MINUTES – PUBLIC – SENIORS COMMISSION (CA) – 3rd meeting – September 11, 2025 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:23 a.m.
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Follow-up on the presentation regarding the integration of SLSDC policies
Jean Lessard informed the members that during the inter-commission meeting on May 30, there was no quorum to allow the Seniors' Commission to formulate a recommendation. Thus, a return is made to the recommendation that was sought at that time.
Josiane Cossette explained that her colleague Alexandre Pirsch is leading the policy integration file. There are several policies at the SLSDC: family, sports, leisure and outdoor activities, social development, and several other official documents such as the municipal youth strategy and the universal accessibility framework that guide the actions taken. These documents had different actions and axes of intervention, complicating the prioritization of actions and decisions. A document establishing a common core was presented during the inter-commission. The recommendations adopted by the other commissions are presented on the screen.
The recommendation reads as follows: The Seniors' Commission recommends to the City Council:
CA-2025-01 Adopt the Integrated Policy for Leisure, Sports and Community Development of the Ville de Gatineau, aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens.
Mandate the Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés to continue the creation of the frameworks and action plans that will result from it.
Proposed by Marc St-Amour, seconded by Monique Guindon. Adopted.
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Progress report on the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) pan-Canadian stream
The presentation was made by Karina Deliencourt-Desjardins, Coordinator, Community Development. It is for information purposes. She indicated that she is responsible for piloting and collaborating with the community for the New Horizons for Seniors Program, for which the City obtained funding this year. She presented the latest developments of the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
The Employment and Social Development Canada program offers financial support for projects that contribute to improving the daily lives of seniors within their communities. The community and pan-Canadian streams fund collaborative and innovative approaches aimed at increasing the social inclusion of vulnerable seniors in the form of a collective impact plan. The next step will be a call for tenders for organizations or businesses wishing to participate for the next five years. This aims to obtain support allowing for reflection on new approaches. The participation of people external to the project allows for innovation and the development of new approaches.
The mandate entrusted to the Observatoire du développement de l'Outaouais will contribute in particular to developing adapted evaluation tools and supporting organizations in data collection. The need for data is essential, since the City must report to the federal government every three months. It is desired to have a portrait of seniors in vulnerable communities and to know the impact of the projects implemented. Booklets are in production to identify weaknesses in the support offered and the needs of the 19 targeted communities.
The principles of the Collective Impact Plan (CIP) were then presented. The CIP is a joint strategy mobilizing collaborating organizations, partners, and experts. The objective is to increase the social participation of more than 11,000 vulnerable seniors, particularly those living with a disability or belonging to the English-speaking linguistic minority, in one of the 19 most disadvantaged communities in Gatineau. It is annual funding for structuring sub-projects. The CISSO (Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais) will be one of the essential partners. At a minimum, one annual collaboration day is planned. The goal is to be agile in the ability to adapt actions to the needs and realities of the communities. It is necessary to remain on the lookout for changes.
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2024 Report and 2025 Update of the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Families, Seniors, and People with Disabilities
The presentation was made by Christelle Desforges, Coordinator, Community Development at the SLSDC. The presentation will be followed by a recommendation.
Objectives of the presentation:
- Present the 2024 report of the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) – Families, Seniors, and People with Disabilities 2022-2026 and its 2025 update.
- Obtain a recommendation from the Seniors' Commission for the filing of the 2024 report as well as the 2025 update of the IAP.
The recommendation reads as follows: The Seniors' Commission recommends to the City Council:
CA 2025-02 Accept the 2025 update and the filing of the 2024 report of the Integrated Action Plan – Families, Seniors, and People with Disabilities 2022-2026.
Proposed by Gisèle Bisson, seconded by Chantal Lalonde. Adopted.
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Ongoing projects to promote universal accessibility
The presentation was made jointly by Christelle Desforges, Coordinator – Community Development, and Marie-Josée Larocque, Coordinator – Infrastructure and Public Spaces, and concerns two (2) ongoing projects that promote universal accessibility:
- Accessible exercise trail for seniors;
- Development of an accessible playground at parc Belmont.
Project 1 – PRIMA – Accessible exercise trail for seniors
A PRIMA grant application allowed for the obtaining of $100,000 in financial aid for the realization of this project. This program allows for the addition or modification of leisure infrastructure. Work has been underway since the spring and the inauguration is planned for the fall. The project required a budget of $230,000. It includes the improvement of an existing trail, the addition of benches, small shelters, and exercise stations. The trail begins near the bibliothèque Donalda-Charron on a 3.6 KM loop.
Project 2 – Accessible playground at parc Belmont
Parc Belmont will be the first accessible park in the City. During a site visit, there were discussions with teachers from école Euclide-Lanthier. They explained that part of the school's clientele does not have access to facilities that are not accessible to children in wheelchairs. It was planned to change the structure in this park, and thus it was decided to make it an accessible area including a poured rubber surface. Children in wheelchairs will be able to move around on their own without assistance. There is also a sand section, which is favorable for the development of motor skills in toddlers. A shelter will be added to provide a shaded area with a large table allowing wheelchair access.
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Filing and follow-up of the minutes of the public meeting of March 27, 2025
The minutes of the public meeting of March 27, 2025, as well as those of the inter-commission meeting of May 30, are filed and available on the Ville de Gatineau website.
General Follow-ups
Josianne Cossette reviewed the March 27 meeting regarding the establishment of a memorial site for seniors who died during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Service des arts, cultures et lettres (SACL) is responsible for toponyms. The SLSDC (Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés) and the SACL worked to study the feasibility of a memorial site. It was noted that the government of Quebec designated March 11 as a national commemorative day for anyone who died of COVID, regardless of age.
Issues related to COVID management fall under the jurisdiction of Public Health, as do commemorative aspects. Establishing a memorial site could be sensitive for some citizens who lost loved ones during the pandemic. The City recommends that the Corporation des aînés de la Cabane en bois rond consider submitting an application under the commemorative urban furniture purchase program. This would allow for a meaningful object in memory of the victims. A form is available online on the City's website. It was hoped that this would be completed by September 25 for the ARO (Académie des Retraités de l’Outaouais) open house. The file could be submitted next spring. Follow-up is ongoing with Mr. Dubeau.