History

Initial impulse

A group of eight socially conscious women decided to open a women’s shelter in Saint-Jérôme after noticing there were few resources for women in the community. They wanted to create a space where victims of domestic violence could get help and support without having to move away from their families, jobs, or children’s school just to be safe.

They worked for nearly three years to make this a reality, with efforts ramping up in the fall of 1984 and winter 1985 and culminating in the letters of incorporation (Charter) on January 29, 1985. The founding pioneers formed a temporary board of directors, comprising: Lise Bastien, Marcelle Bastien, Shirley Ann Leclerc, Céline Nadon, Gyslaine Paquin, Suzanne Varin, Christiane Forget and Marie Campbell Boucher.

Rationale for the name

According to an article published in the newspaper Journal Écho du Nord on January 30, 1985, Greek mythological figure Ariadne (Ariane, in French) gave Theseus a ball of thread which he used to escape the labyrinth after slaying the Minotaur. Inspired by this legendary fresco, La Maison d’Ariane tries to be that thread that will help each woman escape from her own labyrinth of problems.
Marie Campbell Boucher explained that after meeting with a number of social groups, including the Association féminine d’éducation et d’action sociale (AFEAS), Richebelles, the Arthur Buies local community service centre (CLSC), and the MPP for Prévost county, Robert Dean, the group collected 1,000 signatures for its petition to open the shelter.

Birth of a haven, not just a home

After receiving a one-time grant from the Canada Works program on February 4, 1985, Danielle Fafard, Chantal Saint-Georges and Denise Brouillard joined the founding pioneers.
They were starting from scratch and had plans to address a vast array of needs, including housing resources, a drop-in daycare, a documentation centre and women’s centre, resources for victims of sexual assault, and even a non-violence program at elementary, secondary, and CEGEP schools. It was a huge undertaking.

In conjunction with the temporary board, consultations were held in Saint-Jérôme, Sainte-Sophie, Saint-Colomban and Prévost in April 1985. The objective of the consultations was to hear from women and organizations in the community on what women who are victims of domestic violence need. The consultation made it clear that there was a need for a shelter. The community answered the call and threw its support behind the project.

As soon as the shelter’s workers came on board, contact was made with the Regroupement des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale et leurs enfants, which provides access to expertise, analysis and training, such as sessions on children and domestic violence.

The team was driven by a common concern: to promote an empowerment approach. Women who are victims of violence need to feel physically and psychologically safe, to break their isolation, and to feel they are heard and supported through relationships that encourage autonomy, solidarity and mutual aid both at and after leaving the shelter.

All the women involved felt that having the right training and tools was essential, before the shelter even opened. They needed a solid foundation from which to provide services to women and children.
Training was provided to volunteers by the Social Work Department at CEGEP Saint-Jérôme on topics such as helping relationships, active listening, and more. The contribution of volunteers was undoubtedly vital to the establishment of La Maison d’Ariane.
A grant application submitted to the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS) was approved in July 1985, and the project received a $55,000 grant.

On August 12 of that same year, the shelter welcomed its first residents into a three-bedroom home that could accommodate three women and their children. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the women at La Maison d’Ariane had access to counselling, support, information, referral and assistance services. A program was also established to provide recreational activities for the children staying at the shelter.

In 1986, further training was provided specifically for intervention services, taking the conscious feminist approach to mental health. This training was also provided by the Regroupement and the CECEP and included self-defence classes.
The members of the Board of Directors and the team continued to reflect on the philosophy and values of La Maison d’Ariane. They put their thoughts to paper and produced a working document on the organization’s philosophy on December 2, 1986.
This was all made possible thanks to the dedication of the board members, employees, and countless volunteers. They believed in the project and pooled their efforts, working tirelessly to ensure that La Maison d’Ariane could exist and offer quality services despite not having the financial means.

LA MAISON D’ARIANE, A COLLECTIVE STORY

Bibliography

• Letters Patent, LA MAISON D’ARIANE, Inspecteur général des institutions financières, Gouvernement du Québec, January 29, 1985
• Document de travail sur la philosophie de la Maison d’Ariane, Maison d’Ariane, Lise Forcier, Vice President, and Denise Brouillard, Coordinator, December 2, 1986
• Working document to purchase the home (TBC)
• Minutes of the first years of operation of La Maison d’Ariane

Retrospective

Key dates in La Maison D’Ariane’s history