GATINEAU, January 25, 2024 – Les Grand Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy’s team proudly announces its commitment to the Gîte Ami, an organization dedicated to the social reintegration of individuals experiencing homelessness in the Outaouais region.
The commitment of Les Grand Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy to the Gîte Ami aims to support the “Mon Calme” project, a transitional housing initiative for the homeless. The project plans to construct a permanent building in 2024-2025, consisting of 20 individual rooms and communal spaces. With two-thirds of the funding secured by Quebec and the City of Gatineau, Gîte Ami seeks community support to raise $1.5 million as part of this campaign.
Festivalgoers are invited to contribute by making a donation through the online ticketing system when purchasing tickets for Les Grand Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy. Multiple initiatives will also be deployed during the event from July 31 to August 17 to maximize funds raised.
Current Challenges
In response to the growing homelessness crisis in Outaouais, the Gîte Ami has developed a continuum of services in Gatineau with four sites to help individuals experiencing homelessness find housing. This involves multiple stages, including emergency and respite shelter, transitional housing, and housing with community support. These sites offer tailored programs to work on self-esteem, anger management, updating administrative documents, job search, and more. Between April 1 and December 31, 2023, over 50 homeless individuals in the region found private housing after a transitional stay.
By partnering with the Gîte Ami, Les Grand Feux demonstrate their tangible commitment to the local community, supporting social reintegration efforts and raising awareness about Gîte’s unfamiliar programs and projects, such as “Mon Calme.” The Gîte Ami will receive visibility equivalent to major event partners, and Les Grand Feux commit to actively supporting fundraising efforts and recognizing the services of the Gîte Ami.
Quotes
“For over 25 years, our team has been dedicated to making a positive impact in the Outaouais region, by creating events that bring people together and generate wonder. We also want to make a real difference in our community. That’s how we came up with the societal contribution initiative for our Sustainable Development Program. Each year, the team will select a local organization to become our “Chouchou Cause”. For the 2024 edition, we are pleased to commit to the Gîte ami, an organization that operates on l’Île de Hull, at the very heart of our activities” expresses Julie Moffatt, President and CEO of Les Grand Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy.
“We greatly thank Les Grand Feux for supporting us in the construction of a building with 20 individual rooms and communal spaces. This service is essential to the mission of the Gîte Ami. Beyond the financial contribution, the support of Les Grand Feux in promoting all our services also touches us. Our emergency services are crucial, but it is also our transitional services that can have a real impact on the living situation of those in need,” declares Lise Paradis, Executive Director of Gîte Ami.
For more information about Les Grand Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy and to make a donation for Gîte Ami’s mission when purchasing your tickets, visit feux.qc.ca.
For more information about Gîte Ami or to get more involved, visit legiteami.org/
