Reflecting on a Monumental Visit On September 4th, 2024, Portage was privileged to welcome the Honorable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, to our Lac Écho Centre in Prévost, QC. The visit marked a significant step forward in our collaborative efforts to improve mental health and addiction services… Read more »
For many, the back to school season is a fresh start, a chance to set new goals and embrace new opportunities. But for Kaylee, this season means much more than just going back to academic life. It represents a major transformation, a journey from a place of darkness to a future full of hope and… Read more »
On July 18, adolescents and young adults at the Lac Écho Portage addiction rehabilitation program got a special visit from Eric Lécuyer, Head of the RNA Biology Research Unit at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal (IRCM). Mr. Lécuyer led the group in a scientific exploration activity, offering them a chance to dive into the… Read more »
It was in the form of a corn boil that the parents of the users of the residential center in Saint-Malachie were invited to come and experience and share the daily life of their children. After participating together in daily chores, a “parents-residents” volleyball match animated the afternoon. The day ended with a group exercise… Read more »
Today, I’d like to tell you about my journey since I started therapy on February 8, 2022. I left the Abitibi region to attend Portage’s Mother and Child Centre. At the time, I was feeling lost, miserable, awful; I had no confidence in myself or in anyone else. Life itself no longer inspired me. The… Read more »
On August 2nd, mini-Olympics were organized for the residents of Saint-Malachie and participants from the Quebec program. A total of 35 people took part in this sunny day in Saint-Malachie. Basketball and volleyball were on the agenda for the four teams composed of residents, participants, and staff members. It was a friendly competition that created… Read more »
Before coming to Portage, I was an alcoholic and I resorted to drugs that I would use everyday. Substance use had taken over my life and slowly but surely, I started to lose everything. My family did not recognize me anymore, my addiction was affecting my ability to work and keep a job, and I… Read more »
For those who are in their post-therapy reintegration phase or who want to avoid falling back into their old patterns of substance use, summer festivals can be both enjoyable and challenging. This article contains practical tips on how to fully enjoy these events while staying sober. Surround yourself with positive people When you go… Read more »
On June 13, 2024, Portage Atlantic celebrated the official opening of the Your Community Garden Project in partnership with the Lions N1 District. The event was a tremendous success, marked by the recognition of 18 generous donors. Each donor was invited to come up to the Garden signage and place a leaf identified with their… Read more »
For several years now, the residents of Saint-Malachie have had the opportunity to participate annually in an expedition with the facilitators from Odyssée Aventure. This emerging program from camps Odyssée aims to provide significant outdoor experiences to adolescent and young adult clients. The youth of the Saint-Malachie community have rolled up their sleeves by getting… Read more »
