MINUTES – PUBLIC – Maison du Citoyen Committee Room, 25 Laurier Street, Gatineau – Living Together Commission (CVE)

2026 Work Plan for the Living Together Commission – Presentation

Mychelle Vaive, head of the Planning and Community Development (PDC) division at the Recreation, Sports and Community Development Service (SLSDC), presents the proposed 2026 work plan for the Commission to the members, with a view to obtaining a recommendation. The Service reminds members that the proposed work plan covers only the year 2026. It is envisaged that in the fall, the Service will return to the Commission to discuss the next work plan and to integrate, if necessary, additional elements or files of interest to the members. It is also indicated that the next plan could extend over two years, subject to conditions. The current proposal takes into account organizational priorities, the continuity of certain priority files, the capacity of the teams, as well as topics of interest identified for the Commission. A workshop with elected officials also made it possible to gather certain comments that fall within one of the files or that will be useful for the planning of the next work plan. The plan presented is based on a schedule of five meetings for the year 2026. Three major files, as well as the Commission's objective for each, are presented to the members:

1- Awareness campaign against discrimination and prejudice Commission objective: Contribute to the development and dissemination of the awareness campaign to reduce discrimination and prejudice. Role: Analysis and orientation

2- Social participation Commission objective: Ensure a watch on social files and issues related to cultural and social diversity and formulate, if necessary, recommendations to the municipal council from a perspective of inclusion and social participation. Role: Recommendation It is specified that this major "social participation" file is also included in the work plans of the other commissions reporting to the SLSDC for 2026. This file will allow various subjects to be addressed throughout the year. If an organization wishes to address a particular theme, within the framework of this file, a discussion with the teams could take place in order to consider the integration of a subject into the Commission.

3- Welcoming and integration activities for newcomers Commission objective: Contribute to the reflection on the orientations of the activities proposed in the municipal action plan in order to better support the welcoming and integration of newcomers as well as intercultural rapprochement. Role: Analysis and orientation

Exchange period

Continuity of work A question is asked about the difference between the new proposed campaign and the previous campaign on micro-aggressions, carried out with the Youth Commission. The Service specifies that this is a phase 2, which complements and expands on what has already been done. It is indicated that the Youth Commission will come later to explain how this new phase adds to existing actions.

Discussion regarding file 2 – Social participation The Service explains that this file aims to ensure a watch on emerging social issues related to living together while giving the Commission flexibility to deal with issues not initially foreseen. The members confirm their understanding that this file is not a specific project, but an adaptable space to accommodate new subjects during the year.

SLSDC umbrella policy and inter-commissions Members ask for clarifications in connection with previous public policies related to the umbrella policy (cultural diversity, family, recreation, etc.). A question is asked regarding the documents that will be replaced or integrated into the new policy. The Service explains that an analysis of all policies has been done and that the new policy aims to group and harmonize these documents, which sometimes may have been contradictory on certain aspects. It is mentioned that the subject will be taken up again during two inter-commissions in 2026, subject to all reservations, and that a follow-up will be done to transmit the link to the documents discussed in inter-commissions as well as the presentation that had been recorded during the meeting of May 30 last, in which the members of the CVE had collaborated.

Working groups and continuity with the work of the previous plan Members express uncertainty regarding the continuity of existing committees or working groups. The Service clarifies that the working groups are continuing. The committee on hate crimes/discrimination is continuing, with an expansion of the mandate. A new committee will be created on welcoming and integration activities.

Evolutionary nature of the work plan The work plan is presented as a continuity, with some adjustments (e.g., removal of the housing file). Questions concern the possibility of adding subjects during the year and evolving the actions. The Service explains that the plan adopted by the municipal council becomes rigid at the level of the files registered. However, the proposed files are chosen strategically like thematic "hats" allowing new issues to be integrated during the year without having to return to the council to do so.

Contribution of partners Members indicate their interest in contributing to the proposed working groups. Others wish to know how their organization can better integrate into the commission. The Service will communicate with some of them to specify certain possible collaborations.

Recommendation CVE-2026-01

The Commission du vivre-ensemble (CVE), during its regular meeting of February 11, 2026, recommends to the municipal council: To adopt the 2026 work plan of the Commission du vivre-ensemble as presented.

It is proposed by Isabelle Cousineau Seconded by Terence Blais Adopted

Ibrahim Sballil leaves the meeting temporarily at 2:16 p.m. The quorum is maintained.

Development process for the anti-discrimination and prejudice campaign – Presentation

Florina Gaborean, coordinator for social and cultural diversity – Planning and Community Development (PDC) at the SLSDC, Roxanne Portelance, coordinator – Community Development (DC) - PDC – SLSDC, and Marie-Michèle Barrette, also coordinator – DC - PDC – SLSDC, present the development process for the campaign against discrimination and prejudice. The presentation is informative in nature. The objective is to present how the development of the campaign will be worked on in collaboration with the Gatineau Youth Commission. This is registered as a file in the CVE work plan from a living-together perspective, in continuity with previous collaborations, notably with the Youth Commission. It is recalled that a video campaign on living together had been produced in 2022, and that the current approach is a phase 2, expanding the scope of previous actions. A video clip is presented to the members to illustrate the approach. It is specified that 40 video clips are currently available, which aim to demystify micro-aggressions and equip the population on ways to react to them. A link will be sent by correspondence to the members.

The phases of the campaign's development are exposed. The SLSDC indicates that it has reached step 4, namely the development of key messages, the objective of which is the deconstruction of prejudices and the identification of target audiences, with a particular emphasis on the general population and young people. The working group on hate crimes ensures the follow-up of this process and other members of the Commission are invited to join if desired. It is also mentioned that reflections are underway regarding the inclusion of the voice of young people in the campaign. The presentation specifies that the project now benefits from a total budget of $85,000, allowing the entire process to be supported. In addition to digital tools, the campaign will include activation activities on the ground, in order to promote a change in behavior. The importance of developing impactful messages, as well as choosing the right formats and tools, is highlighted. The impacts and issues associated with the campaign are presented and the next steps are exposed, namely: the presentation of the campaign concepts in May 2026; an implementation of the campaign planned for January 2027, from an intersectional perspective, covering all forms of discrimination.

Exchange period

General comments Congratulations are addressed to the SLSDC; members appreciate the collaboration with the Youth Commission.

Participation in the committee and openness of the process It is confirmed that the process now has an expanded scope. Members express their interest in joining the committee/working group, which is welcomed by the SLSDC. Interested persons can communicate directly with the Service to join the committee.

Continuity with phase I Exchanges focus on phase I of the campaign, including the video clips already produced, which remain available. It is mentioned that these clips, notably those aiming to demystify micro-aggressions, can be reshared from existing platforms and broadcast on social media. A link to the clips will be sent by correspondence to the members. It is specified that the previous campaign was broadcast in French and English and that the phase I clips can be used in parallel with the new phase in order to strengthen its reach.

Target audiences Clarifications are requested regarding the targeted audiences. The Service indicates that the previous phase mainly targeted young people aged 12 to 17, in a school setting (2024-2025 school year). The next phase targets the general population, while maintaining an interest in young people. It is recognized that discrimination affects all age groups, and not just young people.

Themes addressed Questions are raised regarding the themes selected, notably racism and cultural stereotypes; prejudices related to physical appearance and body image; bullying and micro-aggressions in daily life. The Service consulted the members in this regard and the intention is to script real situations, inspired by daily life, in order to make the messages more concrete and meaningful. Existing tools are mentioned and can be shared with members (tool: Simplement moi by the Table Éducation Outaouais).

Challenge of behavior change Members highlight that the main challenge remains behavior change. It is mentioned that awareness activities often reach people who are already convinced or sensitized, whereas the issue is to reach those who are less so. On this subject, a reflection is initiated on the possibility of equipping people who are already sensitized so that they can engage in more difficult conversations in their entourage and on the importance of reflecting on the cycle of change (awareness, adherence, action), recognizing that the effects of a campaign can be progressive.

Tone of the messages It is highlighted that the campaign must avoid a moralizing or guilt-inducing tone. The exchanges highlight the importance of developing nuanced key messages, adopting an approach that challenges without judging, and finding a balance between awareness and accountability.

Role of activation activities on the ground Activation activities on the ground are perceived as an important lever to strengthen the impact of the campaign. Examples are mentioned, notably interventions staged to provoke reactions, reflection, and messages on social networks.

Impact on the public Ways are shared to increase the real impact of the campaign: integrate messages into spaces already frequented by the population; consider immersive or participatory installations (e.g., expression walls, audio clips, testimonials); use data, stories, and facts to deconstruct certain myths; align messages with cultural activities or municipal programming. The question of the effective transmission of the message remains central in the exchanges.

Reflection: Welcoming and integration activities – Presentation and workshop

Louis-Patrick Comeau, coordinator - DC – PDC - SLSDC, presents a reflection concerning the file of welcoming and integration activities. The presentation is for analysis and orientation. Its objective is to present the current portrait of welcoming and integration activities in order to validate and receive the orientations that frame these activities. The objective is to contribute to the reflection on the orientations of the planned welcoming and integration activities in order to better support the welcoming of newcomers and to promote intercultural rapprochement. The process is presented as an evolutionary process, starting with a common reflection and having to culminate in the formation of a working committee.

Exchange period

General comments Thanks are addressed to the SLSDC for the presentation.

Accessibility of information It is raised that the tools and documents related to welcoming activities would benefit from being simplified in order to improve their accessibility. It is mentioned that the existing guide will be reviewed and considerably lightened, with the use of clear and simplified language, as well as the addition of references. The Service mentions that this reflection is also part of the work carried out with the Communications Service. It is explained within the framework of the Integrated Action Plan for Families, Seniors and People with Disabilities that training will be offered to employees in order to develop skills related to literacy, accessible communication, and popularization, including for more complex content (e.g., legal notices), with the goal of better accessibility of information.

Terminology used Exchanges focus on the choice of words used to designate the activities (e.g., intercultural days, etc.). It is raised that certain names may less appeal to the host community, whereas the objective pursued is to promote living together for the entire population. Ways are mentioned, such as the use of more inclusive labels (e.g., new resident days).

Working group Organizations, including the Carrefour jeunesse emploi de l’Outaouais, the Service Intégration Travail Outaouais, Accompagnement des femmes immigrantes de l’Outaouais, and the Conseil de la communauté noire de Gatineau, also express their interest in sitting on the working committee.

Representativeness It is mentioned that the realities experienced by people are intersectional, and that it is important to recognize that several individuals identify with more than one identity or experience. It is suggested to take this reality into account in tools, surveys, and visual content, in order to avoid overly compartmentalized approaches.

Security and sense of belonging Exchanges focus on the reluctance of some people to participate in activities, notably for fear of being judged or for feeling that they do not belong. It is highlighted that the activities must promote a sense of security; create truly inclusive spaces; encourage mixed participation, including the host community and immigrant people. It is mentioned that municipal teams could benefit from experiencing these experiences, in order to better understand the issues related to welcoming and integration.

Funding and target clienteles Questions are asked regarding the scope of the funding from the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) and the eligible clienteles within the framework of welcoming and intercultural rapprochement activities. It is specified that the activities are part of a framework funded by the MIFI, combined with a municipal budget to improve them; the objective is to be able to include different clienteles more broadly; the activities cannot be exclusively targeted at a single group, but must promote intercultural rapprochement, including the host community; there is a zone of flexibility allowing the scope of the initiatives to be broadened.

Objectives It is mentioned that the objective is not only to talk about racism, but to work on several complementary themes (e.g., inclusion, integration, rapprochement, living together), in order to promote a global and constructive vision.

Shared ideas Certain ideas are shared concretely within the framework of the reflection. Notably: gastronomy activities (collective cooking, tastings), identified as powerful levers for rapprochement; cultural or artistic activities (e.g., community theater, stories of immigrant people, sketches inspired by real experiences); activities in public spaces (parks, markets, outdoor events); initiatives promoting the deconstruction of prejudices and exchanges between different communities. The importance of intercultural rapprochement is named. The communities must work together on the theme of living together, within the framework of a common project.

Next steps The Service concludes by recalling the next steps: the formation of the working group, the identification and prioritization of initiatives, the proposal of an implementation calendar, and a next presentation to the CVE in the spring, subject to all reservations.