Author name: Gatineau Bulletin

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Confronted with a growing homelessness crisis worsened by mental health and addiction
challenges, the Quebec government on September 25 officially launched the PRISM program
(Reaffiliation in Homelessness and Mental Health) in Gatineau, an initiative designed to provide
integrated supports for people facing multiple, overlapping vulnerabilities.

At a press conference alongside representatives from Gîte-Ami, Maison Réalité, the CISSS de
l’Outaouais, and municipal officials, Quebec Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant stressed
the scale of the problem: while homelessness has risen by 44 per cent across Quebec since
2018, the increase in the Outaouais region has topped 200 per cent. He noted that many people
living on the streets, often struggling with severe mental health or substance-use issues, either
avoid shelters or are refused entry because their needs cannot be met under existing models.

PRISM aims to bridge that gap by offering around-the-clock access, seven days a week, to
permanent shelter beds combined with multidisciplinary clinical care, including a psychiatrist, a
nurse, and psychosocial workers, for eight to 12 weeks of stabilization. Afterwards, participants
will be supported in transitioning to permanent housing, with long-term follow-up provided by
community organizations such as Maison Réalité. Gîte-Ami, which already manages multiple
shelter sites in Gatineau, will operate the program’s dedicated beds.

The Gatineau rollout includes five continuous shelter beds and six places in supported housing.
In Montreal, where the program has been active for several years, data show promising
outcomes: roughly 62.5 per cent of participants remained in stable housing one year after
completing the program, and most continued with psychiatric care.

Local organizations say the program is arriving at a critical time. Gîte-Ami reported more than
1,160 admissions in 2022–2023 across its four sites, a figure that has continued to climb, with
makeshift encampments increasingly visible across the city. Advocates caution, however, that
the region’s shortage of affordable housing could limit how far programs like PRISM can reach.
Despite those concerns, community leaders expressed optimism about the collaboration at the
heart of the project. Maison Réalité, which specializes in psychosocial rehabilitation for people
with mental illness, will play a central role in long-term support.

“We’re uniting our strengths to offer hope to those who need it most. This program is more than
a service, it’s a pathway toward dignity and stability, and a chance at a better future,” said
Minister Carmant.

Photo: Quebec Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant announced the launch of the PRISM
program in Gatineau, bringing integrated housing and mental health support to people
experiencing homelessness. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A new awareness campaign launched by the Ville de Gatineau, in partnership with the Société
de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), is calling on residents to treat public employees with greater
respect. The campaign is titled “Avec nos employés, y’a pas de raison d’être bête. À Gatineau,
on se respecte.” (With our employees, there’s no reason to be rude. In Gatineau, we respect
each other.)

The initiative responds to the growing number of reports from frontline staff who describe
encounters involving rude remarks, dismissive gestures and verbal aggression while performing
their duties. According to the city, the scenarios portrayed in the campaign are based on real
events experienced by municipal and transit employees.

The campaign includes posters and a series of short videos depicting these everyday incidents.
In several of the visuals, a person wears a large reptilian or dragon-like mask — a literal
interpretation of “être bête”, which in French means both “to be rude” and “to act like a beast”.
The masked figure symbolizes the uncivil behaviour that the city wants residents to recognize
and reject.

“This behaviour, whether a rude comment or a confrontation, is never acceptable,” said Patrick
Leclerc, Director General of the STO. He added that employees providing essential services to
the public are too often met with hostility when what they need is patience and understanding.
The campaign is part of a broader five-part action plan focused on improving working conditions
and strengthening the relationship between residents and public staff. It includes training to help
employees manage challenging interactions, enhancing the physical safety of workspaces,
simplifying administrative processes, promoting respectful conduct through public messaging
and establishing clear procedures for responding to incidents.

Simon Rousseau, Director General of the Ville de Gatineau, said the city is taking concrete
steps to protect its personnel. “Respect and the safety of our personnel are at the heart of the
values of the Ville de Gatineau. We are determined to ensure that every employee can carry out
their duties without fear of intimidation or violence.”

While campaign materials are highly visual, the underlying message is cultural. Officials say the
aim is to encourage reflection, foster empathy and prompt a shift toward civility in everyday
interactions.

“The growing incivility has profound repercussions on public life, and I witness it directly as a
municipal councillor,” said Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent, councillor for the Touraine district and chair
of the Commission du vivre-ensemble. “It is imperative to remember the humanity of each
councillor and each employee. Debate of ideas is essential, but words and actions have an
impact. It is everyone’s responsibility to preserve civility and respect in our exchanges.”​

Photo: City and transit leaders in Gatineau are calling on residents to show more respect toward
public employees, launching a new campaign based on real incidents of incivility reported by
staff. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

À fleur d’eau , a multifaceted public art installation by Gatineau artist Mélanie Myers and the
Montreal-based urban design co-operative Le Comité, has been chosen for integration into the
redevelopment of the motor zone in Pointe-Gatineau. The work is scheduled for production in
autumn 2025, with installation set for spring 2026, pending final approval by Gatineau’s
municipal council.

The piece emerged from a competitive selection process that included public input and expert
deliberation. Earlier this year, residents of Pointe-Gatineau voted online for their preferred
artwork among three proposals. À fleur d’eau received the highest number of votes and was
also the unanimous choice of the selection committee. That decision was reached
independently of the public results.

According to Myers, the inspiration for the piece was rooted in a deep engagement with the
site’s history. “We researched the many floods that have disrupted the area over the decades,”
she said. “We wanted to create something functional, forward-looking, something that
acknowledges the site’s future as a park, a place to sit, observe, and measure the rising
waters.”

The artist’s collaboration with Le Comité was, in her words, a highly productive exchange of
strengths. “The co-op has strong structural design skills. They’re clever and innovative when it
comes to thinking through community spaces.” Myers explained that Le Comité would develop
the structural skeleton based on the project’s criteria, and then both parties would refine it
together through a shared artistic lens. “Eventually, we landed on the idea of arches embedded
with limnimetric scales.” These are vertical gauges traditionally used to measure water levels in
rivers or lakes, and in this context, they double as sculptural elements, blending utility with
symbolism in a flood-prone landscape.

The installation will feature seating, counters, and an arch structure, including a hand-sculpted
water-level gauge cast in bronze. The work not only serves an aesthetic and recreational
function but is also a tangible record of the site’s hydrological memory. “In a direct way, it
dialogues with the rising water,” said Myers. “It offers a measurement tool that’s accessible to
citizens and makes the data of floods feel real. The memory of the site is reactivated every
spring.”

For residents and visitors who encounter the piece next spring, Myers hopes the experience will
be both contemplative and grounded in the land’s layered history. “They’ll be in a green space
near the river, but physically standing on the foundations of deconstructed homes,” she said.
“The place is inhabited, maybe even haunted, by its past. À fleur d’eau invites people to pause
and live with the elements, not fight against them.”​

City councillor Isabelle N. Miron, chair of the Commission for the Arts, Culture, Letters and
Heritage, welcomed the announcement. “This public art project reflects the City’s commitment to
transforming urban spaces into unique and resilient places to live. À fleur d’eau is not only a
beautiful piece, but a reminder of our shared history and our relationship with the environment.”

Photo: À fleur d’eau , a sculptural public art installation by Mélanie Myers and Le Comité, has
been chosen to anchor the revitalization of Gatineau’s flood-affected Pointe-Gatineau sector,
offering both a contemplative space and a living tribute to the site’s watery history. (TF) Photo:
Courtesy

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The Court of Quebec has upheld disciplinary suspensions issued to two Gatineau police officers
involved in the 2018 arrest of journalist Antoine Trépanier, confirming that the officers breached
ethical standards and failed to meet the investigative obligations expected of law enforcement.

Trépanier, who was working for Radio-Canada at the time, had been reporting on Yvonne Dubé,
the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Outaouais. He was examining
allegations that Dubé had previously acted as a lawyer without being properly licensed. As part
of his reporting, Trépanier contacted Dubé to request comment before publication.

Dubé filed a complaint with the Gatineau police, accusing Trépanier of criminal harassment.
Two officers, Constable Mathieu La Salle Boudria and Lieutenant Paul Lafontaine, responded to
the complaint and arrested Trépanier. The Police Ethics Committee later found that the officers
had failed to take necessary investigative steps to assess the context of Trépanier’s
communication. The Committee determined that the arrest was not based on a thorough
understanding of the situation and that the officers had not respected procedural or ethical
standards.

The Committee imposed a 10-day suspension on Constable Boudria and a 12-day suspension
on Lieutenant Lafontaine. Both officers contested the sanctions in court. The Court of Quebec
rejected their challenge, finding that the Committee’s conclusions were supported by the
evidence and that there was no legal error in its decision.

Photo: The Quebec Court has upheld suspensions against two Gatineau police officers for
improperly arresting journalist Antoine Trépanier, affirming that their actions breached ethical
standards and underscoring the need for law enforcement to exercise due diligence when
dealing with the press. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of Antoine Trépanier’s LinkedIn page

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The chronic underfunding of health and social services in the Outaouais took centre stage on
September 18 at a public forum held at the Maison du Citoyen in Gatineau. Elected officials,
health workers, and local organizations gathered for the Forum Santé Outaouais 2025 to
demand fair funding and more control over how healthcare is delivered in the region. The
message was clear: the Outaouais is being left behind.

The event was organized by Action Santé Outaouais, AQDR Outaouais, and the Conférence
des préfets de l’Outaouais. At the heart of the forum was a number that set the tone—$348
million. That’s how much less the region is estimated to receive each year in health funding
compared to other areas of Quebec. Speakers and community members linked that funding gap
to the real-life challenges people in the Outaouais face every day when trying to access care.

Five regional leaders took the stage: Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Chantal
Lamarche (MRC Vallée-de-la-Gatineau), Marc Carrière (MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais),
Jane Toller (MRC Pontiac), and Paul-André David (MRC Papineau). All pointed to the same
reality: the region is growing, its needs are increasing, but the services and staff needed to
support that growth simply aren’t there. They called for decisions to be made closer to home
and for funding to reflect the region’s true needs.

Steve Brabant, Director General of Cégep de l’Outaouais, and Murielle Laberge, Rector of
Université du Québec en Outaouais, highlighted the challenges in training and keeping
healthcare workers in the region. They stressed the need for long-term investment in local
education programs and better support for students pursuing health careers. Dr. Marc Bilodeau,
CEO of the Outaouais health authority (CISSSO), also addressed the forum, outlining internal
efforts to improve services but acknowledging the deep structural challenges the region faces.
Among the biggest concerns raised was the severe shortage of health professionals, more than
1,400 positions are currently unfilled.

In the Pontiac, 80 percent of residents now cross into Ontario to get care, a situation Jane Toller
described as unacceptable. The closure of the obstetrics unit in the Pontiac has forced
expectant mothers to travel to Pembroke or Gatineau to give birth. As a result, more C-sections
are being scheduled simply to ensure women can plan around the long travel distances. Toller
stressed that women have the right to give birth where they live and said the Pontiac is
determined to get its birthing services back.

Seniors’ care is another major issue. The region is already short almost 400 long-term care
beds, with that gap expected to grow to 1,400 by 2040. The Outaouais also ranks last in
Quebec for publicly funded hours of in-home care. With not enough family doctors and few
alternatives, many older adults struggle to get support, especially if they want to stay at home.​
Mental health services were described as fragmented and underfunded, particularly outside
Gatineau. Community organizations are stretched thin, with long wait times and unstable
funding. Rural areas face added challenges: distance, transport, and language all make it
harder to get timely support.

Throughout the forum, participants pushed for local, practical solutions. Suggestions included
creating planning tables with real decision-making power, developing an innovation hub to
support hiring and research, and expanding training programs in the region. Some proposed
offering housing incentives to attract healthcare staff, better recognition of foreign-trained
professionals, and stronger pathways from high school and college into healthcare careers.

Calls were also made to bring decision-making back to local CLSCs (community health and
social service centres), especially in remote and Indigenous communities. For seniors,
participants recommended cooperative housing options and guaranteed home care hours that
reflect what people need. On mental health, ideas included long-term funding for community
groups, mobile crisis teams, and better links between schools, clinics, and youth services.

Photo: At the Forum Santé Outaouais 2025 on September 18 in Gatineau, regional leaders
called for urgent, locally adapted solutions to the chronic underfunding of health and social
services in the Outaouais. Pictured left to right are Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Jane
Toller, Paul-André David, Chantal Lamarche, and Marc Carrière. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

One of the city’s newest public sporting events, offering a broader range of races and a growing
reputation as a celebration of inclusion, athleticism and regional identity, Courons Gatineau,
returns on September 27 for its second edition along the banks of the Ottawa and Gatineau
rivers.

Organized by Gatineau Loppet, the non-profit behind the long-running cross-country ski festival
of the same name, Courons Gatineau launched in 2024 with the goal of creating an accessible,
family-friendly running event grounded in local geography and community values. This year,
organizers expect to exceed 1,000 participants, up from 816 in the inaugural edition, as they
expand the race offerings to include two new distances: a 1 km initiation course for newcomers
and a 15 km route designed for more experienced runners. The 5, 10, and 15 km races have
received gold-level certification from Athlétisme Québec, signalling high standards of safety,
quality, and technical rigour.

Just hours before the start of the event, Gatineau native and Olympian Audrey Leduc will arrive
home following her appearance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she
represented Canada in sprint events. Leduc, who also competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics,
will take part in the 2 km family run, sign autographs, distribute medals and speak at a public
press conference scheduled for 1 pm on race day. It will be her first media appearance in
Canada since Tokyo.

“She embodies excellence and inspires young people in our region,” said Philippe Lebel,
president of Gatineau Loppet. “Her presence brings extraordinary energy to this event and to
Gatineau as a whole.”

Beyond the competition, Courons Gatineau places strong emphasis on community spirit and
environmental awareness. The course winds along the two rivers that frame the city and will be
closed to vehicle and bicycle traffic between Rue du Prince-Albert and Rue Saint-Antoine for the
duration of the races. Kiosks from local cultural and conservation organizations, including
Garde-rivière des Outaouais and the Musée de l’Auberge Symmes, will line the route,
highlighting the importance of water stewardship. A fundraising campaign for Garde-rivière is
once again integrated into the registration process, continuing the philanthropic element
introduced last year.

The event also returns with a stronger commitment to inclusion, led this year by Paralympian
Jacques Bouchard, who serves as spokesperson for the adapted races. These races enable
participants living with disabilities to compete with the support of trained volunteers and co-
running wheelchairs. The adapted division has received backing from Caisse Desjardins, which
is covering the registration costs for ten runners.

Photo: Courons Gatineau returns with expanded races and a renewed focus on inclusion, as

families and young runners once again bring vibrant energy to Gatineau’s riverfront streets. (TF)

Photo: Courtesy

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The Gatineau Chamber of Commerce held a press conference on September 16 to unveil the
results of a survey outlining the business community’s top concerns heading into the municipal
elections. The findings show a clear demand for lower taxes, streamlined bureaucracy, and
faster housing development.

Over 70% of respondents said municipal taxes are too high, and more than half believe the
business climate has deteriorated in recent years. Many cited slow and inefficient permitting
processes as a barrier to growth, with calls for better coordination between city departments and
the use of modern tools like AI.

Affordable housing and homelessness emerged as major issues. Nearly 60% support faster
approval of residential projects, and 48% favour incentives for affordable housing. Public safety
concerns linked to homelessness were also raised.

On infrastructure, a majority back building a new bridge in the east end of the city, while views
on the proposed tramway remain split. The Chamber is urging all candidates to commit to fiscal
reform, governance transparency, and revitalization of the downtown core.

Photo: Gatineau’s business community is calling for urgent reforms ahead of the municipal
elections, with Chamber of Commerce General Manager Étienne Fredette urging candidates to
address high taxes, bureaucratic delays, and the need for faster housing development to restore
confidence and drive economic growth. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

At the Mayor’s Breakfast on the morning of September 12, Gatineau officials and regional
leaders gathered at the Ramada Plaza Manoir du Casino to chart a course toward economic
transformation through cybersecurity and national defence. With federal plans to raise defence
spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035, a potential 150 billion dollars annually, the message
was clear: Gatineau wants in.

Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette framed the city’s ambition in blunt terms. “The public service
is a strength, but it cannot be the only engine of our economy,” she said, warning of looming
federal job cuts and calling for a bold pivot toward high-value sectors. She stressed that
cybersecurity is one of Gatineau’s strongest cards, pointing to the region’s skilled workforce,
proximity to Ottawa, and concentration of specialists. “We’re not building in a desert. We’re
building on living strengths that already exist.”

Reda Bensouda, deputy director of Innovation at the Université du Québec en Outaouais and
former head of the national cybersecurity cluster In-Sec-M, highlighted education as central to
Gatineau’s role in the field. He noted that UQO is working to launch a bachelor’s degree in
cybersecurity. “It’s not official yet, but we’re in the process of getting it approved,” he said. “That
would be a game-changer for the region.”

Jean-Claude Des Rosiers, director of CyberQuébec and longtime entrepreneur, underscored
Gatineau’s existing expertise and infrastructure. His centre works directly with companies to
strengthen their cyber resilience. “There are over 2,400 cybersecurity specialists in the region
and more than 90 companies involved,” he said. “The federal government is a client that
understands cyber risk. That makes this region competitive.”

Michelle Robitaille, CEO of Digital Trust Canada, spoke about the importance of secure digital
infrastructure for national sovereignty. Her organization, founded in Gatineau in 2020, now leads
efforts to create a federated, secure system for Canada. “We’re developing infrastructure to
ensure Canadian data stays in Canadian hands,” she said. “Digital trust and sovereignty are no
longer abstract. They’re now central to innovation, security, and competitiveness.”

Throughout the morning, speakers stressed that cybersecurity must be part of a larger defence
strategy that includes space-based communications, artificial intelligence, and notably, drones.
They described Gatineau as well-positioned to support innovation in autonomous systems and
secure drone technologies, both for civil and defence applications.

As the session closed, Marquis-Bissonnette returned to the stakes at hand. “There’s already
money on the table, and if we want to build a future here, with satellites, secure infrastructure,
drones, and yes, cybersecurity, then Gatineau needs to move now,” she said. “If we don’t,
someone else will.”​

Photo: Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette was joined at the September 12 Mayor’s Breakfast
by Michelle Robitaille, Jean-Claude Des Rosiers, and Reda Bensouda to discuss Gatineau’s
future in cybersecurity and defence. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Gatineau is inviting residents to help shape the city’s future as it launches an ambitious public
consultation to develop a long-term vision and strategic plan. Branded Plan Gatineau 2036:
Notre vision, notre Ville , the initiative asks a fundamental question: what kind of city do Gatineau
residents want by 2036?

In a recent video message, Simon Rousseau, Director General of the City of Gatineau,
described the city as dynamic and ever evolving, noting the importance of a unified vision to
ensure coherent and sustainable growth. “We need to align every municipal decision with a
collectively defined plan,” Rousseau said, stressing that the result won’t be a document left to
gather dust, but a working tool to guide municipal priorities.

Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette echoed the call for public engagement, framing the process
as a rare opportunity to collectively imagine a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative
Gatineau. The final draft will be shaped by both internal consultation with municipal staff and the
public’s input.

All members of the community, including residents, business owners, entrepreneurs,
organizations, city employees, and elected officials, are encouraged to take part. The
consultation is open online until September 19 at gatineaumeconsulte.ca.

Once finalized, Plan Gatineau 2036: Notre vision, notre Ville , along with the Strategic Action
Plan 2026–2030 , will be presented to city council for formal adoption in Winter 2026.

Photo: Gatineau has launched a city-wide public consultation to shape its long-term vision and
strategic plan, inviting residents to help construct Plan Gatineau 2036: Notre vision, notre Ville
— a collective blueprint for the city’s future. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Playwright Marie Pier Lajoie has been officially confirmed as the recipient of the Théâtre de
l’Île’s third annual creative residency, following a City Council meeting held on August 26 in
Gatineau. The announcement, which had been subject to Council approval, was affirmed during
the meeting by municipal councillor Isabelle N. Miron, Chair of the Arts, Culture, Letters and
Heritage Commission.

Lajoie, a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Acting Conservatory, is both an actress and
author with a strong passion for physical theatre, circus arts and visual arts. Her project, Point
Némo , was selected for its artistic innovation, emotional depth and resonance with the
residency’s objectives. A theatrical meditation on trauma and identity, the play follows Rosie and
Christophe, two individuals grappling with the aftermath of abuse, who take shelter in a
bathroom as a hurricane bears down. The space, reimagined as a stranded space station in the
eye of the storm, becomes a symbolic theatre of memory, fear and renewal. The production
blends elements of dreamscape and stark realism to explore personal reconstruction and the
liminal nature of healing.

Through the Théâtre de l’Île residency, Lajoie will receive both financial and logistical support
over two phases. The first, commencing in September, includes 150 hours of access to the
theatre’s facilities, mentorship from L’Avant-première and technical resources. The second
phase provides additional rehearsal time, promotional support and public presentation
opportunities at Espace René-Provost. The initiative is part of Gatineau’s 2024–2034 Cultural
Policy, which seeks to elevate local theatre by fostering research, experimentation and visibility
for emerging work.

The creative team assembled for Point Némo includes Lisa L’Heureux for dramaturgical
guidance and artistic direction, Marie-Thé Morin as staging mentor, Lana Morton on gestural
design and Emilio Sebastiao handling scenography and lighting. Actor Bénédicte Bélizaire is
also confirmed as part of the cast.

In her remarks to Council, Miron underscored the residency’s broader civic significance.
“Creative residencies are essential because they give our artists a space to create locally, works
that we’ll be able to admire at the Théâtre de l’Île,” she said. “We’re truly pleased, and I’m very
much looking forward to seeing the results of this third residency.”

This residency follows previous editions awarded to Haïti: l’île des esclaves by Fâcheux Théâtre
in 2023 and Comme des bruissements by Voyageurs Immobiles in 2024. It marks a growing
tradition of support for original, introspective theatre created in and for Gatineau.

Photo: Marie Pier Lajoie has been awarded the Théâtre de l’Île’s third creative residency for
Point Némo , a poetic and unflinching exploration of trauma, memory and renewal. (TF) Photo:
Mathieu Taillardas

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The march La rue, la nuit, les femmes sans peur will return to Gatineau this month, once again
drawing women and allies into public space as a statement of defiance and one of belonging.
Organized by CALAS de l’Outaouais, the event is part of a global movement rooted in the 1970
Take Back the Night protests and continues to challenge the idea that fear should dictate a
woman’s right to move freely through any city.

Sexual violence remains among the most persistent and least reported crimes in Canada.
Nationally, fewer than one in 20 sexual assaults are reported to police. In Quebec, more than a
quarter of women have experienced sexual assault in adulthood. In Gatineau, 29 per cent of
women say they’ve experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in public—one of the highest rates
in the province. For racialized, Indigenous and younger women, the numbers are higher still.
Despite government strategies and increased services, the daily reality for many remains one of
caution, altered routes and safety calculations.

Espoir Rosalie , a Gatineau-based organization that supports mothers in vulnerable situations, is
among those backing this year’s march. Founded in 1992, the group provides housing,
parenting support and social services for women and children facing instability. Its work is built
around the belief that safety and dignity should not be conditional. For executive director Émilie
Charette, the march is not just a show of solidarity, but an essential act of civic accountability.

“This is not simply a moment of awareness,” Charette said. “It is a public call to confront the
structural conditions that enable sexual violence. Supporting survivors means not just
responding after the fact, it means challenging the culture that makes such violence possible.”

While the Quebec government has introduced a five-year integrated strategy on sexual and
domestic violence, expanding legal aid, shelter space and specialized services, advocates
maintain that policy alone is not enough. Visibility, they argue, keeps pressure on institutions
while offering survivors something equally critical: public acknowledgement.

This year’s march begins at 6 pm on September 18 at the Maurice Richard statue, at the corner
of Laurier and Allumettières. The route will cross into Ottawa and end near Parliament Hill
around 8 pm. Shuttles will return participants to Gatineau between 8:30 and 9:30 pm, with drop-
offs at the Canadian Museum of History.

Photo: The march La rue, la nuit, les femmes sans peur will return to Gatineau this month,
with Espoir Rosalie’s team – Wafa Bouslih, Isabelle Chandru, Geneviève Bériault, Maryka
Masson, Daphney Courville, Émilie Charrette, Kiesha Laguerre, Jessyka Gagnon and Furuha
Byamungu – joining the call to break the silence around sexual violence and affirming that
safety and dignity are rights for all women. (TF) Photo: Courtesy

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The executive committee met on August 20 at City Hall, with President Steve Moran presiding.
Councillors advanced neighbourhood traffic changes, routine infrastructure agreements and
event logistics, while procurement and election talk dominated the post-meeting scrum.

On mobility, the committee approved new parking-sign rules on Rue de la Cité-Jardin east and
west, a further tweak on the west segment, and an all-way stop at Montée Dalton and Rue du
Sous-Bois in Rivière-Blanche. The city also set terms with Chemins de fer Québec–Gatineau for
access to the railway right-of-way and for cost-sharing on crossings, and granted a temporary
exemption to the noise by-law to allow off-hours work on Autoroute Guy-Lafleur across several
districts. In Hull-Wright, Hydro-Québec will receive a servitude to move equipment from 150, rue
Wellington to 15, rue Leduc.

Procurement drew attention for arena users. Tender “2025 SP 160” for refrigeration-system
maintenance and repair was rejected after no compliant submissions; the call will be re-issued.
After the meeting, in a press scrum, Steve Moran said, “There were no compliant bidders, so
we’re relaunching the call very quickly,” adding that “there are a lot of big projects” headed to
council. He said he was confident councillors would keep the city’s broader interest in mind
even as campaign season shapes discussions.

Seasonal logistics were also approved. Temporary traffic and parking measures will be in place
for Aéro Gatineau–Ottawa from September 12 to 14 and for the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon
Festival from August 27 to 31, with related authorizations for military and civilian aerial
demonstrations during the air show.

The press event turned to priorities ahead of the 2025 municipal election. Buckingham
councillor Edmond Leclerc said he will ask council to study a city investment to anchor a
partnership for a twin-ice facility in the east end after two unsuccessful provincial grant
applications. “The only financial partner missing for the down payment would be the City of
Gatineau,” he said, arguing the model mirrors shared-investment arenas already used locally
and could move quickly once partners commit funds.

Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette outlined an autumn agenda centred on economic
development, housing and environmental measures, along with road-safety work as students
return to school. On the campaign itself, she said, “My commitment is to work right up to the last
minute to advance Gatineau’s priorities,” and that the election “should play out outside the walls”
while council continues its work.

Photo: During the August 20 executive committee meeting, President Steve Moran oversaw
approvals on neighbourhood traffic changes, event logistics, advanced railway and utility
agreements, and the failed arena-refrigeration tender. (TF) Photo: Screenshot of the August 20
executive committee meeting

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The Gatineau Chamber of Commerce is urging Ottawa to put defence and cybersecurity at the
centre of the 2025 federal budget, arguing that the region’s proximity to government institutions
and its concentration of technology firms give it a natural role in shaping the future of Canada’s
security.

In a joint statement with the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, the Chamber
warned that record military spending could pass Quebec by unless deliberate steps are taken to
channel contracts and opportunities into the Outaouais. The Chamber’s director general,
Étienne Fredette, said the timing of the appeal was deliberate. “We know the government is
preparing its next budget,” he said in an interview. “We hear about unprecedented investments
in defence, and we want to make sure our region does not miss out. With ministries, federal
agencies and firms already here, Gatineau has the expertise. Now it needs the contracts, the
innovation and the jobs.”

Fredette pointed to the city’s established strengths in digital and dual-use technologies, which
he believes could serve both military and civilian applications. “We won’t be building tanks or
ships in Gatineau,” he said. “What we have is deep knowledge in digital technologies. If Ottawa
works hand in hand with us, this region can become a real hub of innovation.”

The Chamber is also calling for tax measures to level the playing field with the United States,
where lower corporate tax rates have made it easier for companies to reinvest in research and
training. “It is simply more competitive south of the border,” Fredette said. “If we want to keep
capital and talent here, the federal government must lighten the tax burden and make it easier
for local firms to grow.”

The urgency of the Chamber’s appeal has been sharpened by recent events. Early this month,
the House of Commons was hit by a cyberattack that disrupted parliamentary systems and
raised questions about the resilience of Canada’s digital defences. Fredette said the incident
was a stark reminder of the risks at stake. “The federal government has to lead by example,” he
said. “If Canada is serious about investing in defence, it must also invest in protecting its digital
infrastructure. Our companies here in Gatineau can play that role.”

Fredette acknowledged that the region’s business community must also do its part, noting that
local firms sometimes compete when collaboration would make them stronger. The Chamber
has been convening meetings with economic actors on both sides of the Ottawa River to
present common priorities to federal officials later this month. “Each company pursues its own
contracts,” he said. “But we need to work together if we want to attract and deliver on larger
federal projects. Cooperation will make the region stronger.”

The Chamber hopes its message resonates with decision-makers in Ottawa, not only to
preserve the federal jobs already in Gatineau but to increase them. “We are privileged to be so ​
close to the seat of government,” Fredette said. “But proximity is not enough. We want to ensure
Gatineau gets its fair share of federal jobs and investments.”

Photo: Étienne Fredette, director general of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, is urging
Ottawa to make defence and cybersecurity central to the 2025 federal budget, saying that
recent cyberattacks show the urgency and that the Outaouais, with its expertise and proximity to
government, is well placed to benefit from federal investments. (TF) Photo: Courtesy

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Pride Week was officially launched in Gatineau on August 15 with a public ceremony outside th
Maison du Citoyen that brought together elected officials, community leaders, and advocates.
The event concluded with the raising of the progressive Pride flag, a gesture described by many
as both a celebration and a call to action.

Hull–Aylmer MP Greg Fergus set the tone in remarks before the event began, saying, “It’s
always the time to celebrate. But this year, with what’s happening in the States and in other
countries, we must be particularly mindful. We must keep expanding the rights we have, keep
extending them to those who need them, and work to protect them.” During his speech, he
urged participants to carry that message into the year ahead, working together to build an
inclusive society where “everyone is free to be themselves.”

Speaking on behalf of the mayor, councillor Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent, chair of the Commission
du vivre-ensemble and co-chair of the Commission jeunesse, described the flag-raising as a
tradition that affirms Gatineau’s values. “In our community there is no place for fear, exclusion,
or hate,” she said, adding that each colour of the Pride flag tells stories of courage, struggle,
and joy. She warned of troubling political trends that threaten fundamental rights and called on
residents to defend them actively.

Isabelle Plante, deputy director of the Gatineau Police Service, said the rainbow flag’s presence
at city hall was more than symbolic. “It is an opening to all who wish to speak out against
homophobia and transphobia,” she noted, pledging her department’s continued role as an ally
through victim-centred policing and partnerships with groups such as Jeunesse Idem and Trans
Outaouais.

Catherine Lalonde, president of Trans Outaouais, delivered an impassioned speech about the
challenges facing trans and non-binary people, pointing to recent laws and policies in Canada
and abroad that threaten their safety. “Raising this flag is recognizing the real needs of our
community and committing to fight transphobia in all its forms without compromise,” Lalonde
declared.

Andréanne Provost Auger of BRAS Outaouais reminded the audience that Pride remains a
demand for the right to exist fully and freely. Closing the speeches, Jeunesse Idem executive
director Erik Bisson reflected on many years of community work, urging vigilance against
growing intolerance. “We can’t take our progress for granted,” he said. “Pride began as a human
rights march and that fight continues on.”

The launch also highlighted a week of activities featured in the official Pride Week programme.
Events include an outdoor film screening at Parc Jacques-Cartier, drag storytelling for children
at the bibliothèque Lucien-Lalonde, a panel discussion on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights at La Maison du
Citoyen, an evening drag show at Le Troquet, and community picnics in several neighbourhood ​
parks. The week will culminate with Gatineau’s participation in the Ottawa Pride Parade on
August 24.

Photo: Gatineau launched Pride Week on August 15 with speeches in front of City Hall, the
raising of the progressive Pride flag, and the start of a week-long program of cultural,
educational, and community events celebrating diversity and defending 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.
(TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A world-class Cultural Heritage Science (CHS) facility will be built in Gatineau, dedicated to
safeguarding Canada’s most treasured artifacts and stories.

The 18,000 square metre building will rise at 51, Boul. Sacré-Coeur, behind the historic National
Printing Bureau. It will bring together about 170 experts from Parks Canada, the Canadian
Conservation Institute and the Canadian Heritage Information Network. Inside, purpose-built
labs, workshops and advanced technology will support everything from field investigations and
scientific analysis to hands-on conservation.

The CHS will care for iconic pieces of Canadian history, including relics from the Franklin
expedition, Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s famed hockey sweater, works by Anishinaabe artist
Norval Morrisseau and a test rocket from the Avro Arrow program.

Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples are central to the project. Planning has been shaped
through dialogue with the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and supported by the Algonquin
Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council. Indigenous knowledge will be woven into conservation
practices, and the facility will include culturally safe spaces for ceremony and reflection. The
government says these partnerships will also help create long-term economic opportunities for
Indigenous communities.

The CHS is part of the federal Laboratories Canada strategy, a $3.7 billion initiative to
modernize science infrastructure through collaborative science hubs. Procurement for the
project is already under way, with a request for proposals expected in fall 2025 and the final
design-build contract to be awarded by fall 2026. Construction will follow soon after.

“This bold investment will give our experts the tools to protect, celebrate and share our heritage
for generations to come,” said Hull–Aylmer MP Greg Fergus. “A strong nation knows where it
comes from. That’s why we’re building our future by honouring our past.”

Photo: Gatineau will be home to a state-of-the-art Cultural Heritage Science facility at 51, Boul.
Sacré-Coeur that will preserve Canada’s most valuable artifacts, advance conservation
research, and strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Paris-born artist Marc Walter, who has made Wakefield his home for more than 30 years, is in
the process of assembling a monumental land art installation that will completely reinvent the
space of Galerie Montcalm. His upcoming exhibition, Dialogue avec la Nature , will run from
August 23 to October 5, inviting visitors into a sensory journey at the intersection of art and
nature.

“I want to make the architecture disappear through a single monumental intervention,” Walter
explained. “I want to transform the gallery so completely that visitors forget where they are, that
they no longer perceive it as an exhibition hall, but feel transported into an entirely organic world
of curves and rediscovered sensations.”

Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), Walter is covering the entire
gallery with interwoven branches, reshaping the contours, atmosphere, and perception of the
space. “My proposal offers an immersion into a completely redesigned environment, where a
monumental chamber will invite visitors to discover multiple organic wonders,” he said.

Rather than dispersing works throughout the venue, Walter’s approach invests the whole of
Galerie Montcalm, replacing its walls and edges with a flowing, natural form meant to evoke the
therapeutic, meditative qualities of the forest.

The exhibition officially opens on August 23, the vernissage will be held on September 12, at 7
pm in the Agora of the Maison du Citoyen, 25 Laurier Street, Gatineau. Admission is free.

Photo: Marc Walter will present Dialogue avec la Nature , a monumental land art installation at
Galerie Montcalm from August 23 to October 5, 2025, immersing visitors in an organic, forest-
like environment inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku. (TF) Photo: Courtesy

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A decade after opening its doors, the Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Gatineau is facing a
reckoning. In its newly released 2024-2025 impact report, the organization confirms what
frontline workers have increasingly observed: the needs are growing, the cases are more
complex and, for the first time, children without homes are arriving at its doors.

The report documents a sharp increase in demand. Over the past year, the centre provided care
to 1,115 children — more than 200 of them new — through 11,090 clinical interventions. Since
its founding in 2009, more than 2,300 children have been served across its two sites in Vieux-
Hull and Vieux-Gatineau. Children aged six to twelve made up the largest share of clients,
followed by those under five, then adolescents.

Two key expansions shaped the year, the completion of renovations at the Vieux-Hull site and
the integration of the Boîte à musique and Clinique de périnatalité sociale into upgraded
facilities. The music therapy programme, now entering its third year, reached nearly 200
classrooms and centres through group workshops, and has served over 350 children since its
launch. The perinatal clinic, now in its fourth year, supported 70 expectant mothers and
continued postnatal follow-up for 56 infants.

Beyond clinical care, the report outlines new collaborations with academic institutions, including
an educational and artistic partnership with the Université du Québec en Outaouais that
concluded with a public exhibition of children’s artwork. The centre also strengthened efforts to
include fathers in its care model, with new training and programming developed in partnership
with provincial networks.

Fundraising efforts surpassed previous years. The 16th edition of the Guignolée des enfants
raised $236,518.78, while the centre’s inaugural benefit gala, Jeune Ensemble , brought in an
additional $92,289. Combined, they contributed to a funding model still heavily reliant on
community donations, project-based grants, and philanthropy. The report notes that 86 per cent
of expenditures were directed to frontline services.

A new executive director, Chloé Martinetti, took office in January 2025, coinciding with the
rollout of a three-year strategic plan. Priorities include modernizing infrastructure, improving
cybersecurity, diversifying revenue streams, and responding to what the centre describes as a
deepening social crisis.

“The needs on our territory continue to grow,” Martinetti said. “Together, we can offer each child
a space where they feel heard, supported and valued.”

Photo: The Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Gatineau’s latest report reveals a growing crisis in
child vulnerability, marked by rising demand, the first cases of youth homelessness, and urgent
calls for sustained community support. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of the Centre de pédiatrie sociale
de Gatineau Facebook Page

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A major conservation initiative in the Outaouais is quietly reshaping how the region approaches
land use, biodiversity, and long-term environmental planning. Backed by nearly $1 million from
Parks Canada, the Plaisance-Tremblant ecological connectivity project is focused on
safeguarding fragile ecosystems in the Papineau region by securing vital corridors used by
wildlife.

The project is led by a coalition of conservation partners, including Ducks Unlimited Canada,
Éco-corridors laurentiens, and the Outaouais Regional Council for the Environment and
Sustainable Development, known as CREDDO. Together, they are working to protect at least 75
hectares of natural territory through voluntary land acquisitions and agreements with private
landowners.

At the heart of the effort is a straightforward ecological principle: species survival depends not
just on isolated pockets of wilderness, but on the connections between them. When wetlands,
forests, and meadows are fragmented by roads or development, many species lose the ability to
feed, migrate, and reproduce. The Plaisance-Tremblant corridor, which stretches across a
biologically rich section of the Laurentians and the Outaouais, serves as a crucial conduit for
that movement.

In the coming months, field teams will be active in Papineau municipalities, working with
property owners to identify priority sites for conservation. These discussions are already
underway, and some residents will be invited to host wildlife cameras to help monitor animal
activity. The data collected will inform both ecological research and planning decisions, as will
studies on road mortality and economic indicators like the public’s willingness to invest in
environmental protection.

Though some of the species involved remain unnamed due to their protected status, others
reflect the ecological diversity of the region. The wood turtle, bank swallow, cerulean warbler,
and butternut tree are among those that benefit from uninterrupted access to varied habitats.
Their presence speaks to the biological value of the corridor and the urgency of maintaining it.

Beyond land acquisition, the project is also a test of governance. CREDDO is coordinating
efforts on the Outaouais side, but the structure is intentionally collaborative, involving
municipalities, local landowners, and other regional actors. The goal is to build a model of
conservation that is both scientifically sound and socially durable.

This approach departs from older, top-down models of environmental protection. Instead, it
leans on partnerships, local knowledge, and shared responsibility. Over the next five years, the
initiative will roll out public education events, land stewardship workshops, and a five-year action
plan aimed at embedding ecological connectivity into long-term planning frameworks.​

The project also complements broader regional work. CREDDO is simultaneously developing a
full map of ecological corridors across the Outaouais, including areas of increased urbanization.
While the Plaisance-Tremblant corridor focuses on semi-rural zones, its lessons may well
influence conservation strategies throughout the region.

Photo: Through a federally funded conservation project in the Outaouais, work is underway to
protect critical wildlife corridors by connecting fragmented habitats, engaging local landowners,
and laying the groundwork for long-term ecological resilience. (TF) Photo: CIC/Claude
Ponthieux

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Fifty years ago, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) was forged from necessity
and resistance. Indigenous women, excluded from policy-making and political leadership, came
together to challenge legal discrimination, systemic poverty and colonial violence. They travelled
long distances to meet, borrowing cars, baking bannock, and bringing children along. What
began around kitchen tables grew into a national voice for Indigenous women, grounded in the
principle that they must speak for themselves.

In 2025, that voice is quieter, weighed down by debt, layoffs and internal review. NWAC is now
selling its $8-million Gatineau headquarters, divesting cultural properties, and cooperating with a
federal audit covering fiscal years 2018 to 2024. In a statement released July 15, NWAC
acknowledged “serious and significant financial irregularities” uncovered by current
management. An internal review of past contracts is underway, and all unprofitable business
ventures have been shut down. The organization says it is returning to its “foundational values.”

The Gatineau building, purchased in 2018, was mortgaged three times: first for $1.8 million,
then $5.9 million in 2020, and finally $7.5 million in 2022, according to records reviewed by CBC
News and APTN. Renovated to include a café, gallery and meeting space, it was part of an
“own-source revenue” strategy designed to reduce reliance on federal funding. But by July
2025, CBC reported the property was being offloaded amid a soft commercial real estate
market.

NWAC also invested in properties in Chelsea and Gagetown, New Brunswick, where it planned
to operate Resiliency Lodges—healing centres for Indigenous women and gender-diverse
people. APTN reported both sites are now being sold or handed over to Indigenous partners.
The Chelsea property is being repaired ahead of sale. In Gagetown, NWAC issued a tender
seeking a new Indigenous organization to manage or potentially take ownership of the property.

NWAC’s financial statements show rapid expansion. Its 2023 audit, published on its website,
shows assets rising from $15.9 million in 2022 to nearly $42 million in 2023, fuelled by federal
grants and deferred revenue. That year, grant income alone topped $21.7 million. However,
debt also grew—reaching $6.3 million, much of it linked to mortgages. The auditor issued a
qualified opinion, flagging issues including the misclassification of capital assets and incomplete
donation records.

This financial and infrastructural growth did not bring stability. APTN reported NWAC laid off 75
employees in 2024 after federal funding dropped from $48 million to $10 million. Around the
same time, former CEO Lynne Groulx departed, and several provincial affiliates were expelled
amid internal conflict.

Public criticism followed. CBC and APTN documented frustration from grassroots advocates
who felt NWAC had become disconnected from its base. APTN also reported that in May 2025, ​
Wolastoqey Elder Alma Brooks wrote to federal and provincial officials raising concerns about
NWAC’s handling of its cultural lodges. She said the sudden shutdown of the Gagetown facility
—without consultation—breached community trust and failed to honour its publicly funded
purpose.

These recent chapters mark a sharp turn from NWAC’s original story. In its 50th anniversary
magazine, NWAC recounts its beginnings: women raising funds through bake sales, organising
letter-writing campaigns, and fighting to have their voices heard by a federal government that
rarely listened. They worked without capital, but with resolve.

Today, as NWAC sheds its buildings and re-evaluates its finances, it says it is trying to return to
that core. Whether it can restore the trust of the women and communities it was built to
represent remains uncertain. The infrastructure may be going—but the question is whether the
foundation still stands.

Photo: The Native Women’s Association of Canada, once rooted in grassroots advocacy for
Indigenous women, is now selling off multimillion-dollar properties and facing a federal audit
after years of financial mismanagement and a controversial pivot toward real-estate ventures,
raising questions about how far it strayed from its founding mission. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmil

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A new cohort to its Forum de consultation, a resident and expert advisory body created to inform
the province’s approach to health and social services, has been appointed by Quebec’s Health
and Welfare Commissioner. Over a three-year term, the Forum will provide independent insight
into the challenges facing the provincial system and offer recommendations rooted in the lived
realities of residents and the expertise of practitioners and researchers.

Among those selected is Jolaine Sihomnoue, who will represent the Outaouais. A mother,
student and community advocate, Sihomnoue brings a perspective shaped by personal
experience and a strong commitment to equity. Her work focuses on ensuring that voices often
excluded from policymaking—immigrants, single mothers, racialized communities, and others
facing systemic barriers—are not only heard but taken seriously.

“I want to take my place and make my voice heard, along with those who, like me, live realities
that are often overlooked,” she said. Her vision for the Forum centres on inclusion and the need
for public health policy to reflect the complexity of life in Quebec’s diverse communities.
In the Outaouais, one of the most pressing issues remains access to care. Residents often turn
to neighbouring Ontario for basic health services due to a chronic shortage of providers and
limited availability in the public system. Sihomnoue described the burden this places on
individuals and families, particularly those without reliable transportation or sufficient income. “It
creates delays, extra costs and a feeling of abandonment,” she said.

She also pointed to deep-rooted social and economic inequalities in the region, particularly for
newcomers, low-income families and young people. Inadequate housing, rising mental health
needs and a lack of culturally adapted services are among the barriers she hopes to raise in the
Forum’s deliberations.

Her priorities include strengthening prevention and mental health supports, improving access to
services, and fostering collaboration between institutions and the communities they serve. She
places particular importance on human-centred approaches that focus on care, dignity and
respect.

“I see my role as a bridge between the people of the Outaouais and the Forum,” she said. “It is
about listening carefully and bringing forward those realities with clarity and honesty, so that
policy reflects what people are truly experiencing.”

The Forum will meet at least three times per year beginning this fall. Its 26 members include 17
residents from across Quebec and nine experts in fields such as law, ethics, psychiatry, social
work and Indigenous governance.​

Commissioner Joanne Castonguay underscored the importance of the Forum’s diversity. “Its
primary strength lies in the sharing of knowledge and experience from members who come from
different geographic, social and disciplinary backgrounds,” she said in a statement announcing
the appointments.

For Sihomnoue, the task ahead is both practical and deeply personal. “We need to stop
designing systems around institutions and start designing them around people,” she said. “That
begins by listening to those who live with the consequences of policy every day.”

Photo: Jolaine Sihomnoue, a community advocate from the Outaouais, has been appointed to
Quebec’s Forum de consultation, where she will help shape provincial health and social service
policy by bringing forward the lived experiences of residents facing systemic barriers to care.
(TF) Photo: Courtesy

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A woman who went missing on July 12 near a lake in a remote wooded area behind Brennan’s
Hill was found safe on July 13 at approximately 1:45 pm, following a large-scale coordinated
search and rescue operation.

The call for assistance was received at 8:00 am on July 13, by the Service de sécurité incendie
de Low (SSI), after the woman failed to return from a walk the previous day. She had become
disoriented in the forest and was unable to find her way back.

The search involved the SSI de Low, an emergency response team from Denholm, the Sûreté
du Québec, Sauvetage Outaouais and the équipe SUMI de Lac Blue Sea. Local residents also
assisted with ground searches.

Deputy fire chief Ghyslain Robert confirmed that the woman was found by a neighbour who had
joined the search. The neighbour contacted the Sûreté du Québec and provided GPS
coordinates from his phone.

“She was in good shape when we found her,” said Robert. “She had plenty of bug bites and
possibly a sprained ankle, but she was alert and responsive.”

Rescuers used off-road equipment to evacuate her from the forest and transferred her to
paramedics for evaluation. She is expected to make a full recovery.

The woman’s name has not been released. It is not yet known whether she remained in place
during the night or attempted to find her way out.

“We may not know how she spent her time out there,” said Robert. “But thanks to the combined
effort of everyone involved and a neighbour who didn’t give up, we were able to bring her out
safely.”

Photo: A woman who went missing near a lake behind Brennan’s Hill on July 12 was found safe
the following afternoon after a coordinated search involving multiple rescue teams and local
volunteers. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of the Low Fire Department Facebook page

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A homicide investigation is underway following a fatal assault that occurred in the early morning
hours of Friday, July 11, in Aylmer.

At around 6:15 am, officers from the Gatineau Police Service were dispatched to a residence on
Promenade Lakeview after receiving a call regarding an assault. When they arrived, they found
60-year-old Conrad Robinson with serious injuries. Paramedics provided immediate assistance
and transported him to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police arrested Keshaye Brown, a 21-year-old resident of North York, Ontario, and the son of
the victim, at the scene. Later that day, the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions laid a
charge of manslaughter against Brown. He appeared before the Court of Québec in a special
virtual hearing that evening. Authorities confirmed that Brown was not previously known to the
Gatineau Police.

Investigators established a security perimeter around the residence to allow crime scene
technicians to conduct a detailed examination. Officers remained on site for several hours as
part of the investigation, which remains ongoing. Several individuals are expected to be
interviewed to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the SPVG INFO line at 819-243-
4636, option 5. All information will be handled confidentially.

Photo: A 60-year-old man was fatally injured in an assault on Promenade Lakeview in Aylmer on
July 11, prompting a police investigation. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of the Gatineau Police

Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Women across the Outaouais are raising their voices about a health-care system they say i
increasingly inaccessible, inequitable, and unresponsive to their needs. A new regional report,
based on consultations held in the autumn of 2024, has brought forward sharp critiques of how
the system serves women—from delayed diagnoses and inadequate mental health care to
medical racism and a lack of reproductive services in rural areas.

The report, La santé des femmes en Outaouais: Défis et solutions prioritaires , was produced by
Action Santé Outaouais (ASO) in partnership with the Assemblée des groupes de femmes
d’interventions regionales (AGIR) Outaouais. It draws on testimony from over 200 women who
took part in public workshops and responded to a detailed online survey. Together, their
accounts reflect a system that is not just strained but, in many cases, structurally unfit to meet
the realities of women’s lives.

Among the most pressing concerns raised was the sheer difficulty of accessing care. Women
described long wait times for basic appointments, frequent service disruptions, and the near
impossibility of securing psychological support through the public system. Many said they had
resorted to private care, when they could afford it, or given up altogether.

Geography compounds these issues. In the Pontiac, women noted that obstetric services have
not resumed since they were suspended in 2020. Women there must now travel to Gatineau or
Pembroke to give birth, often while in active labour. Similar gaps exist across other rural MRCs,
where specialized care is centralized in Gatineau and rarely tailored to local needs.

Even where services are available, many respondents said they felt dismissed or poorly treated.
Several women recounted experiences where doctors downplayed their symptoms,
misdiagnosed chronic conditions, or appeared unfamiliar with issues like menopause or
endometriosis. One recurring theme was a widespread sense that women’s pain was not taken
seriously, and that their health concerns were too often reduced to anxiety or stress.

The report devotes particular attention to the experiences of racialized and immigrant women,
many of whom face additional barriers, including language, cultural misunderstanding, and
systemic discrimination. Some reported being stereotyped or judged, while others spoke of
being excluded from decision-making about their own care. One respondent described being
told to “just lose weight” when seeking help for chronic fatigue. Another noted the absence of
interpretation services for deaf or allophone patients, calling it “an invisible wall between us and
the care we need.”

Mental health was another area of acute concern. The report highlights not only the lack of
available services but also the overreliance on medication in the absence of proper
assessments or follow-up care. Many respondents called for broader recognition of the role that
social workers, psychoeducators, and other non-medical professionals could play in mental ​
health support. Several emphasized the need for trauma-informed approaches, particularly for
women who have experienced violence.

While the diagnosis is grim, the report also lays out a path forward. Key recommendations
include decentralizing services to better reach rural communities, expanding the roles of non-
physician health professionals, investing in mobile clinics and local CLSCs, and enhancing
continuing education for doctors on gender-specific health issues.

The report also urges the government to treat accessibility as a core determinant of health,
particularly for women who face overlapping forms of marginalization. It argues that housing,
income, transportation, and systemic bias are not external factors, but central to how health
outcomes are shaped in the region.

What emerges from the report is not simply a critique of policy but a demand for recognition.
Recognition that women in Outaouais are navigating a system that was not designed with them
in mind. Recognition that equity in health care is not just a question of funding, but of priorities.
And recognition that, unless voices like those in this report are listened to, the gap between
public services and public needs will only continue to grow.

Photo: A new report from Action Santé Outaouais and AGIR Outaouais finds women in
Outaouais face persistent barriers to health care, calling for systemic reforms after repeated
public consultations raised the same concerns. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of AGIR