The Patro Roc-Amadour is used to receiving 72 teenagers living with an intellectual disability or an autism spectrum disorder. The camp has found no monitor to welcome them this summer. This is the first time this has happened in 20 years of service.
says Julie Leblond, director of adapted services at Patro Roc-Amadour.
The latter was aware of the challenges of recruiting staff. She had therefore decided to considerably reduce the capacity of the camp this summer and thus only to have to hire half of a monitor compared to previous years. Despite months of searching, she found no one.
Denis Savard, general manager of the Cité Joie camp, finds the situation a bit dramatic.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Same observation on the side of the Cité Joie camp. We are really in a very intense job shortage mode. Young people are very difficult to recruit. We started our recruitment at the beginning of November and we arrive in June then we barely have the limit sufficient number to operate for a reception reduced by almost 60%
notes Denis Savard, general manager of the Cité Joie camp.
Mr. Savard is still wondering how to attract young people to come and work this summer.
” It’s a bit dramatic, because it creates pressure on the team in place and on the families. »
For this season, the Cité Joie camp will only welcome 40 young people instead of the 100 in previous years. Mr. Savard receives daily calls from parents wishing to enroll their children, so he has created a waiting list. But I don’t have much hope
he acknowledges.
Parents without a solution
Reluctantly, the management of the Patro Roc-Amadour phoned all the parents to announce that the service offer would have to be canceled this summer. For these parents, there are not many solutions. These are children who are not able to stay home alone
confides Ms. Leblond.
Stéphane Desmeules is one of these parents who has been contacted. His daughter, Rose, was to go to Patro Roc-Amadour this summer. My daughter needs to bond, move, see people
he said.
Stéphane Desmeules has learned that his daughter Rose will not be able to go to day camp this summer.
Photo: Radio-Canada
The phone call was difficult to receive, he is faced with the observation that his daughter will not be able to flourish this summer. Mr. Desmeules works from home, but cannot afford to take vacations during the entire summer season. She will spend part of her summer sitting on the couch. It can affect his physical condition
says the father.
Simon, 16, will also not be able to go to the Grand Village for 10 days. A difficult situation for the whole family, because his father Olivier Moyat has to work while looking after him while his three other children will be on vacation with their mother.
Olivier Moyat is the father of four children, including Simon, 16.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Normally the camp is the moment when Simon enters a service adapted for him. […] I’m going to have to keep him with me when I work, I’m telecommuting, it’s very long, he doesn’t let off steam physically
regrets Mr. Moyat.
Despite the announcement of the closure of the Patro Roc-Amadour camp on Tuesday, management is betting on the next few days to recruit. If there are still no monitors by Friday, the camp will be officially closed for the entire summer season.
With information from Guylaine Bussière
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca