William Crooks
Partners and representatives gather at the new supervised visitation park during Monday’s inauguration event in Sherbrooke

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Centre jeunesse de l’Estrie officially inaugurated its new supervised visitation park Monday morning at the Dufferin service point in Sherbrooke, offering a dedicated space where children and their parents can share moments of calm, play, and reconnection.

The project, years in the making, aims to transform challenging visits into positive experiences. “The reality is that life is not a game for everyone,” said Isabelle Grenier, executive director of the Fondation du Centre jeunesse de l’Estrie, which spearheaded the initiative. “For some children, it’s not all fun and games. Here, the goal is to spend a good moment with their parents in a safe setting.”

Grenier emphasized at the press conference that the foundation’s mission is to support youth in a variety of ways, from major undertakings like this to smaller gestures such as providing school supplies or funding therapeutic activities. “There’s a lot of beauty in what happens at Youth Protection,” she noted. “Interveners do exceptional work, and there are so many success stories that often go unheard because of confidentiality.”

A collaborative effort

The park, located behind the Centre jeunesse building at 340 Dufferin Street, is designed to host supervised family visits in a secure and welcoming environment. It includes child-friendly installations adapted to their needs. “This is much more than a play space,” said Stéphane Tremblay, president and CEO of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie–CHUS. “It’s a place where children, along with one or both parents, can interact and develop skills in a safe setting. Clinically, this is a significant gain.”

Tremblay highlighted the lengthy planning process behind the project: “What you see here is version seven of the park. It took time to imagine, refine, and deliver something that goes beyond what the public network typically offers. For that, we needed committed partners.”

A press release states that those partners include Groupe Beaucage, Gératek, Carpell, Fondation Bon départ, Canadian Tire, Excavation Robert Pothier, Carrière Saint-Dominique, Clôtures DB and Paysage Florentin, among others. Their contributions ranged from financial support to materials and labour, including installing synthetic turf and custom play structures.

For Groupe Beaucage, the choice to support the project was an easy one. “We’ve always believed that every gesture, big or small, can improve the daily lives of young people in the Estrie region,” said a company representative. “We wanted to give children and parents moments of lightness during supervised visits.”

Creating a space for families

For Stéphanie Jetté, director of Youth Protection, the park represents a major step forward. “It’s a warm, adapted, and safe environment where children can just be kids—play, laugh, and grow,” she said. “It’s also an invaluable tool for parents, giving them the chance to create memories and strengthen their role.”

According to Jetté, the space will benefit about 119 children locally. “During supervised visits, which can sometimes be stressful, this park becomes a precious ally for families and for the interveners who support them,” she explained.

The Fondation du Centre jeunesse de l’Estrie expressed deep gratitude to the donors, partners, and volunteers who helped bring the project to life. Board president Marie-Pascale Bélanger summed it up: “This park is the result of real teamwork. When a community comes together, we make it possible to better surround our children and those who accompany them.”

The foundation hopes the park will not only provide joy and comfort but also strengthen bonds between children and parents. “Every element was designed to encourage meaningful exchanges,” Bélanger said. “We’ve turned a vision into reality—a safe space where families can gather, share, and create lasting memories.”