MINUTES – PUBLIC – SENIORS COMMISSION (CA) – 4th meeting – September 28, 2026 – 1:33 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.

6. Round table of members – Information item

A round table allows members and resource persons to introduce themselves and share various initiatives and concerns regarding seniors. The discussions focus in particular on home support and services, active aging, community activities, transportation, seniors' safety, and accessibility to services. Among others, Remue-Ménage de l’Outaouais briefly presents its home help and support services. Mention is also made of the expansion of the criteria for the financial exemption program for home support services. Santé Québec Outaouais reminds the group of the name change of the CISSS de l’Outaouais. The FADOQ recalls its mission regarding seniors. An elected member highlights, as a success, the recent renovations made to the kitchens of the centre Ernest-Lattion. A citizen member shares her particular interest in transportation issues as well as possibilities for collaboration with the Université du Québec. A citizen member mentions his involvement on the boards of directors of Loisirs sport Outaouais and Vélo-Services, particularly in connection with patrol activities on bike paths. The Table des aînés de Gatineau highlights its involvement in four PNHA collaborative projects and invites members to the Grand rendez-vous des aînés, scheduled for October 9 at the Centre communautaire de Buckingham. The Police Service highlights the interest of the SPVG's participation in the Commission's work to promote information sharing and contribute to better protecting at-risk seniors, among other things regarding issues related to fraud and the victimization of seniors, particularly those living alone. The Chair highlights the interest in better reaching seniors who participate less in activities and discussions, particularly through families, neighborhood activities, and parks. The discussions also highlight the possibility of making greater use of community police officers and other municipal partners and services to reach this clientele.

8. Basic Needs - PNHA – Presentation

An informative presentation is made by Rachel Laporte, director at Solidarité Gatineau-Ouest, accompanied by members of her team, Sarah Aman and France Landry, concerning the project "Besoins de base – Les petits bonheurs", funded under the Programme Nouveaux Horizons pour les aînés (PNHA). The presentation is part of file 3 of the 2026 Work Plan of the Seniors' Commission, "PNHA – pan-Canadian component", and aims to present the actions taken since the beginning of the project to meet the essential needs of vulnerable seniors and promote their social inclusion. The project is structured around four main components: food security, clothing security, access to hygiene products, as well as transportation and accessibility. With the support and collaboration, notably with the Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais (OHO), the interventions are deployed directly in three housing buildings for seniors, in order to reach participants in their living environment. The presenters explain that the first steps made it possible to meet the residents, notably through door-to-door visits, in order to make the project known, establish a bond of trust, and better understand their needs. A regular presence is subsequently ensured in the living environments. Among the activities put in place are the weekly "Jase-café" meetings, community breakfasts, collective kitchens and food processing activities, meal delivery, clothing repair, as well as the development of distribution points for hygiene products. The project also relies on the collaboration of several partners, including the OHO, the CAF, and the actors associated with the collective kitchens, the Racines des cuisines collectives. Referral to existing resources is part of the interventions carried out in order to guide seniors toward services corresponding to their needs. The participation of seniors in the realization of the activities is highlighted. Some get involved as volunteers, notably in the collective kitchens and with other residents. This involvement promotes the emergence of citizen leadership within the living environments, which is accompanied by the project team. Among the elements facilitating deployment, the presenters note the weekly and constant presence of the team, the partnership with the Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais, as well as the use of social activities, including meetings over coffee, as an entry point with residents. Listening to the people met makes it possible to orient the interventions according to the expressed needs. Some challenges are also noted, notably the language barriers encountered with a clientele speaking several languages. The use of simplified language and the adaptation of communications are among the means used to facilitate exchanges. Mobility and accessibility issues are also taken into consideration in the deployment of the activities. The representatives also highlight the support offered by the City in the implementation of the project. They notably mention the support received to facilitate the deployment of activities, administrative monitoring, and the requirements related to accountability. They thank the municipal team for their availability and their support to collaborating organizations within the framework of the PNHA. Finally, the presenters report on the recognition expressed by the participants regarding the services and support received, notably in terms of food security. The continuation of the project provides for the maintenance of activities in the living environments, the development of other opportunities for participation and volunteering, as well as the continuation of local work and partnerships to meet the identified needs.

Exchange period

General comments Members thank and congratulate Solidarité Gatineau-Ouest for the presentation and the work done with vulnerable seniors or those at risk of exclusion. They notably highlight the concrete nature of the interventions, the attention paid to inclusion and diversity, the creation of links between participants, as well as the mobilizing effect of the project in the living environments.

Project deployment Questions are asked regarding the possibility of extending the project to other sectors of the city. The representatives indicate that steps are already underway with other partners and that the objective is to gradually expand the model to the entire territory. It is notably mentioned that stakeholders came to observe the operation of the "Jase-café" meetings with a view to an initiative in the Hull sector. The organization indicates wanting to gradually reach other sectors, while taking into account its current deployment capacity.

Transportation of participants Members also wonder about the transportation arrangements offered to participants. It is specified that several activities take place directly in the buildings of the Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais and are aimed at residents on site. When activities take place at the community center, transportation can be offered and participants who need it can be accompanied. It is specified that transportation needs could increase during the winter season.

Art hive and complementarity Exchanges also take place concerning the links between the project and other social and cultural participation initiatives intended for seniors. Members ask for details on the link between the art hive project envisaged by Solidarité Gatineau-Ouest and similar initiatives already offered on the territory? Is it an initiative carried out with the City and how does it fit in relation to the existing offer? It is explained that the project stems from a need expressed by the participants, who wish to have additional opportunities to socialize, particularly during the winter. Seniors have also expressed the desire to share their skills, notably in sewing, knitting, crochet, watercolor, and jewelry making. A collaboration is thus envisaged with Loisirs sport Outaouais in order to integrate these activities into an art hive, while creating links with the clothing security component of the project. It is specified that this initiative aims to complement the existing offer rather than duplicate it, notably thanks to the collaboration between the PNHA organizations.

Social links A member highlights the importance of the approach adopted to preserve the dignity of the participants and allow people to take part in activities to socialize, and not only to meet a material need. It is also mentioned that the "Jase-café" meetings allow for the gradual creation of links between participants and with the team present on the ground.

Networking The Service highlights the networking that is developing between Solidarité Gatineau-Ouest and Loisirs sport Outaouais. This collaboration is presented as an added value of the PNHA, since it allows collaborating organizations to pool their resources and their interventions from a city-wide perspective.

Mobilization and volunteering Finally, the exchanges highlight the gradual mobilization of seniors around the activities. The Chair argues for the importance of volunteering and word-of-mouth in the development and consolidation of community initiatives. Members also highlight the emergence of volunteer participation directly among the seniors reached by the project.

Vincent Roy leaves the meeting at 3:03 p.m. The quorum is maintained. A break is taken at 3:03 p.m. The meeting resumes at 3:13 p.m.

9. Libraries serving seniors – Presentation

A presentation followed by a consultation is carried out by Marie-Chantal Paraskevas, librarian, and Charlène Ouimet, facilitator at the Service des arts, de la culture et des lettres (SACL). This process is part of file 2 of the 2026 Work Plan of the Seniors' Commission, concerning social participation. It aims to make the library offer for seniors better known and to collect the members' opinions on the means to increase their attendance and participation in activities. The presenters provide a portrait of the network's offer, which includes 11 libraries in the Gatineau territory, and present the registration procedures as well as the various services accessible with the Accès Gatineau card. The offer includes, in particular, the loan of documents and various objects, access to digital resources and technological support, as well as a home delivery service for people 70 and over or with reduced mobility. Initiatives such as repair cafés are also presented. The programming for adults includes a variety of activities, including conferences and workshops, offered with or without registration depending on the activities. An overview of the fall programming is presented to illustrate the diversity of the possibilities offered and to make them better known to seniors. The presenters, however, expose a gap between the demographic weight of people 65 and over and their presence among library users. This observation leads the Service to wish to better understand the factors that may limit their attendance and to seek ways to better make the available offer known to this clientele. It is also mentioned that certain initiatives already allow libraries to meet seniors in different environments, notably through off-site activities and in housing environments. The Service recalls, however, that libraries remain the main places for the provision of their services and wishes to further encourage the coming of seniors to them. The presentation therefore concludes with a consultation of the members of the Commission around the following question: how to better reach seniors and encourage their attendance at libraries and their participation in the activities offered there? Members are invited to share the obstacles observed, the communication means to favor, and the avenues likely to make the services better known to this clientele.

Vincent Roy joins the meeting again at 3:38 p.m.

Exchange period – Workshop

General comments The exchanges highlight several avenues to make the library offer better known to seniors and facilitate their participation in activities.

Members insist on the importance of maintaining paper communications, notably through targeted postal mailings, flyers, and posting in residences. The Service highlights certain constraints related to the production of printed programming in advance, since it cannot be updated in real time. It nevertheless retains the interest in this mode of communication. The complementary use of social media and other digital means is also discussed in order to make the information more visible. It is proposed to develop a local dissemination network involving seniors' residences, clubs and leisure circles, community organizations, home delivery services, social workers, and other stakeholders in direct contact with seniors. Participation in events intended for this clientele is also proposed as a means to make the library offer better known. It is recalled that it is possible to communicate directly with a library and exchange with a staff member. Members highlight, however, the importance of making this possibility better known and maintaining accessible human contact in addition to digital services. The idea of a telephone list allowing certain people to be informed of activities is also mentioned.

Exchanges continue to see how to facilitate a first visit to libraries for seniors who may find these places intimidating or who know little about the services offered. The exchanges highlight the interest in proposing group visits and outings, notably in collaboration with PNHA organizations and residences. Accompaniment during a first visit is identified as a means to familiarize people with the places and help them discover an offer that goes beyond the loan of books. It is suggested that seniors could be more involved as volunteers in libraries, if they wish. Among others, the idea of exploring tutoring, reading, accompanying newcomers or children, and transmitting knowledge. Members see this as a way to put the experience of seniors to good use while creating opportunities for meeting and social participation.

There is also talk of the offer and opening hours to the needs of seniors, notably those who wish to frequent their local library during the day. The Service reports on activities already adapted, including the setting up of a reading club for seniors. It also indicates that activities can be developed when needs are expressed. Members suggest examining opening hours from the perspective of seniors' needs and considering certain targeted initiatives in local libraries.

Exchanges also recall that the activity itself can constitute a pretext for meeting and contribute to breaking isolation. Activities around reading, music, and other forms of animation are mentioned from this perspective.

Members agree that transportation remains one of the main obstacles to the social, cultural, leisure, and community participation of seniors. Several highlight that many seniors hesitate to participate in the activities offered, notably due to travel difficulties, a transportation offer deemed insufficient at certain times of the day, or a feeling of insecurity linked to traveling by public transit. Travel is an issue for social participation. The exchanges highlight that facilitating access to public transit could favor not only participation in library and community organization activities, but also daily outings, social meetings, and access to local services. Several members recall that, for many seniors, the activity itself often constitutes a pretext to break isolation and maintain social contacts. Among the avenues of solution raised, members discuss in particular the possibility for the City or even the Commission to explore the possibility of free or reduced-fare public transit for seniors, like certain initiatives observed elsewhere; to analyze the use of the STO network outside peak hours to see if an offer adapted to seniors could be developed. Members also mention that the issue of transportation could be the subject of broader reflection in the future work of the Commission, perhaps even at the level of the next work plan. A collaboration with the Commission on transportation, sustainable travel, and safety as well as with the STO could be envisaged in order to examine the particular needs of seniors. An elected member highlights that the question of seniors' transportation already figures among the orientations entrusted to the Seniors' Commission in the mayor's mandate letter. It is mentioned that a will exists to continue reflections on this question and to examine the possibilities for action in collaboration with the concerned partners.

At the end of the consultation, the main avenues identified are the following:

• Prioritize and diversify paper communications, notably through targeted mailings;
• Constitute a distribution and information relay network with residences, organizations, seniors' clubs, leisure circles, and local stakeholders;
• Increase the visibility of programming in digital tools in parallel;
• Maintain and better make known the possibility of direct human contact with libraries;
• Organize accompanied group visits and activities to facilitate a first library experience;
• Explore possibilities for volunteering, pairing, and intergenerational activities;
• Examine the offer and opening hours of local libraries according to expressed needs;
• Continue reflection on the transportation of seniors

10. Miscellaneous

10.1 Follow-up of recommendations, if any

No follow-up is reported on this subject.

10.2 Upcoming events

In the context of upcoming events, the Chair and members recall several activities intended for seniors planned over the coming weeks. Mention is notably made of the Grand rendez-vous des aînés, which will be held on October 9 at the Centre communautaire de Buckingham, as well as the Salon FADOQ Outaouais, scheduled for October 24 and 25. Members also highlight that October 1 marks the International Day of Older Persons. On this occasion, the Chair encourages everyone to take a gesture of proximity toward the seniors in their entourage, notably those who are more isolated, through a simple call or a visit. The importance of recognizing and valuing the commitment of seniors who actively contribute to community life is recalled. Information is also shared concerning various activities offered by Gatineau libraries, including a conference on fraud prevention intended for seniors. Members are invited to disseminate the information within their networks in order to favor participation in upcoming activities.

10.3 211 Service – Information item

The Service presents this information item to the members of the Commission and indicates having recently been informed that Centraide will not continue its funding within the framework of the 211 service. More precisely, the organization announced that it would no longer be able to maintain its agreement with the Centre de référencement du Grand Montréal. The City is currently analyzing the impacts of this situation as well as the options that would make it possible to ensure the continuity of the referral service to community resources. The Service specifies that a more detailed presentation of the issues and the envisaged solutions will be carried out during a future meeting. The Chair highlights that this is worrying news and indicates that the Commission will ensure a follow-up of this file.

10.4 Inter-commissions – October 1, 2026

The Chair and the Service recall the holding of an inter-commission meeting on October 1, a workshop in camera and in person bringing together 4 commissions (Commission on leisure, sports, and community development, Commission on living together, Commission Gatineau, healthy city, and Seniors' Commission) and invite members to participate in large numbers.