Public Forum: Mandy Novak-Leonard

A day centre in Pierrefonds, Centre Bienvenue is a non-profit organization that has supported people living with mental illness with their difficulties, it has helped them develop their feelings of accomplishment and has enhanced their level of autonomy through life skills training, like budgeting and meal preparations.

Throughout the year, the centre allows clients the opportunity to participate in workshops such as arts and crafts and gardening, outings to museums and sugaring off parties and health education seminars. The centre relies on its handful of paid workers and volunteers to keep the activities diverse and exciting. Depending on the volunteers, client can also experience anything from learning to speak Spanish to biology classes.

For some of the clients, the centre is the only place where they feel accepted and free of the stigma often associated with mental illness. This is largely because; one of Centre Bienvenue’s core values is to treat clients like people and never like a disease or a diagnosis.

The centre’s ability to provide the stability clients often lack, through its programs, activities and courses did not always come easily. The centre was started in 1978 by two CLSC Pierrefonds workers who felt that psychiatric patients on the West Island did not have a place to call their own. Because of their idea and the help of then surgical nurse Beverley Morin and volunteer Lou Arsenault, Club Bienvenue (as it was first called) was born. From 1978 until 1998, Club Bienvenue operated only certain days of the week out of the CLSC. In 1998, CLSC Pierrefonds could no longer provide Centre Bienvenue the space it had occupied rent-free for the last 20 years and Centre Bievenue was forced to leave.

Discouraged but not down, Centre Bienvenue operated out of two temporary locations during 1998 and 1999. It was a tough period for the clients and for the employees who could never really feel the constancy a permanent establishment could bring. After years of fundraising and negotiations, Centre Bieneveue purchased a building in 2000, and like the clients it serves, also finally had a place to call home.

On the cusp of its 30th anniversary, Centre Bienvenue continues to greet new clients and is still looking for fresh ways to serve them. Just last year, after examining the needs of the younger clientele, the centre’s director, Benoit Vallée, set up a work program in collaboration with the Borough of Pierrefonds. Clients had the opportunity to volunteer at the Pierrefonds library and were offered supervision by the staff.

The two founding members, Beverley Morin and Lou Arsenault, are still members of the board of directors and continue to be proud of the centre’s past, are involved with its present issues and are looking to the Centre’s future.

For more information about what Centre Bienvenue has to offer please call 514-421-2212 or log on to www.centrebienvenue.org.

— Mandy Novak-Leonard is a member of Centre Bienvenue's board of directors.