Thanks to people like you, we’re able to maintain the social ties that are vital to the well-being of lonely seniors across Quebec.
We’ve accomplished some wonderful things together this year. We leave it to our directors to share with you the highlights of which they are particularly proud.
Valérie Leblond et Jessica B. Pinard, Regional Directors, East Québec
Appointment of Jessica B. Pinard as interim Regional Director
Following Valérie’s departure on maternity leave, Jessica B. Pinard is taking over as interim director of the Eastern Pole during her absence. Jessica has extensive knowledge of our organization, having previously been Area Manager for the Eastern Pole, based in Saguenay.
The Quebec City office turns 35
Little Brothers opened its Quebec City office 35 years ago. It was on June 1, 1987, in a modest location in the Saint-Sauveur district. Two years later, the organization moved to its own premises on rue Saint-Luc, before acquiring the former Caisse Desjardins de Vanier on rue Chabot in 1997. Today, it is known as Maison Paul-Hébert.
Long live the vacations!
Dozens of Great Friends and volunteers enjoyed vacation stays at Chalet Paul-Garneau that did them a world of good. We also set up a vacation project in Rimouski, which was a great success.
Loyal and committed donors
The Eastern Quebec region receives generous support from loyal and committed donors. These include Mr. Louis Garneau, the Fondation Suzanne et Jean-Robert Leclerc, the Fondation Québec philanthrope, Groupe Humaco, Valéro and our partners in the Souper gastronomique. On behalf of the organization, our employees, our volunteers, and especially our Great Friends, we extend our warmest thanks.
Emmanuel Bulamatari, Regional Director, West Québec
A special tribute
Last July, we organized the burial of ten Great Friends at the Laval cemetery. Among those present were volunteers who had accompanied these people during the year. Their testimonies were moving, and the warmth of their presence was palpable. Our heartfelt thanks go to Magnus Poirier, who donated this lot.
Brin de jasette
The Trois-Rivières team continued its collaboration with local organizations, notably during the Brin de jasette event. Nearly 200 seniors attended a day of entertainment at the Centre Les Rivières and discovered the organizations and partners involved in the event. On site, a guest songwriter entertained the crowd, and board games were available for participants to network, all accompanied by free snacks and beverages.
Volunteers solidarity
In addition to the growing number of people raising their hands, there is the quality of the commitment. For example, a team of five anchor volunteers kept the Saint-Jérôme team’s beacon burning for six months in the absence of the sector’s coordinator. That’s what a family is all about.
Providing joy until the end
Happiness can sometimes be found in the simplest of moments. That’s what Huguette, a Great Friend of the Little Brothers Basses-Laurentides team, taught us on a beautiful summer’s day at the Domaine Juliette-Huot, in Oka.
Granby and Gatineau experience exponential growth
In the Granby and Gatineau areas, the number of Great Friends and volunteers has more than doubled in 2022-2023. The efforts of our volunteers and employees have enabled the teams set up during the pandemic to take off and continue working with our local partners.
Sherbrooke gets a makeover
A major renovation project has begun at Maison Jean-Besré. Thanks to support from the New Horizons for Seniors program, we’ve carried out maintenance work and added a universal emergency exit in the basement, enabling Great Friends with reduced mobility to visit our thrift store in complete safety.
Joanne Parmenter, Senior Operations Branch (interim) and Regional Director, Greater Montreal
Reducing food insecurity
One in four older persons in Quebec does not eat three meals a day. The project to prevent food insecurity and undernutrition, conducted in collaboration with several entities, including the City of Montreal, the Direction régionale de santé publique (DRSP) and the centre de recherche de l’Université de Sherbrooke, is striving to find solutions to this critical health issue. Three fact sheets were distributed, and an information session was offered to over twenty participants, with the objective of facilitating access to a healthy and adequate diet for our Great Friends in need.
Ensuring the proper treatment of seniors from the LGBTQ+ community
We are committed to offering a safe and welcoming environment as well as respectful companionship to all our Great Friends. In this regard, we have adhered to the LGBTQ+ Elderly Care Charter produced by the Fondation Émergence. The Aging gayfully program promotes the rights of LGBTQ+ seniors and provides tools and training to foster more inclusive services. Diversity, equity and inclusion are also highly valued within our volunteer teams.
New projects on the horizon!
We have developed new partnerships with Groupe Maurice residences and local organizations to identify seniors living alone. A winning partnership that will also benefit other teams.
Over the coming year, several other new projects will take shape within the organization. For example, we will be launching an accompaniment project across all our territories. The aim is to map out our support model to facilitate matching and access to call lists, and to plan birthday reminders. We will also be equipping ourselves with communication tools and a CRM to enhance exchanges between volunteers and Little Brothers.
Pierre Couture, General Manager, Little Brothers Foundation and Pascal Fournier, Director, Philanthropic Development
We salute your generosity
Your generosity is an essential lever for Little Brothers and has been critical to support our work with seniors over the past year. On average, 85% of our revenues come from generous donors like you: the general public, philanthropists, foundations and corporations.
Diversification of revenue sources is the Foundation’s strength. In addition to major gifts, we also rely on planned donations, including bequests. These have been particularly significant over the past two years and have weighed heavily on the budget.
It’s also important to mention that activities organized by corporate partners, such as golf tournaments, contribute to the vitality of Little Brothers. Or, for example, the fundraisers we organize in collaboration with institutions.
Circle of Distinction
Last June, we celebrated the generosity of our major donors at an evening of recognition. We took the opportunity to introduce the Circle of Distinction. It honours individuals, foundations or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to our cause, some of them for decades.
The Book of Recognition we produced for the occasion, which was the first edition, will be published annually.
Regional support
Québec’s territory is vast, and it’s important to note that everywhere, we have donors and partners who contribute wherever they are, and in a variety of ways. They all have a real impact on their respective communities. In other words, every donation or initiative is a stone we add to the edifice. It really is.
Shopping at the Boutique, a good deed for seniors
Did you know? All proceeds from the sale of second-hand items and clothing at the Little Brothers Boutique are donated to the Little Brothers Foundation to support its work and help end the isolation of seniors. Buoyed by its success, the Boutique Les Petits Frères has just opened a second store on Avenue du Mont-Royal, to better respond to the general public’s craze for second-hand items and recycling to limit waste. Come and see us!
You’re part of the family!
Our Great Friends who have broken out of isolation will testify: your actions are essential. Every gift, big or small, changes lives. Every gesture, every hour you give, makes a difference.
Thank you for enabling us to keep our promise to seniors! We look forward to seeing you in 2024 to continue our life-changing work!
