Lisa Boisvert
Lisa Boisvert
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – The Maison de la famille de Quyon (Quyon Family Centre) was the recipient of the “Coup du Coeur” award from Centraide Outaouais, in June. This award honours organizations that have exceeded in meeting the public’s needs. “Nine community based organizations were nominated for the award. All the nominees have great quality of service, impact on their community, and stability, but the QFC was recognized for their variety of services and how they can answer so many needs of the community. They have such respect and dignity for each person and they are such a wonderful organization,” said Stephanie Lalande, Community Development Director for Centraide Outaouais.
The Centre‘s five employees and many volunteers were proud and surprised to have won the award. “We were invited to attend the event. We noticed they had us in a category with eight other organizations. It was a great honour to win. This is the Centre’s first time being nominated or winning anything,” said Linda Laframboise, Centre Animator.
One of the services offered by the Centre is a clothing counter where used clothing is donated to the organization and resold. Before being resold, all clothing is checked for tears and stains, and is washed. The clothing counter is the organization’s main source of income and is offered to everyone. The Centre also helps victims of fires, abuse, or other emergency situations when relief is needed. The organization also offers weekly draws to raise funds as well as a Bingo on the first Wednesday of every month at Gavan’s Hotel where participants can win a $200 jackpot.
The QFC also has a collective kitchen on Mondays, New Mommy & Baby Playgroups, 0-5 years old playgroups once a month in the summertime, five-week parenting skills programs, craft workshops, dance activities with Pontiac en Forme, the Angel Tree program, a back to school program for low-income families, and more.
The QFC is sponsored by Centraide Outaouais, Gouvernement du Canada Sante et Service Sociaux de l’Outaouais, Ministère de la Famille et des Ainés, and Agence de la Sante Publique du Canada.The Centre is open from Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, but is closed for lunch from 12-1. “The QFC is a team effort. We all work together and have our hearts in it for our community. We believe in what we do,” concluded Laframboise.
