E N I O R S
A society for all ages
TEXTS by Marlène Laberge
THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR
OF OLDER PERSONS
become significantly more enthusiastic
after participating in our agency’s activities for one or two weeks,” says Mrs.
Lévesque. “Many of the seniors who
come here are referred to us by the
CLSC or a physician because they are
depressed. The friendships they initiate
here continue to enrich their lives outside the agency. When some of our
seniors can’t come in for health reasons, someone always calls them up to
find out how they’re doing. In many
cases that’s enough to reassure them
and raise their spirits for the day.”
Why the UN proclaimed a
Year of Older Persons
or older. This proportion is expected to
expand to 18.7% by the year 2016.
The world’s population is aging. The The growth rate will be even faster in
United Nations calculates that persons Laval, where the senior population is
aged 60 and over accounted for 15% e xpected to do uble from 8.9% to
of the total population of the world in 16.7%, and on the South Shore, where
1975. It expects this proportion to it should jump from 9.2% to 16.7%.
grow to 18% by the
Seniors’ living conyear 2000, and 23% by International Year of
ditions have improved
2025. The UN also proconsiderably over the
jects that average life Older Persons is
past 20 years. Neverexpectancy will shoot intended to recognize: theless, in Québec the
up by 20 years over the
• the important social role propo rtion o f older
next quarter-century.
persons living under
of seniors
As well as impacting
the low-income cuton families and com- • the need to promote
of f has been ga inmunities, this demointergenerational respect ing ground since 1990.
graphic trend will have
And there are even
and mutual aid
far-ranging social, ecomore poor seniors in
nomic and cultural implications. The Montréal (36%) than in the province
United Nations proclaimed 1999 “Inter- as a whole (28%).
national Year of Older Persons” in
order to recognize the important social
role of seniors, and to promote intergenerational respect and mutual aid.
The situation in our
community
The territory served by Centraide of
Greater Montreal – Montréal Island,
Laval, the North Shore, the South
Shore – is home to 2,890,459 persons,
12.8% of whom are 65 years of age
tiques: Données socio-démographiques en
bref, Bureau de la statistique du Québec,
Vol. 1, No. 1, October 1996; Enquête sur les
finances des consommateurs: Personnes
à faible revenu, 1980 à 1996, Statistics Canada,
1997; 1996 Census, Micro-data file, Statistics
Canada; International Year of Older Persons
site: http://www.un.org./esa/socdev/ageipaa.htm
OF AN AGING POPULATION
O
afraid it’s a growing tendency,” he
says. “We have to remember that
before they became seniors , these
people were all young. All of them
contributed something to society, and
many helped to build our community
or contributed to its advancement. We
must make a place for them and give
them their say. International Year for
Older Persons is a wonderful opportunity to begin doing so.”
The impacts are
still unknown
“I believe that we haven’t come close
to accurately assessing the impact on
our society of an aging population,”
says Odette Viens, executive director
of Project Change. “This will be the
first time in the history of humanity
that we have so many seniors living to
such an advanced age. As a civilization, we have no terms of reference.
And there is a parallel trend: people
are retiring earlier and earlier. We have
to examine these two trends together.
Many people – those who retire at age
50, for example – will devote fewer
years of their life to working. These
two s oc ial phenomena will have a
major impact.”
According to Denis Leblanc, executive director of Partage humanitaire,
there is a tendency to blame seniors for
the high cost of health care. “And I’m
6
Denis Leblanc, Executive
Director, Partage humanitaire
Dolorès Lévesque, a practitioner at
Loisirs thérapeutiques de St-Hubert,
points out that at 60 y ears of age
people are self-sufficient, productive
members of society. “Seniors are an
integral part of our community, just
like children and teens. From the time
people retire until they reach age 70 or
Sources: Les inégalités sociales de la santé,
over, there is a long period during
Montreal-Centre Regional Health and Social
Services Centre, 1998 Annual Report; Statis - which most remain very alert.”
THE NEEDS
n the occasion of International Year of Older Persons,
representatives of Centraide
supported agencies shared
their thoughts with us on
the de mographic trends
described above. They discussed the
impacts of these trends, and the challenges they present to seniors as well as
to our whole community.
The wish to be useful
Odette Viens, Executive Director,
Project Change
Seniors have both the desire and the
capacity to continue playing a useful
role in society. “Seniors want to do
things with us at Project Change,” says
Ode tte Viens. “They want to be
involved in what’s happening, to be
consulted, to be recognized for who
the y are and what they’ve accomplished. We have some 30 volunteers
here, all seniors, who help us animate
the agency. They’re involved in deciding
what to do and how to do it. They’ve
formed a committee to help us define
the roles and responsibilities of both
volunteers and staffers, and to assign
A variety of needs
“Senio rs are no t a homo gene ous
group,” c ontinue s Mrs . Viens.
“Between 55 and 90 years of age, there
are several generations of seniors, each
with different needs, expectations,
cultures and life experiences. Yet they
all come together at places such as
Project Change. People in their early
60s, who had access to higher education and good jobs, find themselves
rubbing shoulders with 85-year-olds
who left school early and spent their
working lives in dead-end jobs. These
two generations are completely different. When we talk about the generation gap, w e think about the gap
between seniors and teens. But there
are generation gaps within seniors’
groups as well. The main challenge in
the years ahead will be to encourage
our ‘young seniors’ and our ‘old seniors’
to get along with each other, to help
each other out, and to compensate for
each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
A community centre such as ours is a
public place, and we have to welcome
everyone who considers herself or himself a senior.”
Some older persons are less autonomous than others, and to meet their
needs one has to reach out to them.
Mr. Leblanc observes a certain sense
of detachment in seniors which contributes to their isolation. “We have to
motivate them,” he says. “We have to
help them fill their days by offering
them suitable activities. If they participate in activities together today, they
will have memories they can share with
each other tomorrow. Many seniors
share the same space without ever getting to know one another because they
come from different backgrounds and
have nothing in common. We encourage them to develop friendships. For
such seniors, socializing with each other is an important form of mutual aid.”
The same principle applies at Loisirs
thérapeutiques de St-Hubert, where
socializing is considered a “therapeutic” activity. “We’ve seen seniors
Dolorès Lévesque, Practitioner,
Loisirs thérapeutiques de St-Hubert
tas ks . Their invo lveme nt i s very
stimulating for us. It forces us to set
aside ready-made solutions and to
be original.”
Planning for the future today
Everyone we spoke to at the agencies
agreed that society ha s to o many
preconceptions about older persons.
Seniors range from abandoned elderly
persons to dynamic retirees. Their age,
health, financial position and social
situation vary considerably. Each has
very precise needs. We have to start
thinking today about how our society is
going to look after its seniors tomorrow. What services will we offer them?
How will they participate in society?
How will they put their skills and
experience to work for the community?
Those are just some of the questions
we are invited to consider during Internatio nal Year of Older P ers ons .
Seniors want to continue contributing
to society, and we have to make a
place for them. When we stop looking
upon aging as a problem, we will have
taken a giant step toward “a society
for all ages.”
1 9 9 9 , A Y E A R D E D I C AT E D T O S E N I O R S
TEXTS by Marlène Laberge
A COMMUNITY FOR ALL AGES
Seniors and Centraide
agencies
Centraide supports 250 agencies, 17 of
which are dedicated specifically to
meeting the needs of seniors. Between
them, these 17 agencies serve 38,000
older persons in the Greater Montréal
area. They offer a wide range of activities designed to give seniors a sense of
belonging and to help them maintain
their social networks, become more
self-sufficient, and remain actively
involved in their community. E a c h
agency tailors its activities to the specific group of seniors it serves.
Partage humanitaire focuses on
seniors with diminished capacities who
are living in institutions. It strives to
meet their intellectual, physical and
social needs, as well as their need to
expre ss the mselve s and have fun.
It adapts its activities to each individual. These range from readings and
puzzle games to light gymnastics, in a
wheelchair where appropriate. The
agency reaches 1,200 seniors living in
24 different institutions.
Loisirs thérapeutiques de StHubert operates out of a beautiful,
brightly coloured house with large
rooms. The 180 seniors who congregate here consider it their home and
regard themselves as a family. When
they participate in the handiwork and
crafts workshops, they like to create
This lady seems as pleased as Punch.
This Scrabble player isn’t at a loss
for words!
It’s fun to have a big playmate to share
your toys with.
practical things that can be put to good
use in the house. Before mealtime,
everyone usually likes to do a bit of
exercise to work up an appetite. Then
some seniors prepare the meal, others
serve it. There’s always something to
do, and everyone seems to appreciate
the opportunity to be of help. There is
a wonderful spirit of mutual aid in
the air because the members of this
large family like to give as much as
they receive.
JEANINE SAINT-JEAN:
H
er father lived to be a hundred, and Jeanine Saint-Jean
says she intends to do the
same. We don’t doubt it for
a moment. Her vivacity,
curiosity and alertness belie
her real age, and it’s clear that she’s
still young at heart. Mrs. Saint-Jean’s
life has not always been easy, but she
has treated each setback as an occasion
to strengthen her resolve and forge
ahead even further.
As a young married woman with a
husband and two sons, Mrs. Saint-Jean
was stricken by poverty and obliged to
live on welfare. But instead of letting it
get her down, she reacted by going out
and helping people who were even
poorer than herself. Coming home to
her family at the end of the day, she
would exclaim: “How fortunate we
are!” She also began working at a variety of odd jobs, including cleaning
house for families that were much
better-off than her own. “It’s good to
see how the other half lives ,” she
would say cheerfully. These experiences broadened her horizons and gave
her a taste for learning. And one of her
proudest accomplishments is “becoming a qualified podiatrist when I was
already in my 50s.”
But her troubles were not over.
“When my husband was 63 years of
age, he had a serious accident and suffered third-degree burns,” she explains.
“The effects left him very depressive
for the rest of his days.” This had a tremendous impact on Mrs. Saint-Jean’s
life. When her husband died ten years
ago, she was grief-stricken. But, plucky
as ever, she pulled herself together and
prepared to face life on her own.
Three years ago, her son invited her
to come and live in his house on Fabre
Street in the heart of Montréal. “I was
very hesitant,” she admits. “I wasn’t at
all sure that it was a good idea to move
in with your children. Not to mention
that I’d always lived in Rosemont.” But
she c ons idered the offe r any way,
weighed the pros and cons, agonized
over her decision… and finally accepted!
Her new neighbourhood, the Plateau
Mont-Royal, was totally unfamiliar to
her. But did Jeanine Saint-Jean feel lost
and alone? Not at all! Shortly after her
arrival she heard that Project Change, a
Project Change o ffers a wide
choice of activities to the approximately 500 seniors who turn up each week:
discussion groups, writing workshops,
choral singing, meals-on-wheels, recreational outings, etc. Most of the volunteers are seniors themselves, and several are involved in developing the
agency’s programs. The objective of
this agency is to help seniors to develop their skills and talents.
The Maison des grands-parents de
Villeray focuses on cementing ties
between seniors, young people and
families. “We look at how seniors wish
to make themselves useful, and what
families tell us they need in the way of
services,” explains Clémence Racine,
the agency’s coordinator. “We know
that seniors want opportunities to pass
on their knowledge and experience.
So when local parents and schools
informed us that some kids needed
help with their homework, we set up a
homework assistance program. The
seniors play an educational role in the
broadest se nse, offering academic
assistance while at the same time providing the kids with the praise and
encouragement which many of them
don’t receive at home.”
In addition to the agencies which
focus exclusively on seniors, some
Centraide supported agencies that work
in other areas (volunteer development,
youth assistance, etc.) offer services to
older persons as well. The West Island
Volunteer Bureau, for example, provides
home care for seniors. Margaret Jones,
the Bureau’s executive director, explains
that “the West Island is inhabited by old
families. In the anglophone community,
many seniors find themselves on their
own because family members and
friends have moved away. So they are in
greater need of support.” For those who
are less autonomous or have cognitive or
physical problems, there are accompaniment services and a meals-on-wheels.
Seniors recovering from an operation
require a greater and greater amount of
assistance, she points out.
In Montréal North, young volunteers from Coup de pouce jeunesse
maintain ongoing relations with local
seniors. They participate in activities
with older persons at two hostels. They
accompany less autonomous seniors on
recreational outings, such as short fishing expeditions and dogsled rides. As
for seniors who are independent enough
to go out on their own, young volunteers call them up twice a week just to
keep in touch. “These are real two-way
relationships,” says Coup de pouce
jeunesse executive director Johanne
Lacoste. “The seniors are very interested in what the young people have to
say. They lend the kids a friendly ear
and give them excellent advice.”
DETERMINED TO LIVE A HUNDRED
Jeanine Saint-Jean
community centre for seniors, was
holding a week-long conference on
health. The subject was of considerable
interest to her, so she promptly showed
up, joined in – and began making
friends in her new neighbourhood.
Since then she has become a regular at
this agency where, as she puts it, “they
make people happy.” She takes an
active interest in its program, and
served on a committee responsible for
evaluating the agency’s activities and
suggesting changes.
Mrs. Saint-Jean has been living in
the Plateau Mont-Royal for three years
now, and she feels completely at home
here. She has embraced this vibrant
neighbourhood, and loves to get up at
the crack of dawn to watch her street
come to life. Her involvement with
Project Change helps to maintain her
youthful spirits and good health. “They
do a much better job than our hospitals,” she says impishly. Let’s wish this
community-based agency a long life so
that it can contribute to the happiness
of thousands more seniors… and help
Jeanine Saint-Jean celebrate her onehundredth birthday in 2024!
7
Thank you for lending a hand
D
uring Campaign 1998, Centraide enjoyed
a high profile in all the media thanks
to the generosity of numerous individuals
and organizations.
Many people volunteered to contribute their
time and energy to developing and carrying out
Air Canada
André Desjardins
AstralTech
Bell Canada
Buzz Image Group
Canada Post Corporation
Canal Vie
Carrefour Laval
CBC Television
CFCF TV
CFGL FM
CFMB AM
CFQR FM
CHAA FM
CHAI FM
CHCR FM
CHOM FM
Chrysler Dealers Advertising Association
CIEL FM
Cinémas Guzzo
CINQ Radio Centre-Ville FM
CIQC AM
CIRA Radio Ville-Marie FM
CISM FM
CITÉ Rock Détente FM
City of Montréal
CJAD AM
CKAC AM
CKGM AM
CKMF FM
CKVL AM
Claude Gauthier
Claude Néon
Centraide’s advertising campaign: the actors and
children who participated in the creation of
Centraide’s radio and TV messages, the team at
PNMD Communication, the technicians involved in
producing the messages.
In Greater Montréal’s workplaces, employers
conveyed Centraide’s message over the Internet,
through their in-house publications, by displaying
posters, etc.
The electronic and print media gave Centraide
tremendous visibility, as did the billposting industry
and movie houses.
The following gave air time or ad space to
Centraide.
Confédération des caisses populaires
Desjardins
Corporation Cinéplex Odéon
Corporation Famous Players
Costco Canada Inc.
Coup de pouce
Covitec
Denhur
Éditions du Feu Vert
Éditions Info Presse Inc.
Elle Québec
Épiciers Unis Métro-Richelieu inc.
Essaim
Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec
Flashmédia
François Brunelle, photographer
General Motors of Canada
Global
Good Times
Howard Rosenstein
Hydro-Québec
Imperial Oil
La Brasserie Labatt
La Fabrique d’Images
La Majeure Studio
La Presse
La Presse Juridique
Le Devoir
Le Journal de Montréal
Molson Brewery Ltd.
Les Hebdos Sélect du Québec
L’Oreille Cassée
Loto-Québec
Maclean Hunter Publishing Ltd.
Madame au Foyer / Homemaker’s
Magazine Entreprendre
Marchands en alimentation Agora
McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada
Médiacom
Météomédia
Métromédia CMR Plus inc.
Molson Centre
National Bank of Canada
PNMD Communication Inc.
Pattison
Pharmaprix
PubZone
Québec-Franchise and
Micro-Franchise Magazine
Québec Radio Marketing Bureau
Réseau de l’information
Réno-Dépôt
Réseau des sports
Revue L’Église canadienne
Rona inc.
RSB Vidéo
Société Radio-Canada (CBFT TV)
St-Hubert Bar-B-Q Ltd.
Supersuite
TCV (télévision communautaire)
Télé-Métropole
Télé-Québec
Télévision Quatre Saisons
The Gazette
Transcontinental Publishing
Trustar
TV5
Zoom Média
C e l e b r a t i n g C e n t r a i d e ’s
great network
TRIBUTES
by Solange Lefebvre
Journal Centraide
T
8
he theme [of International
Year of Older Persons], “A
society of all ages,” is very
evocative. It can suggest the
need to include the older generation, which the modern
world tends to neglect. But it can also
suggest the idea of a new solidarity
among the different generations –
especially within the family, which
remains fundamental, but also at the
broader political level.
I therefore want to salute the
grandparents of this world. Not only
those who have biological grandchildren, but also all the single seniors,
great-aunts and great-uncles, and
parents without grandchildren who
have reached out to young people during the course of their lives. After all,
other people’s grandchildren are just as
important as our own.
I certainly don’t want to limit the
role and the identity of older persons to
those of a grandparent. Yet this aspect
seems very crucial to me because it
reflects a concern for the upcoming
generation, for the future. […]
Let’s give the last word to two veteran seniors (Marguerite HogueCharlebois and Raymond Paré): “Many
young people are drawn to seniors,
who imbue them with a faith in their
own future and the courage to cope
with life’s problems. Together, young
and old help each other to come to
terms with maturing and aging in a
world focused on beauty, youth and
performance.”
The above is an extract from an article entitled
« 1999, Année internationale des personnes
âgées » which appeared in Le Devoir on January 24, 1999. The author, Solange Lefebvre,
is a Centraide director as well as a theologian,
anthropologist, and professor of theology at
the Université de Montréal.
On April 27, 1999, Centraide will present its prizes at the
“Distinctions” awards ceremony. This annual event is the
occasion to recognize our volunteers, our donors, the
excellent work performed in our agencies, and the outstanding contribution to our fundraising campaign of companies,
employee groups and unions. Come and join us for this
celebration of Centraide’s great network of solidarity!
Perhaps you’ll be among the prizewinners…
Centraide’s Awards
for Campaign 1998
The agency prizes
•
The Antoinette Robidoux Award
recognizes outstanding social commitment on the part of a volunteer who is
working or has worked in an agency.
– fewer than 250 employees
– from 250 to 1,000 employees
– 1,000 plus employees
•
The Agnes C. Higgins Award
recognizes outstanding innovation on the
part of an agency in meeting the social
needs of the community.
•
Leadership Giving Campaign
•
•
Trade Union Support
The Gilles Cousineau Award
goes to an employee of an agency for
performing work of outstanding quality.
•
Overall Support
•
Employee Campaign: