We had an amazing time last week during our Network and Partnership Initiative (NPI) Fall Retreat in Quebec City organized by the Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN).

The week included a celebration of Early Childhood Week, a three-day Exchange Conference and receipt of a 10-Year CHSSN-NPI Recognition Award.

Marking Early Childhood Week (November 18-24)

We had the opportunity to mark Early Childhood Week on Tuesday, November 20, with an activity at our Itsy Bitsy Tots Playgroup. Find out more about this event and our playgroup and see some cute pics of our wee one’s having fun: Celebrating “Our Stories” at the Itsy Bitsy Tots Playgroup!

As well, Danielle Lanyi, Executive Director of Connexions Resource Centre, joined colleagues at the Grand Rassemblement des tout petits in Quebec City which brought together nearly 700 early childhood stakeholders, in particular local, regional and provincial decision-makers working towards developing the full potential of young children and their families in Québec, and in consolidating the movement for advancing early childhood development initiatives and collectively envision its further evolution.

Three-Day CHSSN Exchange Conference with Fellow NPIs and Provincial Partners

Our Retreat included a three-day Exchange Conference where different NPIs and their partners presented research, shared resources and new programs for improving access to health and social services for English-speaking communities and individuals across the province.

This was an opportunity to highlight some of the issues facing many communities and how those issues have been addressed through creative programming and adaptation of services.

Connexions participated in workshops on Aging and Palliative Care, Collective Impact, training on Behaviour Change, the Complaints System and Mental Health.

Some of the presentations included:

• William Floch, Assistant Secretary General for the Secretariat for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, provided an overview of the employability sector in Quebec, with information on the different funding programs, community examples and experiences.  William Floch also held a mini-consultation to offer more in-depth information on the English Secretariat and ERCC funding.
• An address from MNA Christopher Skeete, Adjoint parlementaire du premier ministre / parliamentary secretary to the Premier, responsible for the English secretariat, spoke about supporting a strong and proud English community with access to services, with a focus on youth and seniors.  As Skeete stated: “Every Quebecer regardless of language needs to feel part of the society”.

Connexions Receives 10-Year CHSSN-NPI Recognition Award

We are proud to highlight a special recognition award received by Connexions during the NPI Banquet.  Congratulations to Danielle Lanyi, Executive Director of Connexions, and Ginie Waller, Program Coordinator, who received the plaque which marks our 10-year milestone in the NPI program awarded to us by the Community Health and Social Sevices Community (CHSSN).

Connexions is one among 23 community organizations and networks that are in partnership with the CHSSN and funded by Health Canada to improve access to health and social services for the minority English-speaking community in Quebec.

Learn more about Connexions, it’s services and programs and different outreach activities throughout the Outaouais region.