Isolation and poverty: a reality for many Verdun women

A widow for the past 27 years, Diane Lamothe is a mother and a grandmother, but she explained that before being a grandmother to her eight grandchildren, she’s, first and foremost, a woman and not just a convenient babysitter for her family. It was after taking a course on ageism at the CFV that Diane reoriented her life and realized that she could do something without actually waiting after others. Diane Lamothe has been putting all her energy, in the past four years, to making sure that the co-op residence Rêve bleu for women 50 years and older who are living alone, becomes a reality.

Sylvie Daigneault, mother of a young child, has chosen to live in Verdun because of the the beauty of its surroundings. Sylvie has been on the Centre des femmes board for the last year and is also one of the main people involved in the Casa bella co-op for families with children. Sylvie likes that at the centre there is no prejudice. It’s a safe haven, where people can come to be heard and tackle real issues that affect their lives, such as a sense of isolation, lack of support and poverty among women. The CFV has been a phenomenal help for Sylvie, because it has helped her find the services she needs.

Sylvie describes herself as a socially conscious person, but not an extremist. She came to CFV with her experience from the Comité d’action des citoyennes et citoyens de Verdun (CACV) where she fought for social justice on the housing front. She worries about the plight of single moms who barely survive on their meager resources and can’t afford decent housing.

An active retiree, Gilberte has been working in the community sector for a number of years now, at the Centre pour aîné(e)s de Verdun, where she is a director. She became a member of the Centre des femmes two years ago.

Disappointed that some women seem to be embarrassed about or deny being feminists, as if it were something to be ashamed of, Gilberte Bernard can only conclude that the cause of feminism still has a long way to go. For her, respect, women’s rights, independence are feminist values and are not against men.