A first family and seniors policy for the MRC of Rivière-du-Loup


The objective is to convince citizens to settle, stay and grow old in the municipalities of the MRC by improving services and infrastructure to make their living environment even more attractive.

The objective is to create a better living environment for our families and our seniors, with a view to the active aging of the population. »

A quote from Julie Couvrette, PFM/MADA project manager at the MRC of Rivière-du-Loup

This policy includes an action plan to improve the service offer in all municipalities in the sector.

Actions are planned to review the development of the territory, improve the health and well-being of residents and facilitate their transportation. We also want to make social, recreational and community life livelier, as well as improve communication between municipalities and citizens.

Michel Lagacé on stage at the Saint-Modeste community center.

The prefect of the MRC de Rivière-du-Loup, Michel Lagacé, said he was excited about the idea of ​​presenting the Family and Seniors policy, which is the result of consultations that began in early winter 2020.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Simon Rail

This policy is the result of public consultations carried out in 2020 during which more than 1,600 citizens responded to a survey on their needs and wishes in terms of municipal services and infrastructure.

These are called short circuits. When local services are in place, people stay nearby, travel less and produce fewer greenhouse gases. »

A quote from Michel Lagacé, Prefect of the MRC of Rivière-du-Loup

Many participants mentioned wanting to see more green spaces and developed trails.

Citizens also want more intergenerational activities, as more than a third of people aged 65 and over live alone in the MRC.

These needs are reflected in the policy action plan and are already inspiring elected officials.

The mayor of Saint-Arsène, Mario Lebel, indicates in particular that the Municipality is evaluating the possibilities of developing a trail that would be open four seasons a year and which would notably link the low-cost rental building to the community center.

Mario Lebel gives an interview to Radio-Canada when he leaves the Hôtel Universel in Rivière-du-Loup.

The mayor of Saint-Arsène, Mario Lebel (archives).

Photo: Radio-Canada / Patrick Bergeron

He also indicates that the sidewalks of the municipality are now maintained throughout the year to facilitate the movement of seniors.

Mario Lebel also maintains that the upcoming opening of a CPE of 21 places in Saint-Arsène will make it possible to weld the spirit of belonging of the young people to the municipality. This is a project that the Municipality has been working on since 2013 in the hope of offering families a place of proximity care.

It is a community within a larger community, a CPE. Kind of like a school. It’s very interesting to see the little bits that are coming. This is our successor tomorrow. There may be future mayors in the group! We do not know!says the mayor of Saint-Arsène.

A child is having fun on the obstacle course.

The Municipality of Saint-Modeste has created a ropes course that will delight the little ones.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Marie-Christine Rioux

What we also try to do, in our development, is to develop things, but in complementarity with what we have seen elsewhere and not copy what we see elsewhere.explains the mayor of Saint-Modeste, Louis-Marie Bastille, who specifies that these projects are intended for all citizens.

He cites as an example the recent conversion of the church into a multifunctional community center which will notably make it possible to host concerts and shows that will appeal to young and old alike.

I think that with everything we’re going to put in place in the next few years, it’s going to help keep our people at home. »

A quote from Louis-Marie Bastille, Mayor of Saint-Modeste

A ropes course was also built in the last year on the land behind the elementary school.

Projects for the development of pétanque courts and a roller track for bicycles, skateboards and scooters are also on the drawing board in Saint-Modeste.

Each municipality benefited from the data collected during the public consultation to update its own family policy and develop a local action plan.

The cultural and communications coordinator at the MRC de Rivière-du-Loup, Mélanie Milot, presents the policy.

The Family and Seniors territorial policy was adopted in December 2021, but it was unveiled to the public on Sunday, as part of Quebec Family Week.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Simon Rail

The MRC of Rivière-du-Loup has just over 15,000 households. Of this number, nearly half are families with children. The full policy is available on the website of the MRC.



Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca

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