4Korners is celebrating 20 years of supporting English-speaking residents in the Laurentians, serving a population of approximately 47,000 Anglophones and bilingual members in the region. This charity connects locals to programs and services.
The organization was founded in 2005 by Executive Director Darlene Gargul after a group of community members came together to address issues faced by English speakers in Québec. It started with women in the Deux-Montagnes area who wanted to make services more accessible to English speakers in their language.
Today, Executive Director Hugo Bissonnet emphasizes that 4Korners’ main goal is to make health and social services more accessible to everyone, including recent immigrants.
“We want to continue working with community partners and increase their capacity to welcome English speakers and promote bilingualism. We understand that French is not the easiest language to learn, so it is a challenge, especially for newcomers to the province,” Bissonnet stated.
“From the 2016 to 2021 census, there was an increase of 10,000 Anglophones in the region. We estimate that there are currently 47,000 individuals in the Laurentians who primarily speak English at home, even if they are bilingual. At the next census, we anticipate something similar in terms of continued growth,” he continued.
Bissonnet explained that the services are not limited to those who reside in Québec.
“We don’t look at the borders; people on the Ontario side are welcome to reach out if there is some need that we can fill for them that may not be available in their home area.”
In its 2023-2024 impact report, 4Korners organized more than 400 activities that benefitted 8,803 people. Additionally, 36 volunteers dedicated 1,712 hours of their time to support those in their communities.
4Korners is also actively involved in various tables and committees across the Laurentians, including the MRC d’Argenteuil, six provincial committees, and one national committee.
Integrated partnerships with CISSS des Laurentides, the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, and People Apt at Negotiating Deficits of Attention – Basses-Laurentides Sud-Ouest (PANDA BLSO), among others, have allowed 4Korners to continue providing these essential services to residents, with five offices and 22 employees in the Laurentians.
Community partnerships, donations, and funding have also resulted in bursaries being made available to students in the region who would like to study health, social services, or trades. Eligible students can receive up to $10,000 per year for university, $5,000 per year for college, and $2,500 per year for a trade school.
“The deal is, you need to come back to the region after schooling, which will prevent the erosion of older communities dying out without younger generations remaining,” Bissonnet said.
Some of the key programs offered to the community include various creative sessions for adults, a speaker series, and community kitchens. 4Korners serves people of all ages and hosts prenatal and baby classes, parenting circles, family information sessions, fraud prevention for seniors, and social and emotional learning programs.
A newer neurodiversity program was also introduced in September 2023 after Autism and Arts in the Laurentians (AAL) was seeking a sustainable partner to continue services for those individuals on the autism spectrum, citing “the lack of services for autistic and neurodivergent individuals in the Laurentians” being a significant problem for families seeking specialized services.
Under the neurodiversity program, participants have the opportunity to participate in weekly activities and projects, attend focus groups, and, overall, inform individuals about autism and neurodiversity services available for English speakers.
Bissonnet concluded that the end goal of 4Korners is to leave the region in a situation where these types of services are no longer required by the population. Ultimately, this means having the English-speaking and bilingual population comfortable enough to live fully integrated lives in the province without fear of discrimination or added anxiety due to language.
In the meantime, Bissonnet encouraged bilingual individuals interested in working or volunteering with the organization to reach out to 4Korners directly, especially if they have a special skill set that would benefit the English-speaking community. More information can be found at www.4korners.org or by calling the head office at 450-974-3940.
The Lachute office is located at 508, rue Principale and is open by appointment.
