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The Community Centre
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
In addition to the individually-focused assistance provided by our social services, we are also committed to creating links, an essential notion for everyone.
That's why, as a French-speaking community center, we offer a wide range of activities - the second pillar of our organization after social services. La Boussole is a creator of social ties. We all come here to learn something new, but above all to meet great people and share moments of joy and complicity.
Our activities at a glance
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Discover our monthly program and take part in our activities.
Events to get together...
What better way to create social ties than to organize events dedicated to the simple act of getting together? We ask ourselves! That's why we were keen to offer a number of different get-togethers to share moments together, playing on both frequency (members' get-togethers) and intensity (end-of-year celebrations, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, etc.).
After two long years of restrictions and isolation behind our screens, we were finally able to get together in the flesh! The members' get-together has thus made a comeback, to our great delight, on the first Friday of every month since the end of 2022. Sometimes with specific discussion themes linked to current events (International Women's Rights Day, Black History Month...), sometimes simply the pleasure of getting together over games and snacks, the rendez-vous is a special moment every time, revealing the pleasure that Francophones and Francophiles have in getting together.
Once again this year, we brought out our best flags and shirts to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Quebec and the French-speaking world. We gathered at Science World Park with some thirty members ready to feast. Wooden games were out in full force, as we challenged our friends to a friendly competition, set to Quebecois music. The common thread running through the event was the poutine contest, in which several of our members won.
Undoubtedly one of our most eagerly awaited events, our end-of-year dinner also made a comeback on December 15, 2022. And thanks to our partners the Quebec government and 312 Main, who graciously donated the space, the event was a great success, as it has been every year. We're looking forward to a great evening, ready to feast on the delicious meal prepared by several of our members and employees! In addition to the meal, this evening is an opportunity for us to pamper our most isolated members with numerous gifts (donated in particular by our community and the schools of the Conseil Scolaire Francophone, thank you!) and all our guests with a concert.
... AND DEVELOP SKILLS
An emblem of La Boussole since its inception, English courses are still very much a part of the program. Driven by the fight against isolation and the desire to give our beneficiaries back their autonomy, our organization offers weekly English courses to help them better integrate into this English-speaking province.
To break the isolation and promote social inclusion in the difficult context of the pandemic, La Boussole proposed intergenerational and multidisciplinary workshops. Inspired and carried out by our elders, these workshops cover a wide range of skills, including sewing, world cuisine, sports and much more. In addition to these workshops, participants had the opportunity to take introductory computer courses. The aim of these courses was to develop their autonomy with regard to everyday tools, while raising their awareness of the dangers of the Internet and online fraud. This project was funded by the Government of Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
In 2022, La Boussole launched its Forum Theatre project thanks to funding from the Government of Canada, through Canadian Heritage's Community Cultural Action Fund (CCAF). This initiative supported by our community center focuses on the following themes: homelessness, addiction, mental health, access to care, violence against women and/or people from minority backgrounds (First Nations, racialized or 2SLGBTQ+). With numerous workshops and artistic activities in parallel with the preparation of the play, La Boussole has developed a solid cultural program. From October 2022 onwards, we have offered a number of artistic writing workshops, giving everyone a chance to express themselves, improvisation classes during which our participants can give free rein to their creativity, and of course intervention theater classes, to prepare for the very specific format of forum theater. As the well-being of the participants is at the heart of the project, a psychological support team will be on hand throughout, right up to the performances scheduled for September 2023.
WHAT IS FORUM THEATER?
A variation on "traditional" theater, this type of social and therapeutic theater abolishes the boundaries between stage and audience, so that everyone can play a part in social change. Created by Augusto Boal, this type of theater is designed to stimulate reflection and provide solutions to social problems. Forum theater proposes concrete solutions to the problems of social inequality, by inviting the audience to take the stage. In concrete terms, a playlet is first performed to familiarize the audience with the theme. The play is then re-enacted with a member of the audience taking the place of the victim, to propose a different solution.
COMBATING PREJUDICE AND MARGINALIZATION
In addition to the activities and events inherent in La Boussole's programming, we also take part in national and international events highlighting situations of inequality against which we are also fighting within the organization / to which our beneficiaries are exposed.
This day is a crucial opportunity to educate the public about gender equality issues and to raise community awareness of the challenges facing women. We are therefore committed to creating a safe and relaxing space for people who see themselves as women in the Downtown Eastside community.
Several special activities punctuate the day, e.g. These include self-defense classes, hygiene product distribution, art therapy sessions, hairdressing and the creation of fabric sanitary towels. These activities are designed to offer a moment of relaxation and well-being, and to promote self-confidence and self-esteem.
La Boussole works daily to combat violence against women and those who identify themselves as such. Our workers are trained on the subject, in touch with existing francophone services and can offer options adapted to people in vulnerable situations. In addition, we have contributed to Réseau-femmes Colombie-Britannique's community guide and anti-violence committee projects, which resulted in the creation of a webinar on the theme of gender-based violence, as well as the writing of a citizens' declaration, calling for systemic change at federal, provincial and individual levels.
This February highlight was an evening screening of three short films presented by the National Film Board of Canada on February 14. Participants viewed MacPherson by Martine Chartrand, Sòl by Valérie Bah and Zab Maboungou by Carmine Pierre-Dufour. Each short film was followed by a discussion on the emotions aroused and the themes addressed. The event was in line with La Boussole's value of inclusion, and welcomed all members of the community. La Boussole also created an evolving resource document on Vancouver's Black communities and the activities proposed as part of Black History Month in the province. This event was made possible thanks to the support of 312 Main, who graciously donated the space.
Homelessness Week is a major event in our mission to raise awareness of the challenges of homelessness in Greater Vancouver. Held from October 10 to 14, the week was an opportunity for us to highlight the difficulties faced by homeless people in our community. We organized various activities during the week, including a community painting with the participation of the Downtown Eastside community. This activity was a moment of sharing and artistic creation that allowed everyone to come together and get to know each other better.
We wanted to seize the opportunity provided by September 30 to raise awareness in our community of this very important issue for L'Île de la Tortue. By publicly showing our support for the "Every child matters" initiative, by wearing our famous orange shirts, and by sharing our educational resources and publications on our social networks. This celebration is part of a wider initiative to train our team and raise the community's awareness of the issue on a daily basis.
In such a predominantly English-speaking province, where French is not an official language, francophones and francophiles are sometimes marginalized. As the only French-speaking community and social center, it's our duty to bring them together, represent them and defend them. That's why we organize many events to celebrate la francophonie and participate in many others to defend it: - Saint-Jean-Baptiste celebrations and other community activities in French - Presence at the Festival du Bois de Maillardville - Offering comprehensive social services in French - Representing la francophonie on local bodies, for example at provincial round tables, preparing the census of homeless people in the Downtown Eastside - And many more! We also work regularly with francophone organizations, from project management to prevention (Dépendance et proche aidance discussion group and promotion of the 16 Days of Activism with Réseau-Femmes and Inform'elles).
CARRY THE VOICE OF THE UNHEARD
Beyond the events we organize or participate in, beyond bringing our members together to talk about inequalities, La Boussole is now looking for a broader voice to denounce these situations.
Sensitive to the issues we and our members are confronted with on a daily basis, we want to bring a different voice to the public sphere, in order to make the positions and realities of the most precarious people, too often sidelined, heard. That's why we're increasingly taking a stand on topical issues, both in the media and on our own networks. We also meet with elected officials and civil servants, as we did recently with the Taxpayers' Ombudsman, François Boileau.
CULTURE AND LEISURE
Because life is also about having fun, we offer a variety of activities to keep you entertained. Young and old, take some time for yourself.
La Boussole offers a wide range of community activities to help you speak and learn French, and keep in touch with Francophones from all walks of life.
You're invited to take part in all kinds of activities: community gardens, writing, computer, photography, art and employment workshops, self-defense classes and more. Check out our calendar of events to find out all about our programming!
