For over 30 years, La Maison des Grands-Parents de Villeray has been a key stakeholder in promoting intergenerational connections in Quebec. Since its founding, the agency has pursued its mission of breaking down barriers to create a space where the life experience of seniors nurture the curiosity and development of young people. This innovative model, which was unique at the time it started, has given rise to a number of similar initiatives across Quebec.
Supported by Centraide since 1996, La Maison des Grands-Parents de Villeray has a special ability to build authentic relationships between people of all ages. These intergenerational ties go beyond simple interactions, as they enrich the skills of younger generations while keeping seniors active and engaged in their communities. Everyone benefits!
The intergenerational program at La Maison des Grands-Parents also changes the perceptions of seniors. “Most of our senior volunteers are between the ages of 70 and 92 and they like being around youth. These aren’t people who just play cards all day, believe me!” joked Francine Goyette, the agency’s director.
“The greatest strength of La Maison des Grand-Parents is definitely its committed volunteers, who deeply believe in the importance of supporting young people.”
– Francine Goyette, Director of La Maison des Grands-Parents de Villeray
“The greatest strength of La Maison des Grand-Parents is definitely its committed volunteers, who deeply believe in the importance of supporting young people,” the director continued. The agency has set up a pairing program between young people and senior volunteers that gets them to interact through structured activities, such as homework assistance for children, cooking workshops and shared meals with teens and young adults, or coffee get-togethers with new parents.
In this video, Francine Goyette, Director of La Maison des Grands-Parents de Villeray, shares the agency’s strong values and the importance of its volunteers’ work:
Watch the video
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