2025-2026 Annual Report

Together, let’s create the conditions for long-term recovery

A Word from the President and CEO

The year 2025–2026 was marked by major achievements that bolstered Portage’s ability to fulfill its mission of helping people with addiction and mental health issues. As the needs of this vulnerable population become increasingly complex and diversified, Portage has chosen to invest in its greatest strengths: the quality of its services, the expertise of its teams and the strength of its organizational foundation.

Establishing a Solid Foundation for the Future

Throughout the year, several decisive steps were taken to consolidate our organization and sustain its long-term development. A major milestone was the signing of a five-year agreement with Santé Québec, which will help provide the stability needed to pursue our mission.

We also conducted an extensive strategic planning exercise, with the help of Arsenal Conseils. Employees, trustees, clients and external partners were invited to join in this collective effort to define Portage’s direction for the future.

In addition, we reinforced our governance mechanisms by developing a risk management matrix and related action plans, and by continuing to work on ensuring our organization’s financial health and improving our management practices. The arrival of new board members has also enriched our governance mechanisms and helped prepare our organization for the future.

Responding to Increasingly Complex Needs

The life experiences of the people we help require innovative interventions that are tailored to their needs and based on best practices. To maintain our high standards of service excellence, we continue to invest in skills development for our teams and in the improvement of our clinical practices.

The ongoing improvement initiatives of the past year reflect our unwavering dedication to offering safe, caring and high-quality services. The renewal of our accreditation status with commendation confirms our teams’ outstanding commitment to excellence, safety and the well-being of the people we serve.

Geneviève Lefebvre
President and CEO

A Word from the Chair of the Board of Trustees

Jason Bélanger
Chair of the Board of Trustees - Portage

Dear members, partners, donors, employees, volunteers and friends of Portage,

I am very proud to present Portage’s annual report for 2025–2026. There were many challenges throughout the year, but also many significant achievements that reflect our organization’s strength, resilience and commitment.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to draw attention to the exceptional work of our employees, managers and volunteers, who uphold Portage’s mission through their professionalism, humanity and devotion on a daily basis. Thanks to their commitment, Portage has provided quality support services to thousands of people struggling with addiction issues and helped them rediscover hope for a brighter future.

The past year was marked by an important transition at our senior management level. The Board of Trustees is especially grateful to Ms. Geneviève Lefebvre, President and CEO, whose leadership, diligence and vision have helped consolidate our organization’s foundation while preparing it for the future. Under her governance, Portage continued its modernization efforts, reinforced its governance mechanisms and initiated its strategic planning in a context that is both demanding and constantly evolving.

The Board of Trustees continued to diligently exercise its oversight and strategic support roles. Special emphasis was placed on risk management, financial health, service quality and establishing partnerships that are essential to our mission.

The Board extends its sincere thanks to the donors, governments and collaborators who continue to believe in our mission. Their trust and support are vital to the continuity of our services and our capacity to innovate in response to the population’s growing needs.

Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to Portage’s clients and their families. Thank you for placing your trust in us and allowing us to support you along your journey. Your courage and determination are a constant source of inspiration for everyone in our organization.

Looking to the future, we remain firmly committed to pursuing our mission and contributing to the well-being of the people and communities we serve.

Thank you for being part of the great Portage community.

Highlights

National Recognition for the Quality and Safety of Care

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In June 2025, Portage was once again accredited with commendation by Accreditation Canada. This recognition reflects the fact that Portage has implemented organization-wide exemplary practices, upheld its tradition of continuous improvement and exceeded the average performance level for national establishments. It also attests to the quality of our services, which focus on individuals throughout the stages of their recovery. Finally, it reflects the strength of our therapeutic community approach, the experiential knowledge of our counsellors and the excellence of our nursing team.

Research for Innovation and Continuous Improvement

A new scientific committee was established this year. Composed of Portage representatives and major Quebec and Canadian figures in the field of addiction, it will be a driving force for innovation and continuous improvement. By monitoring scientific advances and healthcare network guidelines, it will help our organization maintain evidence-based clinical practices that meet emerging needs. The committee’s work will inform our research priorities, help us develop new strategic partnerships and support the development of research-action projects to improve services on the ground.

Joining the Conversation on the Future of Addiction Services

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Portage participated in discussions surrounding the government of Quebec’s future guidelines on mental health, homelessness and substance use by submitting a brief entitled S’unir pour mieux soutenir : du repérage à l’arrimage des services spécialisés pour un rétablissement durable*. As seen in the 17 recommendations outlined in our brief, these discussions underscore the growing needs of individuals struggling with substance use and the importance of offering a continuum of services that are accessible, integrated and tailored to our clients’ real-life situations. real-life situations.
*Available in French only.

Clinical Ethics: A Cornerstone of Our Practices

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Portage reached an important milestone with the consolidation of its Clinical Ethics Committee (CEC). Five clinical ethics workshops were held, bringing together 142 directors and employees from across its centres to examine and discuss issues encountered in their daily practice. By supporting teams who deal with complex cases, the CEC contributes to the ongoing improvement of our practices and reflects our commitment to offering thoughtful, client-focused services.

Strengthening our Trauma-Related Expertise

The reflective practice training project led by Dr. Caroline Larocque and Dr. Nancy St-Laurent (trauma-informed approach) continued throughout the year, with training sessions for supervisors and clinical staff at Portage centres. Twelve two-hour sessions were offered: six for unit managers and six for counsellors.

The goal of this project is to provide additional tools to teams working with clients who have complex attachment issues and often present with repeated relational traumas, deep mistrust, low tolerance for discomfort and significant emotional regulation issues. On the clinical level, this training plays a key role in improving our teams’ ability to read client behaviour, informing our counsellors’ intervention approach and using supervision as a means of ensuring quality, relational stability and therapeutic safety.

Advancing Solutions at the National Level

Portage attended the National Conference of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) held in Halifax in November 2025. The conference theme, “Anchoring Hope”, echoed that of the National Addiction Awareness Week. Portage added its voice to practitioners and community leaders from across the country to help develop prevention, treatment and recovery strategies that empower individuals and strengthen communities.

Bringing Together International Leaders to Envision the Future of Care

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This year Portage hosted a meeting of the Global Leadership Exchange 2026 that brought together global leaders committed to the advancement of addiction services. This event, as well as initiatives undertaken with various research partners, particularly in the areas of screen addiction and substance use trajectories among sexually and gender-diverse people, reflect Portage’s active involvement in clinical innovation, knowledge sharing and evolving service offerings.

Portage in Brief

Portage is a private, under agreement, bilingual addiction rehabilitation centre serving all of Quebec and Atlantic Canada and complementing the range of free services available to the population.

With more than 200 spaces in its residential centres and more than 30 spaces in its intensive external programs, the organization offers a continuum of services that are tailored to the various stages of an individual’s recovery as they regain control of their lives and resume their daily life.

Since its inception in 1973, Portage has evolved to become a key player in addiction services. Over the years, it has helped more than 43,000 people and their loved ones take back control of their lives, with the support of the Quebec and New Brunswick governments.

Parcours des usagers et financement EN

Portage in Numbers

individuals helped

Thanks to your support, we helped 2,372 individuals in the past year. Women accounted for 45% of program admissions.

The following data reflects the breadth of our work and the genuine transformation experienced by our clients and their loved ones.

Number of People Assisted, by Service Type

In 2025-2026

728

728

people welcomed into our residential centres

574

574

people helped through our day centres and pre‑therapy program

464

464

people helped through our social reintegration program

751

751

people helped to re‑enter the workforce

411

411

loved ones supported through our family services and support groups

81

81

people, including 16 children, housed in Portage community apartments

Number of People Assisted in our Centres

Adolescents and Young Adults

adolescents and young adults assisted through our youth program in Prévost

adolescents and young adults assisted through our youth program in Saint‑Malachie

adolescents and young adults assisted through our youth program at Cassidy Lake, New Brunswick

individual counselling sessions with adolescents and young adults in our Moncton Community Care Program

Adults

adults assisted through our adult program in Prévost

adults assisted through our adult program in Montreal

adults assisted through our day Centre in Quebec City

Particularly Vulnerable Clienteles

mothers and children assisted at our Mother & Child Centre

people assisted at our Mental Health and Addiction Centre

Most Frequently Used Substances

We offer services to individuals of all ages with substance use issues. The majority of our clients (nearly 66%) use more than one substance.

Among Adolescents and Young Adults (ages 14 to 21)
Most frequently used substances:

Ados EN

Among Adults (ages 22 and over)
Most frequently used substances:

Substances - Adultes EN

Average Duration of Substance Use and Stay in a Residential Centre

Substance use history varies according to age, both in terms of duration of use prior to admission and length of stay in a residential centre.

Among Adolescents and Young Adults (ages 14 to 21)

2
years

average duration of substance use before being admitted

125
days

average length of stay at a residential centre

Among Adults (ages 22 and older)

10
years

average duration of substance use before being admitted

153
days

average length of stay at a residential centre

Nearly 300 ninety-day stays in our residential centres or in external care during the past year.

Concurrent Disorders at the Time of Admission

Over half the people admitted to our programs during the past year had duly diagnosed concurrent disorders (substance use disorder and at least one other diagnosed mental health disorder), with 58% in our youth programs and 54% in our adult programs.

Our Services

For Adolescents and Young Adults (ages 14 to 21)

Reshaping our Programs to Improve our Youth Services

After conducting service quality audits and consultations with its residents, Portage reviewed its youth programs at Lac Écho and Saint-Malachie as part of its commitment to continuously improve its services and address the needs of adolescents and young adults. The review process involved listening to client feedback, analyzing our practices and mobilizing our teams to align our programming with realities on-the-ground and strike a balance between therapeutic activities, rest periods and general well-being. Through this process, our programs continue to evolve according to a human, structured and recovery-focused approach.

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Expanding Outreach Services

Portage continued to connect with the community through its outreach counsellor and its representation and awareness services. New partnerships have been formed with organizations in Western Quebec, including CISSS and CIUSSS, schools, hospitals and police departments. In addition, solid working relationships have been established with two of Montreal’s largest anglophone school boards, the Lester B. Pearson School Board and the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), and with several community organizations. By strengthening its ties with the community, Portage wants to emphasize earlier intervention, improve referral to appropriate services for youth and their families, and help prevent their condition from deteriorating before they enter our programs.

Training Counsellors to Help Prevent Sexual Exploitation

In response to sexual exploitation issues in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, two Portage Saint-Malachie counsellors received specialized training in sexual exploitation prevention and intervention. To address the needs voiced by some of our organization’s partners, they subsequently trained nearly fifty youth counsellors in the region. This initiative will help improve the youth network’s capacity to intervene, provide specialized services to deal with the scourge of sexual exploitation and provide better protection for vulnerable youth in the region.

Instagram posts 2026 1080x1080

Marking the First Year of the Moncton Community Care Program

As concerns over substance use disorders and overdosing continue to grow throughout the Greater Moncton area, Portage Atlantic’s Moncton Community Care Program is highlighting the importance of early intervention. Since it started one year ago, the program has helped youth and their families access the support they need before their problems escalate and guided them along a more positive path.

For Adults

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Mobilizing to Meet a Growing Demand

Portage continued to address a growing demand among adult clients by implementing services to assist them before they enter the residential centre in Prévost. These services allow us to stay in touch with future clients, sustain their motivation to change and help prepare them for their recovery journey.

Tailoring Our Support for People With Criminal Records

Thanks to a new partnership with the Centre Saint‑Louis in Quebec City, Portage now has the expertise to provide better support to people who have had or are currently having difficulties with the law. The improved service offering includes group interventions and individual meetings that are more tailored to their needs. As a result of this new partnership, Portage has hired two new resources to improve its ability to deliver quality interventions and support more people throughout their recovery and their social reintegration.

Particularly vulnerable clienteles

Pregnant Women and Mothers with Young Children

Supporting Women’s Recovery Through a Supervised Clinical Internship Program

Through its partnership with the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), this year Portage enhanced its specialized psychological services for women facing complex life situations marked by trauma, violence, dependency, parenting issues and significant psychosocial vulnerability. More than 270 specialized psychotherapeutic interventions were conducted thanks to the specialized clinical internship program. This initiative created a safe therapeutic environment where women can begin an in-depth healing process, develop new adaptation strategies and consolidate their path to recovery, often at the most critical junctures of their journey.

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Rebuilding the Mother-Child Bond Through Recreational Activities

Thanks to the support of the Valero Energy Foundation of Canada, the Portage Mother and Child Centre continued to offer recreational activities that strengthen the parent-child bond during the recovery process. For many mothers, this bond does not come naturally: because they have had difficult lives and were sometimes deprived of positive parental role models, they must learn to build something with their child that they didn’t have themselves. This year, 59 mothers and 53 children took part in fifty activities, from cooking and crafting workshops to cultural outings and outdoor activities. These special moments helped the mothers feel more confident as parents, create positive memories with their children and discover simple ways to enjoy themselves and bond with their children on a daily basis.

For Adults with Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Related Psychotic Disorders

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Transforming our Services to Better Suit Emerging Needs

The Mental Health and Addiction Centre continued to develop its service offering in response to the complex and evolving needs of individuals living with both addiction and a psychotic disorder. By reviewing its clinical practices and reorganizing its services, the Centre enhanced the quality of its care and its ability to deliver services to these vulnerable clients.

Social Reintegration

Nutrition, A Vital Aspect of Health and Recovery

Healthy eating and regular access to quality food are important for recovery, overall health and social reintegration. Many of the people we help have limited access to healthy food due to financial issues, housing instability or homelessness. To address these challenges, Portage introduced new initiatives that focus on nutrition, autonomy and food safety.

Weekly Nutrition Workshops

Nutrition workshops are offered every week to all our social reintegration clients. The content of the workshops was developed and vetted with the help of a nutritionist. Participants get practical information on nutrition, meal planning, healthy choices and food budgeting—all this helps promote self-reliance throughout the course of their recovery.

Community Kitchens: A Part of Social Reintegration

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This year Portage launched a community kitchen program where participants get together to prepare simple, nutritious and affordable meals while developing their cooking skills. But community kitchens are about more than meal preparation; they promote cooperation and socialization, as well as self-confidence and a sense of belonging. They are also an opportunity for participants in the social reintegration program to practice what they learn in their nutrition workshops.

To make sure these activities meet the best practices for community kitchens and food safety, Portage has joined the Regroupement des cuisines collectives du Québec (RCCQ).

Employment Reintegration

MIRE

Employment as a Gateway to Inclusion

For the third year in a row, MIRE (Mouvement pour l’intégration et la rétention en emploi) reached 100% of its admissions target, providing services to nearly 450 people. In cooperation with its Centre-Sud partners, the Montreal-based organization took part in two job fairs that reached nearly 700 people. It also hosted the 7th edition of the Salon de l’insertion et de la formation, an employment integration and training event that attracted a record 850 visitors. MIRE’s mission goes beyond employability. The organization takes a global approach that considers all a participant’s needs and works with a large network of community partners. Its goal is to promote lasting integration into the labour market.

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A Partnership that Opens Up New Perspectives

Portage’s Centre de formation à l’emploi in Quebec City renewed its agreement with Services Québec. Thanks to this agreement, 170 people received services to help them go back to school or reintegrate into the labour market. This agreement will enable people to clarify their career plans, improve their skills and follow a structured path towards greater autonomy. Portage Québec wishes to thank its valued partners in the field of addiction in the National Capital region. Their commitment directly contributes to improving our clients’ future.

Behind every service, a story of recovery.

Foundation

Alexandre Viau
Chair of the Portage Foundation

Colette Taylor
Vice-President, Philanthropic Development, Portage

A Word from the Portage Foundation

Dear donors, partners, volunteers and friends of Portage,

This has been a memorable year for the Portage Foundation. Thanks to the generosity and steadfast commitment of our community, our 2025-2026 fundraising campaigns in Montreal and Quebec City had their best year ever, generating 2.7 million dollars, an 18.2% increase over the previous year. This unparalleled success was made possible in particular by the 22nd Edition of the Soirée des Grands Philanthropes – A Tribute to Julie Godin, Executive Chair of the Board of Directors of CGI. Julie’s unifying leadership and the dedication of the members of the honorary committee made all the difference. We are deeply grateful for their support.

In addition to these record results, $1,354,000 was raised to complete the capitalization campaign. We want to highlight the outstanding contribution of the Fondation Marcelle et Jean Coutu, whose support has been vital to the construction of a new wing for the adolescents and young adults pavilion at Portage Lac Écho.

In New Brunswick, the annual fundraising campaign also had a record year with donations totalling $465,000.

This success reflects the dedication of the chairs and members of our fundraising committees, whose commitment plays a direct role in transforming lives.

Continue Reading

The Portage Foundation in Quebec

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, partners and volunteers, we are able to organize inspiring, community-building events that have helped us raise essential funds in support of our rehabilitation programs.

We want to thank the Chair of the annual fundraising campaign in Montreal, Guy Nadeau, Vice-President of Desjardins Business Montreal, and the Chair of the campaign in Quebec City, André Roy, President of PMT Roy Insurance and Financial Services from 2011 to 2023, for their unwavering support over the years.

Every donation truly helps transform lives and plays an essential role in Portage’s ability to maintain and improve the quality of its services. Without this vital support, Portage would not be able to offer the same level of excellence in its services to people in recovery. Whether through the Soirée des Grands Philanthropes event, our golf tournaments, or creative initiatives such as the event held at the Maison Louis-Joseph Forget, the generosity of our donors genuinely supports our mission and the development of services that meet our clients’ needs.

dedicated volunteer ambassadors on our various fundraising committees

charitable events

participants from the business community at Portage events in 2025–2026

Our Events

22nd Edition of the Soirée des Grands Philanthropes — A Tribute to Julie Godin

An unprecedented outpouring of generosity propelled the 22nd Soirée des Grands Philanthropes to new heights. Thanks to this prestigious charitable event that paid tribute to Julie Godin, Executive Chair of the Board of CGI, a record net amount of $1,850,000 was raised for Portage. A resounding success that will remain forever in our memory.   

A total of 710 guests were welcomed at the Windsor Station’s Salle des pas perdus, in addition to 134 guests in Quebec City who took part in the Montreal event live from the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. 

27TH Edition of the Portage Golf and Cycling Event at the Royal Montreal Golf Club

The 27th edition of the Portage Golf and Cycling Event took place yesterday under a bright summer sky. Held for the first time ever at the prestigious Royal Montreal Golf Club, the host of the 2024 Presidents’ Cup, the event brought together 144 golfers and 33 cyclists, raising $184,000 for adolescents and young adults at the Lac Écho residential centre in the Laurentians.

30th Edition of the Portage Golf Open at the Royal Québec Golf Club

The 30th edition of the Portage Golf Open, held on June 9, 2025, brought together 152 golfers at the Royal Québec Golf Club. The tournament was already sold out by March and raised a total of $85,000, a vital contribution in support of youth and adults looking forward to a new start in life.

Huîtres en Affaires at Complexe Desjardins

The 6th edition of Huîtres en affaire, held at Complexe Desjardins, brought together nearly 900 members of the business community for a philanthropic culinary experience inspired by gourmet street food.

The event was a resounding success, raising a record net amount of $203,750.

An Event at the Louis-Joseph Forget House

Thanks to a charitable art event organized by painter Sylvie Dagenais, an exceptional amount of $54,000 was donated to the Portage Foundation to launch a new art program across Portage centres in Quebec for people struggling with addiction. 

For two days, the Louis-Joseph Forget House, magnificently showcased by the Macdonald Stewart Foundation, was transformed into a meeting place for creativity, heritage and philanthropy.

Table Du Chef - Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

The Table du Chef event, organized in cooperation with the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, brought together 20 business leaders for a gourmet culinary experience that raised $10,000 for our rehabilitation programs in the Quebec City area.

Table Du Chef - Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth

The Table du Chef culinary event was hosted free of charge by the Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth for the Portage Foundation. The gourmet experience brought together 14 business leaders at the Rosélys restaurant, under the direction of Executive Chef Jean-Mark Léon and his brigade.

DONORS HONOUR ROLL

Builders ($250 000 and more)
Builders ($250 000 and more)
Leaders ($50 000 - $149 999)

American Iron & Metal Inc. 

Banque Nationale 

EMAR Corporation 

EY 

Famille Chagnon 

Fondation D'Amours 

Fondation Echo

Fondation Famille Le Blanc 

Fondation J.A. DeSève 

Fondation Lorraine et Jean Turmel 

Fondation Mirella et Lino Saputo 

Fondation Sandra et Alain Bouchard 

Groupe JAMP Pharma 

Hydro-Québec 

iA Groupe financier 

Jean-Pierre Léger 

La Caisse

R. Howard Webster Foundation

RBC Banque Royale 

Partners ($25 000 - $49 999)

Air Canada 

Bell 

BMO Groupe financier 

Britta Kröger et Peter Simons 

Cogeco inc. 

Fondation Famille Mongeau 

Fondation Famille Vachon

Fondation Paquin Thevenoz 

Groupe Canam inc. 

Intact Corporation financière 

Lucie Gosselin et Denis Leclerc 

METRO inc. 

Power Corporation du Canada 

Promutuel Assurance Côte-Est

Québecor Média inc. 

Rayside Labossière 

Rio Tinto 

Sun Life Québec 

TFI International 

Valeurs mobilières TD inc. 

Van Berkom and Associates Inc.

Benefactors ($10 000 - $24 999)

Aéroports de Montréal 

André Roy 

Association internationale des machinistes de l'aérospatiale 

Azrieli Foundation (The) 

Banque Scotia 

BCF s.e.n.c.r.l. 

Beneva 

Bombardier 

CAE inc. 

Charles Kaufmann 

Cisco Canada 

Club Rotary de Québec-Charlesbourg 

CN 

Crowdstrike 

Danielle St-Pierre 

Deloitte 

Distinction Capital inc. 

Ellipse Assurances 

EstriDev 

Exceldor Coopérative 

Fairmont Chateau Whistler 

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac 

Fasken 

Fednav Limited 

Fiera Capital 

Fondation C'est beau la vie 

Fondation Famille Lupien 

Fondation Jacques et Michel Auger 

Fondation Janine Bombardier 

Fondation Louise Cérat et Gilles Labbé 

Fondation Simple Plan 

Fondation Suzanne et Claude Rouleau (La) 

Fondation Sylvie Nadeau et Michel Dallaire 

Fondation Véronic DiCaire 

Fondation Virginia Parker 

Fonds Fondation Paul-A. Fournier - Fondation du Grand Montréal 

Fortinet Technologies Inc. 

France Denis 

Garaga inc. 

George Hogg Family Foundation (The) 

Gestion d'actifs Burgundy 

Gestion Thap inc. 

Groupe Asselin Lévesque 

Hôtel Château Laurier

Hylcan Foundation (The) 

Kateri-Anne Grenier avocate Inc. 

KPMG 

La Presse 

Marchés mondiaux CIBC inc. 

McCarthy Tétrault 

Monks 

Morency, Société d'avocats 

Nathan Harrison 

Parent & Brassard - iA Gestion privée de patrimoine 

Pierre Pomerleau 

Pomerleau inc. 

Private Brands Consortium PBC Inc. 

Produits Kruger inc. 

PwC Canada 

Roasters Foundation 

Robin Gamache 

Rogers Communications Canada inc. 

Sanimax 

Soeurs de la Charité de Québec (Les) 

Solotech 

Stingray Group Inc.

Collaborators ($5 000 - $9 999)

AccèsConseil 

Alexandre Lemieux 

André Couture - Fondation Atura 

Behaviour Interactive inc. 

Benoit Martel 

Blakes 

Cafa Corporate Finance 

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities 

Clinique de l'auto Higgins inc. 

Club Med 

Construction Broccolini inc. 

Daniel Binette 

Delsa inc. 

Énergie Valero inc. 

Epsylon Concept inc. 

Équipements Twin inc. 

Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth 

Fondation Carmand Normand 

Fondation Énergie Valero du Canada 

Fondation Leclerc-Racine

Fondation Les Roses de l'Espoir 

Fondation Lise et Richard Fortin 

Fondation Madeleine et Jean-Paul Tardif 

Fondation Mi Corazon 

Fondation Poverello 

Fondation Sibylla Hesse 

Fondation Valsef Rêvons Grand (La) 

Fonds de Bienfaisance des employés de Montréal Bombardier Aéronautique 

Galerie d'Art Cosner au Ritz-Carlton 

Gespra 

Gilles Lefebvre 

Groupe AGF inc. 

Groupe CH inc. 

Groupe Farel inc. 

Groupe Maurice (Le) 

Habitations Leblanc inc. (Les) 

Hélène Costin et Yvon Charest 

Holt Renfrew Ogilvy 

Hua Di-Thai 

Jacques Marchand

Louis Pilon 

Mallette 

McKesson Canada 

Michael G. Simard 

Michel Dubé 

Norton Rose Fulbright 

Patrick Morin inc. 

Polysurface Centre Québec 

R2i inc. 

Services Juridiques SV inc. 

Sommet Groupe Financier 

St-Denis Thompson 

Stikeman Elliott 

Suppléments Aromatik inc. 

Sylvie Dagenais 

Sylvie Lafrance 

Travaux de Peinture Cyr 

VIA Rail Canada inc. 

Yan DesGagné 

Zurich Canada 

Friends ($1 000 - $4 999)

Adrian Goulet 

Agence La Bande 

Agropur Coopérative 

Alexandre Tremblay 

Alexandre Viau 

André Dumont 

Anyck Wilford 

Aon Canada Inc. 

Arboplus 

Association de la Construction du Québec - Région de Québec 

AT&T Global Services Canada Co. 

Augustines du Monastère Saint-Augustin (Les) 

Babymoov 

Birks Family Foundation (The) 

Brian Henry Leahy 

Cabinet de relations publiques NATIONAL (Le) 

Canoe Financial 

Centric Canada Apparels & Accessories ULC 

Chambre de Commerce de Lévis (La) 

Charles Lefebvre 

CHUBB 

CI Investments Inc. 

Claude Lacroix 

Club de Golf La Tempête 

Club de Golf Le Blainvillier 

Club de Golf Royal Montréal 

Club de Golf Royal Québec 

Colette M. Taylor 

Construction Ricar inc. 

Consultation | M365 

Contrôle MBV inc. 

Courchesne Larose Ltée 

Daniel Lalonde 

Denise Dagenais 

Edgenda 

EgR Stratèges en assurance 

Emmanuelle Poupart 

Énergir 

Entourage sur-le-Lac Resort 

Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu 

Fairmont Tremblant 

Fidelity Investments Canada 

Fiducie Jacqueline Lallemand 

Fondation Macdonald Stewart (La) 

Fondation Normand Brie 

François Dupuis 

Geneviève Lefebvre 

George and Inez Lengvari Foundation (The) 

Germain Lévesque 

Gestion de Placements TD 

Gestion Michel Dagenais inc. 

Gestion privée CIBC Wood Gundy 

Ghislain Rhéaume 

Gildan Activewear Inc. 

Groupe CT inc. 

Groupe Leclerc 

Groupe Norbec inc. 

Groupe Sogno 

Groupe Systèmes Préfabriqués Intégrés inc. 

Harry Rosen 

Hay Foundation (The) 

HBGC Ingénieurs 

Hôtel Le Bristol Paris 

HUB International Québec limitée 

Jacques Gauthier 

Jason Knowles 

Jean Philippe Bernard 

Jean Tardif 

Jean-Claude Ouellet 

Jean-Sébastien Béland 

Joseph Roger Paquette 

Judith Busque 

Julien inc. 

Julio Katra 

Juno Pharma Canada Inc 

Lallemand inc. 

Lambert Somec 

Laurent del Rosario 

Lindsay Riddell Holdings Inc. 

Mackenzie Investments 

Maison Simons (La) 

Manuvie 

Marc Raboy 

Marcel Dutil 

Marie-Claude Montminy 

Marie-Josée Houle 

Mario Couture 

MASSCON Construction

Mathieu Tanguay 

Maxime Bernier 

Michael Keating 

Microsoft 

Modelo Modélisation 3D inc. 

Mtl Prime Limos 

Nathalie Savard 

Nicolas Lenoir 

NovAxis Solutions inc. 

Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon 

Œuvres Marie-Anne-Lavallée 

Parasuco Jeans Inc. 

Patrice Brunet Avocats 

Paul Roberge 

Philippe Beaulieu 

Picton Mahoney Asset Management 

Prelia 

R.J. O'Brien & Associates Canada Inc. 

RBC Assurances 

Rémi Racine 

Richard Mayrand 

Robert Mousseau 

Roger d'Eschambault 

Samuel Guérin 

Sani Marc 

Saputo 

Séminaire de Québec 

Sergio Angelo 

Services Bancaires Commerciaux TD 

SHL Québec 

Soeurs de St-Joseph de St-Vallier (Les) 

Sophia Knoche et Ralph Nakhle 

Spa St. James 

St-Amour 

Steve Turcotte 

Steve Zervoudakis 

Steven Côté 

Tablée des Chefs (La) 

Transport Complix 

Tremblay Bois Avocats 

Valeurs mobilières Desjardins Garon-Fluet-Bissonnette-Rodrigue 

Vision Concept 

Yvan Laroche

The Portage Atlantic Foundation

Donor support has a meaningful and lasting impact on the youth who come to Portage Atlantic and the families who support them on their journey. Through the generosity of our donors, young people are able to access the care, structure, and encouragement they need to begin rebuilding their lives. Families, in turn, are supported as they reconnect, strengthen communication, and regain hope for the future. This support helps renew family ties and create healthier communities as well as brighter futures for young people throughout Atlantic Canada.

Ongoing donor support is essential to maintaining and enhancing the programs and services offered at Portage Atlantic. We extend a special thank you to The New Brunswick Children’s Foundation, The Windsor Foundation, The McCain Foundation, The Fredericton Community Foundation, UCT Saint John—Jack Kidd Council 755, Lions of District N 1, Atlantic Lottery, Saint John LNG and Riverview Ford for their unwavering generosity.

We are deeply grateful to our major donors and to all those who give consistently, year after year, and whose generosity is an essential part of making hope, healing and lasting changing possible. Their commitment provides the stability needed to sustain Portage Atlantic’s therapeutic community work, respond to emerging needs, and ensure that youth and families know they are not alone.

image

Volunteers Who Change Lives

As part of National Volunteer Week, Portage Atlantic highlighted the invaluable role of the volunteers who contribute daily to the well-being and success of the youth we support. At the Recognition Ceremony held on April 23, a Portage graduate gave an inspiring testimonial that underscored the very real impact of their commitment. During the event, the 2026 Heritage Prize was awarded to Dr. Russell King, former chair of the Portage Atlantic Board, to honour the outstanding contribution of past and current members of the Portage Atlantic Board.

Donors Honour Roll

Ambassadors ($150 000 - $249 999)
Leaders ($50 000 - $149 999)
Partners ($25 000 - $49 999)
Benefactors ($10 000 - $24 999)
Collaborators ($5 000 - $9 999)

Atlantic Lottery Corporation

Sandra Irving

Douglas Prebble

Saint John LNG Limited Partnership

Salisbury Funeral Home Ltd

United Commercial Travelers of America - Jack Kidd Council #755

Winsloe Lions Club

Friends ($1 000 - $4 999)

Robert Black

Jean-Robert et Sylvie Bourgeois

Nathaniel Braun

Brennan Farms Ltd.

John and Pam Clark

Livain Doiron

Dr. Jeffrey D. Watson Professional Corporation

David Ferguson

Fredericton Lions Club

Louis and Roberta George Foundation (The)

Walter Mackie

Maple Leaf Homes Inc.

J. Scott McCain

Peter and Daphne McCarthy

Moncton Lions Club

Keith Scott Murray

Nashwaaksis Lions Club We Serve

New Brunswick Masonic Charities & Housing Co. Ltd

Vienneau Insurance Ltd

P. Terrence Nugent

Ralph & Janet Shears Humanitarian Fund

Bill Reynolds

Rigrowth Ltd

St. Luke's Thrift Shop

Michel Thebeau

Impact of Your Donations

Quebec

Portage is funded by Santé Québec but also relies on private sector support to enhance its services and adapt them to today’s reality. To do so, the Portage Foundation leads two annual fundraising campaigns—one in the Greater Montreal area and the other in the Quebec City region. Each campaign is spearheaded by a committee of business people who care about our cause and engage their networks to help us reach our overall goal of $2 million.

The Year at a Glance

Greater Montreal Campaign

Objectif MTL EN
Résultat MTL EN
% MTL EN

Results include donations and net amounts raised during our fundraising events.

Quebec City Area Campaign

Objectif QC EN
Résultat QC EN
% QC EN

Results include donations and net amounts raised during our fundraising events.

Capital Campaign

Camp. de capitalisation EN

A capital campaign for the construction of the youth wing at the Lac Écho Centre ended in 2026 and is included in the total. Thank you to the Fondation Marcelle et Jean Coutu, the Fondation Famille Godin, the JAMP Pharma Group and the Fondation D’Amours for their outstanding contributions to this campaign.

$
in total, including $305,610 in goods and services, was raised in support of Portage’s mission.

Sources of Funds Raised

Sources de fonds amassées - Québec EN

Distribution of Funds Raised by Donor Type

Rtype de donateur - QC - EN

All funds raised go directly to Portage programs in Quebec. We work with each of our centres to identify their main priorities in order to support services and initiatives that respond directly to our clients’ needs.

748

donors

265

new donors

483

recurring donors

Every Donation Supports the Journey Toward Recovery

Merci QC EN
  • Community Kitchen Workshops

    Thanks to a contribution from the Fondation Carmand Normand, nutrition and community kitchen workshops were set up to promote life-changing healthy habits.

  • Bursary Program—Quebec City

    $28,600 divided among 36 bursaries (14 bursaries for the Quebec City Day Centre and 22 bursaries for the Saint-Malachie Youth Program). Donors for Quebec City: Virginia Parker Foundation and Fondation Atura.
    60% of these clients have chosen special education or social work programs in order to help other people who are experiencing challenges similar to their own.

  • Bursary Program—Montreal

    $7,000 divided among 18 bursaries (10 bursaries for the Lac Écho Youth Program and 8 bursaries for the Lac Écho Adults Program). Donors for Montreal: Huîtres en Affaires Event, organized by Desjardins.

    Thanks to our generous donors, 50 bursaries were awarded in the Quebec City and Montreal areas. Their support allowed our clients to go back to school and achieve their goals.

  • Music Program (Lac Écho and Saint-Malachie)

    Thanks to the Simple Plan and Véronic DiCaire programs, music has become an important therapeutic tool for young residents. Music helps them channel their emotions and discover a meaningful interest that inspires them to move forward and transform their lives.

  • Rock Climbing—Ça me dit de grimper

    Thanks to Canadian Tire’s Fondation Bon Départ, 30 youths from the Lac Écho Centre discovered rock climbing. Supervised by a team of specialized instructors from the Ça me dit de grimper organization, they took part in a sports activity that fosters self-confidence, perseverance and solidarity.

  • Judo—Saint-Malachie

    Judo classes, made available through the Fondation Madeleine et Jean-Paul Tardif, provide a structured framework that instills self-confidence and self-discipline in the young residents of the Saint-Malachie Centre, which helps support social reintegration and prevent relapses.

  • Representation and Awareness Program—Lac Écho

    Thanks to donations from the Fondation Famille Le Blanc and the Fondation Sibylla Hesse, Portage relaunched a vital representation and awareness program to strengthen its ties with schools and the community in order to reach more young people.

  • Activities to Strengthen the Parent-Child Bond

    Thanks to the steadfast support of the Valero Energy Foundation of Canada, mothers are rediscovering the simple yet essential joy of playing with their child, an activity that has a lasting transformative effect on the parent-child bond.

  • Training in Psychotherapy for Unit Managers and Counsellors at Portage Centres in Quebec

    Thanks to a contribution from the Fondation Jacques et Michel Auger, unit managers and counsellors received clinical and psychotherapy training to help them hone their intervention skills and offer specialized services to vulnerable female clients.

  • A Major Contribution for the Mental Health and Addiction Centre

    Thanks to the support of the Fondation Lorraine et Jean Turmel and the Fondation Écho, Portage is increasing the centre’s intake capacity.

Atlantic Canada

Portage Atlantic is funded in part by the Government of New Brunswick and also relies on the generosity of donors to enrich its services and meet the needs of youth and families across the Atlantic provinces. All donations made to Portage Atlantic remain in the region and directly support our programs and services.

The Year at a Glance

Atlantic Fundraising Campaign

Objectif ATL EN
Résultat ATL EN
% ATL EN

Distribution of Funds Raised

Sources de fonds amassées - Atlantique EN

Distribution of Funds Raised by Donor Type

Type de donateur - ATL EN

215

donors           

116

new donors   

99

recurring donors

Every Donation Supports the Journey Toward Recovery

Atlantique Merci EN
  • Moncton Community Care Program

    The Portage Atlantic Community Care Program supports youth facing substance use challenges as well as their families, within their community. This initiative was made possible through a lead gift from Mayflower Sharps of Sussex New Start Foundation whose support provided the catalyst to launch the program. We are also grateful for the contributions of Atlantic Lottery, Ecclesiastical Insurance, Lockhart Foundation, and the Windsor Foundation.

  • Your Community Garden

    This project aims to empower youth in treatment by establishing and maintaining the garden alongside volunteers. It is funded in large part through a partnership with the Lions of District N 1 clubs as well as many individuals, foundations, and businesses. The donations also support programs and services at Portage Atlantic.

  • Senior Peer Mentor Offering

    Funded by the Harrison McCain Foundation, this project creates an opportunity for youth to get training and on-the-job experience at the Cassidy Lake Centre while fulfilling and nurturing their passion for helping others.

Governance

For Sound and Transparent Governance

Since it was established in 1973, Portage has distinguished itself by its organizational discipline and its commitment to the community. The organization has continued to fulfill its mission, overcoming many obstacles thanks to the perseverance, competence, dedication and leadership of its management and staff.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is composed of 15 members, including the Chairperson of the Atlantic Canada Board. The members of the Board of Trustees are elected each year, for a one, two or three-year term, at the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Trustees, in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation, has the legal and fiduciary responsibility for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation. The Board of Trustees exercises its responsibility with the assistance of the regional committees, called Regional Boards, and such other committees as it deems necessary.

Jason Bélanger, Chair 
André Roy, Vice-Chair 
Maxime R. Dubé, Treasurer 
Geneviève Lefebvre, CEO 
Rita Apa 
Luc Bellemare 
Sara Erskine 
David Ferguson

Pierre Gagnon 
Jane Howlett 
Matthew Linton
 
Gurit Lotan 
Pierre-Yves Ménard
Dorothy Reitman
 
Ann Vroom

Board of Governors

The Portage Board of Governors is composed of up to 250 voting members, including up to 35 members from Atlantic Canada. Each year, a slate of governors is nominated and appointed for a one-year term at the Annual General Meeting.

Board of Governors

Peter Allison

Rita Apa

Fraser Baillie

Jason Belanger

Luc Bellemare

André Bérard

Ron Black

Jules Bois

Yvan Boisvert, Adm.A. Pl. Fin.

Craig Caldwell

Ted Callanan

John Carsley

Isabelle Chagnon

Kim Chamberlain

Georges Courteau

Jean Coutu, O.C., O.Q.

Fannie Couture

Mario Cusson, CPA CA, M.B.A.

Michel Dallaire

Anne-Marie David

Charles David, CA

Bruno Debruille

Michel Décary, c.r., Ad. E.

Roger D'Eschambault

Luc Deschênes

Jean-Pierre Desrosiers

Ted Di Giorgio

Derek A. Drummond

Victor M. Drury

Maxime Dubé

Michel Dubé

Claude Dubois

André Dumont

Sara Erskine

Brian Evans

Sherrie Lee Evans

Magdy Fahmy

David Ferguson

John Flett CFA

Erin Flood

Geoffrey Flood

Daniel Gagnier

Pierre Gagnon

Jean-Paul Galarneau

Clermont Gignac

Sylvie Giguère

Laurent Giguère, CA

Kateri-Anne Grenier

Paula Amy Hewitt

Maggie Hodgson

Heather Hooper

Richard Hooper

Jane Howlett

Michael Howlett

Peter A. Howlett, C.M.

E. Pius Kaufmann

Tricia L. Kuhl

Éric R. La Flèche

Claude Lacroix

Frederic Laforge

Benoit Lapointe

Yvan Laroche

Michel Lavigne

Eric Lecuyer

Hélène Leduc

Geneviève Lefebvre

Alain Lefrançois

Marc Lefrançois

Alexandre Lemieux

George Francis Lengvari

Matthew R. Linton

Gilles Losier

Gurit Lotan

Richard Lupien

John Macdonell

John MacFarlane

Marian MacFarlane

Gisele Maillet

Serge Marchand

Geneviève Marcotte

Nelson Martin

John Maunder

Richard Mayrand

Pierre-Yves Ménard

Gary Mintz

Kimberly Miousse

Réal Moffet, MBA, FCA

Maude Mondou

Ronald J. Murray

Guy Nadeau

Sylvie Nadeau

Ernest Nagy

Roderick C. Nolan, P. Eng.

Carmand Normand

Bruce Northrup

Francois Olivier

Érik Péladeau

Denise Périgny D'Amours

Louis Pilon

Hervé Pomerleau

Marie-France Poulin

Richard W. Pound, C.C., O.Q., c.r., F.C.P.A.

Evan Price

Martha Price

André Provencher

Jackie Ranahan

Robert J. Ransford

Dorothy Reitman, C.M.

Richard J. Renaud, FCA

Robert J. Ritchie

Patricia Rogers

Miriam Roland, M.A., C.C.C.

Claude Rouleau

Lyne Rouleau

Michel Rouleau

René Rouleau

Louise Rousseau

Stéphane Roy

André Roy

Robert Ruttan

Susan Ruttan

Daniel Sgro

Michael G. Simard

Louis St-Hilaire

Jean St-Jacques

Jacques Tanguay

Cathy Thomas

Edward Thomas, B.ARCH

Michelle Tisseyre

Patrick Tobin

Georgia Tournas

Carl Tremblay

Julie Trudel

Jérémie Vautour

Martin Vézina

Alexandre Viau

Luc Villeneuve, FCPA, FCA

Ann Vroom

Zoe Watson

Peter W. Webster, LL.D (Hon)

Brad Woodside

Standing Committees

Portage has several standing committees that support its executive management in the achievement of its strategic objectives. The committees consist of trustees and members of the Board of Governors.

Governance Committee
Chair: Dave Fergusson

Finance Committee
Chair: Maxime R. Dubé

Program and Vigilance Committee
Chair: Geneviève Lefebvre

Properties, Environment and Energy Committee
Chair: Luc Bellemare

Human Resources Committee
Chair: Rita Apa

Communications and Government Relations Committee
Chair: Ann Vroom

Board of Directors of the Portage Foundation

The Board of Directors oversees the Foundation’s fundraising activities and ensures sound financial management. Its members generously contribute their time and expertise to support Portage’s mission and help secure resources that sustain its programs.

Alexandre Viau, Chair
Richard Mayrand, Vice Chair
Georgia Tournas, Treasurer
Dave Ferguson

Robin Gamache
Tricia Kuhl
André Roy

Atlantic Regional Board

The Atlantic Regional Board is established in New Brunswick and serves with such authority as is vested to it by the Board of Trustees. It addresses matters affecting the conduct of Portage business in its region and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

Dave Ferguson, Chair
Geneviève Lefebvre, CEO
Craig Caldwell
Sherrie Evans
Erin Flood
Fred Laforge
John Maunder

Ron Murray 
Bruce Northrup 
Dr Rod Nolan 
Patricia Rogers 
Zoe Watson 
Brad Woodside

Finance

Thank you

Together, we can change lives and create the conditions for long-term recovery.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments. We will be happy to reply.

1-844-939-0202
info@portage.ca

Thank you to everyone who makes our mission possible.