For one weekend, long-term care homes across the Laurentides will become art galleries, concert spaces and meeting places — with residents taking their place not simply as spectators, but as artists, singers, photographers and storytellers.
All 19 CHSLDs, seniors’ homes and alternative seniors’ homes operated by Santé Québec Laurentides will participate in the 30th edition of the Journées de la culture, from September 25 to 27. The public is invited inside to discover exhibitions, music, singing, photography, crafts, historical objects and intergenerational projects.
Grouped under the circuit “Culture at the Heart of Our Living Environments,” the activities offer North Shore residents a rare opportunity to see another side of institutions more commonly associated with medical care and declining autonomy. Here, the emphasis will be on the personalities, memories and abilities of the people who live there.
In Blainville, two very different events will be held on Friday, September 25. At the Maison des aînés et alternative, the exhibition I Am Unique — Expressions Without Limits will feature paintings, drawings and sculptures created by residents living with intellectual disabilities. Each work is intended to express an individual story, emotion or way of seeing the world. The exhibition runs from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
That same afternoon, the CHSLD de Blainville will present Blainville in Harmony, a celebration built around music and singing, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
At Sainte-Thérèse’s CHSLD Drapeau-Deschambault, visitors will be able to see works produced by residents over the past year. A performance by the choir of the Trouve ta voie arts academy will accompany the exhibition. The event takes place Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The intergenerational element will be especially visible in Rosemère. Residents of CHSLD Hubert-Maisonneuve and young participants from the Trouve ta voie academy have spent several months creating butterfly-inspired works with two professional artists. Using acrylic paint, gouache and collage, the project explores the pleasure of creating together across generations. The exhibition, The Art of Joy, will be open Sunday, September 27, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saint-Eustache will also place local creativity in the spotlight. On Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the CHSLD de Saint-Eustache will exhibit creations by residents, employees and volunteers. In Mirabel, visitors can discover photographs taken by residents and volunteers at the CHSLD de Saint-Benoît on Friday, while the Maison des aînés de Saint-Canut will combine visual art and choral music on Sunday.
Beyond the weekend program, the initiative touches on a serious question: how can institutional living remain connected to the surrounding community? A major World Health Organization review has found that participation in the arts can contribute to health promotion, social connection and the management of age-related and neurological conditions. Art is not a substitute for care, but it can support expression, memory, dignity and a sense of belonging.
Julie Delaney, president and CEO of Santé Québec Laurentides, said the participation of every regional residential facility reflects the role culture can play in encouraging expression, creating relationships and reducing isolation.
Perhaps the most meaningful part of the weekend is simply that the doors will be open. Rather than viewing a CHSLD as a world apart, visitors will encounter residents as people with histories to share, songs to sing and work worthy of an audience.
All Journées de la culture activities are free and open to the public. No reservation is required for the events highlighted above.
