Our People, Our Community: More Than a Theme — A Reality
On June 10, Terrasses Montfort Renaissance opened its doors to the community.
In a room adorned with colourful plants, over a meal prepared by Chef Rick’s team from the Ottawa Mission, more than 80 people gathered to learn about, listen to, and better understand the organization from a deeply human perspective.
Under the theme “Our People, Our Community,” the 2026 Community Public Gathering aimed first and foremost to bring together staff, partners, board members, and the broader community. For the first time, the event was made accessible in English, while being conducted primarily in French, in accordance with the organization’s bylaws. This decision was consistent with the day’s purpose: to open the doors of Montfort Renaissance while fully affirming its Francophone identity.
As a designated and accredited Francophone community organization, Montfort Renaissance provides integrated, bilingual services in mental health, substance use, supportive housing, and services for seniors. Its housing services are specifically designed to support people at risk of homelessness so they can access and maintain housing and strengthen their independence. Les Terrasses Montfort Renaissance, which opened in 2017 in Orléans, offers 48 units of supportive housing to people who are experiencing or have experienced chronic homelessness.
This meeting therefore took place in a living environment—rather than in an institutional setting. A place filled with stories, life journeys, and faces.
Remembering, Acknowledging, Welcoming
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Josée Chalifoux, Director of Housing Services. Before moving on to the summary reports and presentations, she invited those present to acknowledge the territory, noting that the meeting was taking place on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinàbe Nation. Several residents of Les Terrasses identify as Indigenous. Montfort Renaissance is committed to evolving its practices to provide culturally safe living and working environments.
Then, within the first few minutes, the event took on a more intimate tone. Josée Chalifoux dedicated the gathering to the memory of Céline, a resident of Les Terrasses who had died of an overdose a few days before the event. Described as a woman of intelligence and strong character, she had left a lasting impression on the lives of many people around her.
“Céline has left a lasting impression on many people in our Terrasses community. Thank you for crossing our paths.” — Josée Chalifoux, Director of Housing Services
That moment set the tone: the Community Public Gathering would not merely be an exercise in reporting. It would also be a space to recognize the connections, losses, journeys, and dignity of the people at the heart of Montfort Renaissance’s mission.
An organization that tells its story through its year
The Chair of the Board of Directors, Michel Lavigne, then took the floor to present the year-end review. In his remarks, he noted that 2025–2026 was a pivotal year for Montfort Renaissance, marked by the arrival of the new executive director, who successfully mobilized the staff, maintained the quality of partnerships, and fostered the organization’s ability to adapt to a changing environment.
He highlighted several significant achievements, including the opening of new substance use health treatment services at Ottawa West HART Hub, the launch of the Franco-Ottawa Active Living 50+ Portal, the 30th anniversary of the Ateliers de l’Élan, the installation and raising of the Franco-Ontarian flag at the Terrasses Montfort Renaissance, and the rollout of new mental health services.
“These achievements are a testament to the collective strength that drives Montfort Renaissance. They are the result of a collaborative effort among dedicated teams, committed managers, and engaged partners.” — Michel Lavigne, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Montfort Renaissance
The board chair also paid tribute to Roger Régimbal, the outgoing chair of the board of directors, who is stepping down after 14 years of service on the board.
Executive Director Elizabeth Tanguay, for her part, framed her report as a continuation of a commitment she made upon her arrival a year earlier: to meet with the organization, understand the realities on the front lines, and move forward with compassion and rigor, in line with the mission.
Her message highlighted a year of consolidation, close collaboration with the teams, and strengthening ties with partners. She reiterated that Montfort Renaissance is one of a kind: it is a designated and accredited Francophone community organization, operating at 11 sites across Eastern Ontario, with teams working in complex environments—many of them around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“To truly serve marginalized, isolated people—who are often in great distress—we must be aligned—in our convictions, in our actions, and in the way we collaborate.”
She also thanked the partners in attendance, including those who do not speak French, emphasizing the importance of their presence and their role as allies. In a passage delivered in English, she noted that French is at the heart of Montfort Renaissance’s identity, but that this identity does not close the door to differences: rather, it invites us to build a more inclusive system, together with our partners.
“French is at the heart of our identity and the trust we are building with the community. But opening our doors to our partners also strengthens our ability to better work together.” — Elizabeth Tanguay, Executive Director of MRI
Anyone interested in learning more about the achievements from 2025 to 2026 can consult the Montfort Renaissance annual report.
The Leaders We Sometimes Overlook
The gathering continued with a conference by Stéphane Trottier, author of the book The Forgotten Leaders. In his talk, he offered a perspective on leadership through personal stories from the streets—stories of life journeys marked by hardship, resilience, and the ability to transform life experiences into acts of mutual support.
This theme resonated strongly with Montfort Renaissance’s mission. Several organizations mentioned in Stéphane Trottier’s accounts are part of Ottawa’s community and health ecosystem, including La Mission d’Ottawa, Salus Ottawa, Shepherds of Hope, Centre Espoir Sophie, and The Royal.
In his book, Stéphane Trottier tells the story of Chef Ric, now the director of food services at the Ottawa Mission and founder of the organization’s food services training program. His journey is one of resilience, mentorship, and support for vulnerable people.
The Ottawa Mission and Montfort Renaissance are also collaborating on the preparation and distribution of meals in the community; this collaboration has, in particular, made it possible to increase meal production capacity thanks to the professional kitchen facilities of the Terrasses.
A mosaic to make the invisible visible
Then came the long-awaited moment: the unveiling of the collective mosaic.
For several years now, the Community Public Gathering has provided an opportunity to showcase a piece of art created by the Ateliers de l’Élan, a Francophone community mental health program focused on recovery. Founded in 1996 by Francophones who could not find peer support services in French, the Ateliers de l’Élan have embodied creativity, commitment, and humanity in the service of well-being for the past 30 years.
This year, however, the initiative has been expanded. For the first time, individuals receiving support through various Montfort Renaissance programs—in mental health, addiction, housing, and services for seniors—were invited to contribute to a community art project.
Presented by Stéphanie Bonenfant, mental health program coordinator and instigator of the community project, the mosaic was described as much more than an artistic project. It tells a story: that of a community made up of people with different backgrounds, realities, and challenges, but united by a shared ability to persevere, adapt, and move forward.
“Each canvas tells a unique story. When brought together, they tell a bigger story: the strength of the community.” Stéphanie Bonenfant, mental health program coordinator and founder of the Mosaïque collective.
The artwork is based on a shared framework—a hexagon, a human silhouette, a color palette, and a few questions for reflection—but allows each person a degree of freedom. Freedom to choose their colors. Freedom to interpret. Freedom to express what they wanted to convey.
A wire also runs through the artwork, symbolizing the sometimes-invisible connections between people, services, hope, mutual support, and recovery. Colorful beads are strung along it—each one unique yet held together as a whole. Just like the community.
A total of 59 people supported by Montfort Renaissance participated in the creation of the collective mosaic. The project was carried out at several locations, including Maison Gilles-Chagnon, Maison de Courville Nicole, the Centre de services Guigues, the Résidence Montfort Renaissance, and the Terrasses Montfort Renaissance.
When Creating Together Becomes a Way to Build Community
Anick Trudel, coordinator of residential stabilization programs, then recounted the “making of” the project. Her account helped us understand that the mosaic’s impact lay not only in the final artwork, but in everything that happened during its creation. In the workshops with seniors, for example, some participants had trouble putting into words what hope represents. “Through our discussions, something very powerful emerged: friendship, the strength of the group, and the realization that we are not alone.” — Julie Parent, Community Support Services Counselor.
For the women in the housing stabilization program, art became a tangible way to express themselves, but also to take a moment to reflect on how far they’ve come and reconnect with a sense of hope in their recovery.
“When we create together, we’re not just building works of art. We’re building connections, trust, and sometimes even a little hope.” — Anick Trudel, Housing Stabilization Program Coordinator
At the Terrasses Montfort Renaissance, coordinator Bobyca Cherilus noted that the event had fostered a strong sense of participation and collaboration among the tenants in attendance, in a warm and positive atmosphere.
A work that belongs to the community
In closing, Elizabeth Tanguay thanked the 59 people who agreed to share a part of their story through the mosaic, as well as the teams that supported the project, including Stéphanie Bonenfant, Anick Trudel, Bobyca Cherilus, Julie Parent, Lyne—a volunteer and participant in the Ateliers de l’Élan—Giuseppa de Meo, the commissioned artist, and the maintenance team.
In front of the 83 people present, the mosaic was then unveiled as a collective image of what the Gathering had sought to bring to life from the very beginning: to highlight the connections between human experiences and to remind everyone that behind every service, there is a person, a story, and a journey.
The 2026 Community Public Assembly did more than simply present a year in review. It told the story of an organization through what brings it to life: its locations, its teams, its partners, its residents, its clients, and the conviction that no one should have to go through difficult times without support.
By opening its doors, Montfort Renaissance also opened a window onto its community—a community built on diversity, connections, courage, and hope. A community where everyone can contribute their own unique touch—and where, together, these touches come together to form a true masterpiece.
