Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The first floor of the Centre d’Hébergement du Comté de Huntingdon (CHSLD) has been transformed into a village as part of a collective project to create a warm and comforting environment for the 30 residents who call the floor home.

The My Village, My Community mural project was officially inaugurated on November 29, with representatives from all the partner organizations, including Les Aidants du Haut-Saint-Laurent and the Alzheimer Society Suroît, the Comité de Concertation des Ainés du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the Huntingdon County CHSLD, and École Secondaire Arthur-Pigeon.

The murals depict familiar landscapes and landmarks in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, such as an orchard, the Powerscourt covered bridge, and the clock at the central intersection in Huntingdon. Other sections were painted to look like a market, a barber shop, and streetscapes with houses. They were painted between September 18-20 by 45 students from Arthur-Pigeon, who worked with artists and community volunteers to bring the village to life.

“The Haut-Saint-Laurent region is renowned for the commitment of its community, and this project demonstrates once again that when many partners join forces, great things can be achieved,” said Bernard Cyr, the assistant general manager of General and Specialized Physical Health with the Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest.

Cyr congratulated those involved, saying they had not only succeeded in creating a warm and welcoming environment for the clientele and their loved ones, but a stimulating and innovative workplace for the unit’s staff as well.

Frédéric Roiné, the manager responsible for the living environment, noted that the painted walls have beneficial effects for the residents, including the creation of visual landmarks and distinctive elements that will enable them to more easily find their way around the floor.

“The project on paper was to paint the walls, to make a beautiful mural. But it was more than that, it was also about developing links with the community, with the different age groups who took part in the project, and links with the seniors,” said Arthur-Pigeon students Zachary Laroche and William Pineault, who noted the project helped them to realize the significance of their community.