Excerpt from the Press Release:
"This project started almost eighteen months ago, when parents of severely handicapped children who regularly visit the Centre asked us what would happen to their only moments of respite when their children turned 6," explained Diane Chênevert, Founder and General Manager of the Centre de répit Philou.
Realising the importance of extending their services to 6-12 year olds, the Centre's Board of Directors approved Diane's proposal to expand the facilities, create new sensory stimulation rooms and install an elevator to facilitate access to the second floor. The goal was to be able to safely welcome older children and provide them with activities that were appropriate to their level of development. The total investment respresented close to $200,000 over two years.
In an outpouring of generosity, several of the Centre's partners decided to support to the project. Clarins Canada, as part of the Dynamic Woman Award won by Diane, donated $100,000 over five years to initiate and maintain a floor dedicated to the needs of the 6-12 year olds. "It was not only the children who convinced us, but also the twenty-six women who pour their hearts and souls into their work at the Centre Philou as well as Diane Chênevert, Philou's mother, who is totally dedicated to the cause," said Danielle Roche, National Director, Public Relations at Clarins Canada.
As well, in the wake of visibility created by the release of the album Berceuse pour Philou, accessibility to the second floor became an issue adopted by Scotia McLeod which undertook to finance the purchase of an elevator. “We organized several events with our employees and called upon our partners and clients. In less than three months, we reached our goal and presented $30,000 to the Centre Philou,” said André Bourret Directeur of Scotia McLeod while cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the elevator, along with Alain Labonté, the man behind Berceuses pour Philou. The album’s sales paid for the work necessary to install the elevator. “As a bonus,” said Alain Labonté accompanied by some of the album’s artists, “the record won the Félix for Best Instrumental Album of the year at the ADISQ.”
In line with its mission of investment in the community, the Community Investment Committee of TELUS donated $32,500 to the Centre Philou which enabled today's inauguration of two new TELUS Rooms, the Sensorial Stimulation Room and the Communication Laboratory. These rooms are specially designed to stimulate the children's senses using adapted computers equipped with touch screens and colourful buttons and switches, or light, sound, vibration, scent or texture systems. " At TELUS, we support local organisations that are dedicated to improving the lives of our young people on a daily basis. It was natural for us to support Centre Philou's project and to encourage the children's independence and socialisation, allowing them to grow and have fun," stressed François Côté, First Managing Vice President and President of TELUS Health Solutions TELUS Québec.
Ronald McDonald House donated $20,000 and decided to focus on the motor development and physical wellbeing of the children by helping the Centre Philou to acquire high quality, durable equipment to enable the educators to do a wide variety of exercises and games with the children, whether they be small, or not so small. "Being a parent myself, I am very sensitive to the cause of children's wellbeing. Their motor development is certainly good for their bodies, but equally so for their social development," added Pierre Brunet, Owner of a McDonald’s franchise in the Montréal area.
Madame Lise Thériault, Ministre déléguée aux Services sociaux emphasized that in June, the Centre Philou will celebrate its 5th birthday, “Five years of helping families with disabled children. With their devotion, their love of life, and their understanding of what the families experience, the educators at Centre Philou, all students in health-related fields, are examples of the future generation, more open to differences. My ministry granted $25,000 to the Centre Philou so that these young women can continue their work. With these new facilities, the Centre Philou will be able to continue to respond to the needs of families," concluded Madame Thériault.
