Tanguay an advocate for West Island citizenry

BY MARC LALONDE

marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca

Mary Clare Tanguay has taken over the family business; often times, it’s a predictable way for a son or daughter to make a living, but when the family business is speaking up on behalf of those who can’t, it makes her one of The Chronicle’s West Island Achievers for 2006.

The director of West Island Citizen Advocacy, since 1994, Tanguay is following the trail blazed by her mother, Joanne Farley, who founded the institution in 1976 — and adding to her own legacy in the process.

In the last 18 months, Tanguay has presided over the construction, administration and services at a new social-housing apartment unit in Pierrefonds, dubbed the Heron house, after longtime WICA volunteers Margo and Ian Heron. But more importantly, she provided a voice for West Islanders living with disabilities, clients West Island Citizen Advocacy looks out for.

“There’s almost no housing available out there for our clients,� she said. “They’re mostly on welfare, but we still have a long waiting list to get into one of our

apartments.�

The Heron House sits close to Farley House, and combined, the two social-housing units owned by non-profit L’Ile des Amis — where Tanguay is a board member — provide housing for 24 adults in 22 units. A full-time worker also lives in each house.

“It’s wonderful that we’re able to provide them with housing,� she said. “Some were homeless, one in particular that I can think of had spent a lot of time on the streets. There’s no way that any of the clients would’ve been able to afford to live on their own in the West Island,� near family and their support network, “if they hadn’t come to live in our units.�

In addition to the two apartment complexes, WICA also operates its apartment program in conjunction with West Island churches. In the program, each church collects for, and sponsors, one of six apartments in the West Island, each holding three adult men with handicaps of various kinds. WICA operates the six apartments — one in Pierrefonds, one in Kirkland and four in Dorval — and provides support to the tenants. WICA also provides one-on-one mentorship volunteer opportunities and helps clients break the shell of isolation often brought on by living in the margins of society.

Tanguay said she just fell naturally into the job the same way her mother did many years ago.

“I’ve actually been working here since 1978 and I love what West Island Citizen Advocacy does in the community. I did some big Health Canada projects before (1994), and the board offered me the position. It’s worked out OK, I think,� she said.

Has it ever. WICA currently has a roster of 380 matched advocates and protégés, but Tanguay said that number must rise for 2007 to be considered a success.

“We used to be more, but it’s so hard to find volunteers right now. That’s our first mission for 2007, our challenge, really — to get those numbers up. We ask people to sign on as an advocate for a year, and sometimes that’s hard for people to commit to. We ask them, though, because the relationship needs time to build,� she said.

West Island Community Shares executive director Caroline Tison said Tanguay has brought honour to herself and her family’s name by carrying on in her mother’s stead.

“She’s done a fantastic job of carrying on her what her mom started. It’s pretty amazing to see the succession there. With close to 200 people on their waiting list, they are doing fantastic work and there’s lots of demand for services. She should be very proud and West Island Community Shares will continue to support West Island Citizen Advocacy in their important mission,� she said. Last year, WICA received $16,000 from the organization, which distributes fund to community organizations