A unique climbing activity thanks to the Bon Départ Foundation

Thanks to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities’ generous contribution, 30 adolescents and young adults from the Lac Écho residential centre enjoyed a highly enriching climbing activity in September, supervised by the team of specialized instructors from the organization Ça me dit de grimper (I feel like climbing).

Climbing remains the sport best suited to building connections between the physical activity and the therapeutic journey, both on a personal and community level.

Divided into two groups of 15 participants, each forming smaller teams of three, the youth experienced two types of climbing. During the outdoor session, they worked on their self-confidence, trust in others and perseverance, facing their fears, pushing their limits and learning to be present for one another. The indoor climbing focused on learning to be patient, surpassing themselves and managing their emotions. Between climbing sessions, short videos on stress management, comfort zones and reactions to fear encouraged the participants to become more aware of how they respond to different situations and to reflect on their future.

This activity was a powerful experience that was stimulating, unifying and meaningful.

Here are a few testimonials that speak for themselves:

“Thank you for introducing me to a new passion that I will cherish after completing my program at Portage.”

“I want to express just how lucky I was to take part in these activities. I hope I won’t be the last to enjoy such an opportunity. Thank you!”

“If I fall, others will be there to catch me.”

“Sometimes, you need to take a step back, look at the road ahead and make a plan to reach your goals.”

These testimonials clearly show that the climbing activity has a truly positive impact on a personal level. It was a success in every aspect.

Our most sincere thanks to the team at Ça me dit de grimper, whose instructors are genuine role models for young people, grounded in strong values. They led the activity with professionalism, kindness and passion, demonstrating genuine attentiveness and openness toward the young participants.

Finally, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities for giving us the opportunity to introduce climbing as a means of intervention and transformation for young people struggling with addiction. It was a deeply rewarding experience and one we hope to renew.