Cathy Fox
Local Journalism Initiative
Published online November 5, 2025, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
BRYSON – Residents from L’Île-du-Grand-Calumet, Campbell’s Bay, Bryson, and Shawville attended a special presentation on legal mandates October 26 at the Bryson Golden Age Club.
The presentation was led by a two-person team—a social worker and a lawyer—who explained their role in providing free legal information and social support for English-speaking residents of all ages. This first venture into the Pontiac is a satellite initiative of Gatineau-based CJPO (Centre de Justice de Proximité, Outaouais), funded by Justice Quebec and co-hosted by Connexions Resources.
Recognizing that many residents cannot easily travel to the city for assistance, the CJPO is now offering mobile services. The team will soon adopt a new name to distinguish these local services. Drop-in clinics will be held on the third Thursday of each month from November through January from 9 am – 4 pm at the HUB (Anglican Church Hall, Shawville), addressing any legal matter. The first clinic will be held on November 20. Additionally, a second topical presentation on “Power of Attorney” will take place at the HUB on November 27 at 10 am. Future sessions may cover family law, labour law, inheritance, criminal law, small claims, and other areas based on community feedback.
Legal mandates are documents created while a person is mentally competent, specifying their wishes in case they later become unable to express them. They can cover both personal care and property, must be drafted through a lawyer or notary, and require court homologation to take effect. They remain in effect only during the individual’s lifetime and can be reversed through the same legal process.
The presentation emphasized that the lawyer provides legal information, not advice, though referrals to specialists are available. The social worker offers personal support throughout the legal processes, including attending court, if needed, but does not act as a legal representative. Both team members have extensive experience in the court system.
The CJPO also provides free services such as commissioner of oaths, court ledger searches, printing access, and pamphlets from relevant regional organizations.
For more information, residents can contact the Public Curator at:
http://www.curateur.gouv.qc.ca/cura/en/majeur/client/prevoyant/mandat/index.html
Photo – Lawyer Jade Barriere gives a presentation on legal mandates at the Bryson Golden Age Club. (CF)
