Community Development
EMC is aware that the seniors’ agenda is often excluded from larger initiatives. Our long-standing role involves informing various sectors such as those focused on women, poverty, linguistic minorities, and ethno-cultural communities. This initiative has been largely motivated by the fact that issues affecting low-income 50+ citizens are either absent or under-represented in discussions by these groups. EMC also contributes to the knowledge base in social gerontology and the impact of the social determinants of health by participating in research projects conducted at local, national and international levels.
- EMC demonstrates an understanding of the importance of population-based issues such as housing and food security by partnering with organizations such as The Depot (Community Food Centre for NDG) as well as collaboration in strategic planning for NDG.
- EMC welcomesinterns from the McGill School of Nursing and Social Work as well as the Concordia Department of Therapeutic Recreation.
- In 2019 EMC joined 23 organizations across Quebec as a Network Partnership Initiative (NPI). This work is focused on supporting the access of the English-speaking population to the Health and Social Service network. It is funded by the Community Health and Social Service Network (CHSSN) through Health Canada, the provincial Secretariat for the English-speaking population and the Chagnon Foundation.
- EMC has developed Clic Social, a social prescription platform that is available to professionals within the public health system. EMC is also a member of the Canadian Alliance for Social Prescribing.
- EMC co-facilitates the Montreal Centre-West Seniors Table and the Montreal Centre-West Mental Health Table for the English-speaking population, which gathers representatives from organizations across this territory. They serve as information-sharing and networking opportunities which serve to strengthen community across shared areas of concern.
- EMC is actively involved in working with COMACO, a coalition of organizations that support seniors living in the community.
- EMC provides programming for residents of Chez Soi, a not-for-profit apartment building that it helped co-found in 2004.
- EMC provides programming and support as the designated local organization responsible for Community Support for Social Housing (HLMs).
- EMC is actively involved with the Cavendish User’s Committee, which is responsible for informing users of health and social services in the centre-west district of Montreal of their rights and obligations while bringing issues of concern to be addressed.
- EMC provides outreach programming at the Monkland Centre as part of the CHSSN-funded Senior Wellness Initiative.
- EMC is a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the Dementia Community Investment (DCI) Knowledge Hub, which has developed a community of practice for sharing information, insights, and collaboration opportunities across the 18 projects funded under the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Dementia Community Investment. The goals are to create a platform to leverage and promote program findings and best practices relevant to dementia policy and program community across Canada.
Social Housing Community Support
The Eva Marsden Centre is funded by the Montreal Municipal Housing Office to provide social activities and increase resident involvement for the five social housing buildings in NDG dedicated to those aged 55+.
Over the past year our animators have met with residents to better understand their needs and to provide conflict resolution when required. A range of activities take place weekly or as part of the cycle of holidays and celebrations.
Community Programming
Fall 2025
All Activities take place at the Monkland Community Centre, 4410 Westhill Ave.
Open to all – Free of charge – Refreshments provided.
For more information, please contact Miranda – (514) 690-2034 / mpotts@emcmtl.org.
Please note, the NOVEMBER programs are cancelled due to the STM bus strike.
Aging Triumphantly
Tuesdays – 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Oct. 7th – Musical Journeys with Rob Lutes
Oct. 14th – CLOSED
Oct. 21st – Watercolor with Tashe (materials provided)
Oct. 28th – Halloween party with musical guest, Gary White
Nov. 4th – Inter-World Travel – Mexico
Nov. 11th – Dawn Tyler Watson
Nov. 18th – Line dancing to Motown
Nov. 25th – Line dancing 2.0
Dec. 2nd – Musical Journeys with Rob Lutes
Dec. 9th – West Can Troupe – Drumming workshop
Dec. 16th – Holiday Party
Aging Triumphantly will be closed from December 22-January 11th and will resume on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Not Over the Hill Community Drop-In
Wednesdays – 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Courageous Creators
Wed. Oct. 29, 1:15-2:30 p.m. – Presenter: Liza Selvarajah
Wed. Dec. 3, 1:15-2:30 p.m. – Presenter: Rob Lutes
Cavendish Users’ Committee
The Eva Marsden Centre is actively involved in extending its’ collaboration with community partners involved in the health and social service sector. The role of the Community Health Advocate is to work in collaboration with the CIUSSS of Montreal-Centre West through the Cavendish Users Committee.
One of the priorities was to establish residents’ committees in all sites thus providing virtual opportunities for increased involvement and input of family members. Presentations on the role of the Residents’ Committee were prepared and virtual meetings were held with family members and residents of the four residential centres. We were successful in recruiting several family members to join the committees.
In an efforts to increase the visibility of the committees, all communication materials were updated and site coordinators were provided with posters advertising all the locations covered by the Users Committee.
In-person activities at most sites were not possible during most of the year; however there was a brief period when we were able to celebrate Users’ Rights Week at in-person information booths at Benny Farm CLSC, René Cassin CLSC, Richardson and Catherine Booth Hospitals, Father Dowd, Henri Bradet and St. Andrew Residential Centres.
With the implementation of Long-Term Care Users’ Committees Sharing Circle by the CUCI, members of our committee attended meetings and worked collaboratively with other users’ committees in the CIUSSS to present issues of concern to residents and their families in long-term care. These issues are brought to the attention of the Support Program for the Autonomy of Seniors (SAPA) and DQIEPE directorates. There were 5 Sharing Circle meetings held.
In collaboration with the CUCI, posters outlining the 12 Users’ Rights in 20 different languages, including Braille, were prepared for distribution to the public, residences, and rehabilitation centres.
Representatives of each residents’ committee worked to implement a “projet d’embellissement” in each residential centre, with a grant provided by the Seniors and Caregivers Minister, Marguerite Blais. The aim of these small projects was to embellish long term care residential centres and make them more home-like for the residents. Creation of theme walls, disguising of exit and elevator doors, improvements to family rooms, and embellishment of bathing rooms were among the projects.
Committee members participated in the review of the CIUSSS Admissions Policy to Long Term Care facilities.