Les Ateliers de l’Élan : 30 Years of Recovery “By and For” the Community
Ottawa, December 5th 2025 – On November 21st, Montfort Renaissance celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Ateliers de l’Élan, a day program in mental health recognized for its community-based recovery practices and its “by and for” model. This celebration marked an important milestone in the history of this francophone program that, for three decades, has actively contributed to the well-being of people living with mental health challenges.
Born from an initiative led by seven individuals with lived experience of mental health, the Ateliers de l’Élan first took shape in a living room, around a common goal: to create a welcoming, non-judgmental space where everyone could recover in their own language and regain a sense of belonging. Today, situated in Vanier, the Ateliers de l’Élan represent a space where art, creativity, peer support, and collective solidarity foster autonomy and civic participation.
The testimonials shared during the event highlighted the importance of recognizing those affected as full actors in their own journey.
Everyone emphasized a fundamental truth: recovery does not happen in isolation, nor in silence, but through the strength of community.
In his remarks, Luc Vigneault, a pioneer of peer support in Quebec, underscored the value of experiential knowledge and the importance of supporting recovery in the language that allows one to express their reality, emotions, and story.
The celebration brought together Ottawa–Vanier MPP Lucille Collard, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe (via video message), board members, institutional, community (such as the Hôpital Montfort, the CAP and the Vanier Community Service Centre), and municipal partners, as well as several Montfort Renaissance colleagues.
This strong participation illustrates the deep connections built around the Ateliers de l’Élan. It reminds us that community recovery relies on the concerted contribution of many actors: social services, health, justice, municipalities, community organizations, peer supporters, families, and citizens. By pooling our expertise and resources, we strengthen the community’s ability to provide safe, inclusive, and hope-filled environments.
A renewed commitment to the community. For 30 years, the Ateliers de l’Élan have relied on a model rooted in active participation, collective action, and the recognition of experiential knowledge. This approach remains at the heart of Montfort Renaissance’s mission: to offer a continuum of community services in both official languages to improve the health and well-being of its clienteles.
Montfort Renaissance thanks all participants, partners, and staff members who contributed to the success of this celebration and to the evolution of the program over the years.