William Crooks
Emily Côté of Townshippers’ Association shares a laugh with Université de Sherbrooke medical students at the snack table during the Family Day event held at Sherbrooke Elementary on Apr. 12. The group helped organize the half-day gathering as part of a leadership program connecting future doctors with local English-speaking communities.
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Families gathered at Sherbrooke Elementary School on Sat., Apr. 12 for a festive morning of games, gifts and grassroots networking as part of Family Day, a half-day event organized by Townshippers’ Association and Université de Sherbrooke leadership students. The initiative aimed to connect English-speaking families in the area with local community services—and each other.
The event ran from 8 a.m. to noon and was tailored specifically to families with children aged 2 to 12. Children received free gifts, participated in arts and sports activities, and snacked on treats provided by organizers. But the focus went well beyond fun: it was also about forging community ties and raising awareness about English-language services in Sherbrooke.
“We know that English-speaking families often feel isolated or unaware of what resources are available to them,” said Emily Côté, a Townshippers’ program manager who spearheaded the event. “Many organizations offer services in English but have websites only in French. We wanted this to be a space where people could connect, ask questions, and feel less alone”.
In total, 11 organizations took part, offering information on everything from senior care and tenants’ rights to arts programming and youth support. The event was also an opportunity for the medical students involved to learn more about the community they may eventually serve as physicians. “The leadership program is about making future doctors more familiar with local resources,” Côté explained. “It helps them connect with the people they’ll work with and not just see themselves as people who know ‘just medical stuff’”.
One of the participating groups was CAAP Estrie (Centre d’Assistance et d’Accompagnement aux Plaintes), represented by Assistant Director Angela Moore. “We’re here to help people who want to make complaints about health and social services,” Moore said. “The health system can be hard to navigate, especially when something goes wrong, and we want people to know they’re not alone”.
Moore said CAAP also works with families supporting seniors in residences. One emerging issue they often see involves lease renewals for seniors. “Some residents don’t fully understand their rights when it comes time to renew, and that’s where we come in—to help people be informed and empowered to make enlightened decisions,” she said.
Other community partners included the Lennoxville Library, EspaceM, Bulles et Baluchon, L’Action Plus de l’Estrie, the Lennoxville & District Women’s Centre, Parents-Secours Sherbrooke, Carrefour jeunesse emploi, and the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, among others. Tables were set up to share pamphlets, answer questions, and invite families to upcoming programs or services.
The Lennoxville Library’s Christian Collins and Carlaine Mboula staffed a double table, offering information about literacy resources. Nearby, Bulles et Baluchon representatives Jacynthe Samson and May Anne Lamoureux Bélanger were also on hand to speak about their programming for families. Groups such as CAPACOA Estrie, Projet Chrysalide, Action Saint-François, and the Grande Table also had a presence, sharing tools with families on issues ranging from food security to environmental action.
Though the primary audience was English-speaking families, the event was inclusive of anyone who wished to attend. Hosting it at Sherbrooke Elementary made sense, Côté explained, because “it’s a space already geared toward children and families, and it was available to us at a reasonable rate as a community event”.
The event received a warm reception from attendees, with children darting between activities while parents paused to chat with organization reps or fellow families. There was even a surprise guest—an audiologist from the CIUSSS team that Côté hadn’t expected—highlighting the community spirit of the day.
Asked whether the event might become a regular occurrence, Côté was hopeful. “There’s clearly a need for these kinds of events. People want to feel connected, and we’d love to do more of this,” she said.
For now, the organizers are grateful for a sunny Saturday morning that brought together dozens of families, and for the opportunity to reinforce the message that English-speaking residents of Sherbrooke are not alone—and that resources are out there if you know where to look.