{"id":17351,"date":"2025-09-04T06:21:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/?p=17351"},"modified":"2025-09-04T06:37:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:37:00","slug":"newsletter-sept-4-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/newsletter-sept-4-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"New Palliative Care Pavilion Model, \u201cDementia Choir\u201d Series Adapted for the Quebec audience, and Press Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Our First Newsletter of the Season<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dear allies,<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

The start of this new season has symbolic\nsignificance for me: five years ago, I began actively collaborating with the\nLiving with Dignity citizen network,<\/del><\/span> as its\ncoordinator. I am very happy to continue in this role on your behalf!<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

In this newsletter, we cover several topics,\nincluding the Quebec adaptation of the BBC series \u201cOur Dementia Choir.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Choirs for people with Alzheimer’s or aphasia\nalready exist in Quebec (<\/span>bravo to the SAM’Chante choirs!<\/a>), and I hope that the new series\nled by Gregory Charles will increase interest in them tenfold.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Have a great start to the school year!<\/span><\/p>

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Jasmin\nLemieux-Lefebvre
\nCoordinator
\nLiving with Dignity citizen network<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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A new form of public-private partnership for a palliative and end-of-life care unit<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A new \u201cpalliative and end-of-life care\u201d unit will welcome its first patients in Lanaudi\u00e8re this month (<\/span>official press release in French<\/a>). \u201cThe new palliative care ward stands out for its model, in which the services and care provided will be managed by the public sector, in this case the CISSS de Lanaudi\u00e8re, but the building itself was financed by private partners,\u201d explained Sonia B\u00e9langer, Minister Responsible for Seniors, <\/span>to Le Devoir last Thursday<\/a>. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Coalition for Access to Palliative Care in Quebec<\/a> (of which we are a member) responded today <\/span>with a press release<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is an excerpt:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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“The Coalition for Access to Palliative Care in Quebec <\/i>welcomes the government\u2019s announcement of a new ten-bed palliative care pavilion in SaintCharles-Borrom\u00e9e. Any initiative that increases access to end-of-life care delivered with dignity, and any commitment by the Minister to advance palliative care, is a positive step and good news for the population. (\u2026) The Coalition also hopes that this announcement will not come at the expense of essential support for existing resources and models \u2014 which are already enduring severe staff and funding
shortages \u2014 representing major barriers to accessing quality care. This is particularly true for private palliative care homes and certain home-based palliative care programs. More broadly, the absence of clear governance for palliative care within Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec remains a source of concern. While Minister Sonia B\u00e9langer has acknowledged that Quebec has \u201ca lot of catching up to do,\u201d this catch-up effort will not materialize without dedicated leadership and stable funding.”<\/o:p><\/p>\n

It is unfortunate that the rest of the press coverage focuses on medical assistance in dying rather than palliative care (Journal
de Montr\u00e9al<\/a><\/ins><\/span>, The Canadian Press<\/a><\/ins><\/span>, La Presse Canadienne<\/a><\/ins><\/span> – which corrected its article following our intervention, we thank its team).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

We support the words of Dr. Justin Sander published <\/span>in this CTV News article<\/a>:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

But Montreal-based palliative care doctor Justin Sanders says the emphasis should be put on palliative care designed to improve the lives of those with serious illnesses rather than MAID.<\/o:p><\/i><\/p>\n

Quebec has one of the highest rates of MAID in the world, with assisted dying accounting for 7.3 per cent of all deaths in the province in 2023-2024. During that period, over 5,700 people received MAID in the province.<\/o:p><\/i><\/p>\n

Sanders says medically assisted dying is not the only way to die with dignity and Quebec must keep investing in resources for those with serious illnesses.<\/o:p><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThe promise of palliative care is not just that we can remove people\u2019s suffering, but that we can give them experiences of transformational growth and integrity that can only come in this time,\u201d he says.<\/o:p><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cIf we are investing more in medical aid in dying than we are in palliative care, then we will continue to have the kind of suffering that puts people in a position to ask for medical aid in dying,\u201d he adds.<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cTous en ch\u0153ur\u201d, a new series inspired by \u201cOur Dementia Choir\u201d<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The British series \u201cOur Dementia Choir\u201d will be\nadapted this fall in Quebec under the name \u201cTous en ch\u0153ur\u201d (All Together). We\nlearned the news thanks to Nicole Poirier’s (<\/span>LinkedIn<\/a>) reaction to Isabelle Hachey’s (<\/span>La Presse<\/a>) article. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

The original series, filmed in 2018 with a very\ndiverse group (aged 31 to 87!) of people living with various neurocognitive\ndisorders, is pure joy. We invite you to watch episode 1 <\/span>https:\/\/vimeo.com\/456342267<\/a> (a Vimeo account is all you need).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

If you have a VPN, you can also watch the 2022\nseries via\nthe BBC<\/a><\/ins><\/span>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

The project’s initiator, actress Vicky McClure,\nsays: <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

“We won’t stop until everyone with this\ndisease gets the help they need. This isn’t just a disease that affects older\npeople; it’s the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom. Above all, I\nwant to make enough noise to bring about real change and make people who have\nbeen diagnosed feel that they can still live their lives.”<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

We are delighted that Vicky McClure’s project\nis now Gregory Charles’ project. Watch his interview with Sophie Fouron on ICI\nRadio-Canada<\/i>‘s Bonsoir Bonsoir<\/i> program <\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=1341514667976279<\/a> (episode 71 of this season,\navailable on ICI tou.tv<\/i>).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

The series Our Dementia Choir with Vicky\nMcClure<\/i> has become a charity with multiple initiatives (<\/span>www.ourdementiachoir.com<\/a>). We look forward to seeing the\ndevelopment of its Quebec adaptation. To be continued this fall <\/span>on\nAMI-t\u00e9l\u00e9<\/a>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

***<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

If you only want to see short, easily\naccessible excerpts from the series Our Dementia Choir, here are some\nsuggestions:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

BBC report with video excerpts<\/a> <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

30-second trailer<\/a><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Betty, 82<\/a> \/ <\/span>Eileen, 91<\/a> \/ <\/span>The choir’s first performance, Stand by Me<\/a> <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

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Response to Le Devoir editorial \u201cThe quiet strength of social dialogue\u201d<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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We regularly respond to articles, columns, and\neditorials. Here is an example following the publication of this editorial by\nLouise-Maude Rioux Soucy, <\/span>published on August 23<\/a>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Through our coordinator, we shared these three\nconstructive observations:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

a) MAID is no longer considered exceptional\ncare according to the Commission on End-of-Life Care:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\u201cAlthough MAID remains, in most cases, a last\nresort, it is no longer considered exceptional care but rather an option among\nend-of-life care options\u201d (p. 54 of the <\/span>Report on the Situation of\nEnd-of-Life Care in Quebec 2018-2023<\/a>).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

b) The Act respecting end-of-life care was not\npassed unanimously (94 in favor, 22 against)<\/span><\/p>

<\/span>https:\/\/assnat.qc.ca\/fr\/travaux-parlementaires\/projets-loi\/projet-loi-52-41-1.html<\/a><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

c) It seems to me that fears of slippery slopes\nwere and still are justified. <\/span>See:<\/span><\/p>

– Episode 4 of the podcast La mort libre \u201c<\/span>The slippery slopes of MAiD<\/a>\u201d <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

– <\/span>Unravelling MAiD in Canada<\/a>, published by McGill-Queen’s\nUniversity Press <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

We are pleased to note that Le Devoir<\/i> took the\ntime to correct the text on August 29 (regarding point b). We are grateful to\nMs. Soucy and her team.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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To read, watch, or listen to<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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1) From Slippery Slope to Sheer Cliff: MAiD’s
\nImpact on Canada<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

60-minute webinar from the Cardus Institute<\/a>, ahead of a report to be published on September 16.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

2) Canada is killing itself<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Feature article in <\/span>The Atlantic magazine<\/a><\/p>


<\/p>\n

3) Des microdoses de lithium pour freiner la progression de la maladie d\u2019Alzheimer?
Microdoses of lithium to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease?
<\/i>Web and video reports from Radio-Canada Sciences<\/a><\/p>


<\/p>\n

4) Le combat de Will pour des soins \u00e0 domicile \/ Will’s fight for home care<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Report from Radio-Canada C\u00f4te-Nord<\/a><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

We support the <\/span>Collectif Aidons William Losier
\nLabrie \u00e0 rester \u00e0 la mai<\/span><\/i>son<\/span><\/a> (Let’s Help William Losier Labrie Stay at Home Collective).<\/span><\/p>


<\/span><\/p>\n

5) O\u00f9 en sommes-nous avec l’aide m\u00e9dicale \u00e0 mourir 10 ans plus tard?<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Where are we with medical assistance in dying
\n10 years later?<\/o:p><\/i><\/p>\n

Podcast Id\u00e9es en \u00e9volution \/ Questions d\u2019actualit\u00e9 on Radio VM<\/a> Interview with Philippe Labrecque and Dr. <\/span>Catherine Ferrier, member of our board of directors.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our First Newsletter of the Season
\nDear allies,
\nThe start of this new season has symbolic
\nsignificance for me: five years ago, I began actively collaborating with the
\nLiving with …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[290,607],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-qui-vive-living-with-dignity-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17351"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17370,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351\/revisions\/17370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}