On Wednesday, May 28, Grenville-sur-la-Rouge (GSLR) and Harrington announced a new partnership with MaillAGE: Ageing in the Laurentians (MAAL), a living laboratory research initiative led by Social Work professor Isabelle Marchand of the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO).
The project is based out of the UQO Saint-Jérôme campus and is supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ). Marchand describes the project as a collaborative approach that brings together different sectors, community members, and researchers to co-create innovative solutions for aging in rural communities.
MAAL collaborates closely with the Centre intégré de la santé et des services sociaux (CISSS) des Laurentides. More than 20 community partners are involved, including local organizations like 4Korners.
Marchand explained that “The Laurentians will experience a significant increase in their elderly population by 2044. Between 2021 and 2026 alone, the population aged 65 and over is expected to grow by 24.9 per cent—well above the provincial average of 17.4 per cent.”
The Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) d’Argenteuil and MRC d’Antoine Labelle became the focal points for the initiative due to their vast rural areas, senior populations ranging between 26 and 31 per cent, and the unique challenges these areas face in supporting aging in place.
Focus groups were held in Harrington in March 2023 and January 2025 to gather public input on the initiative.
“A living lab for aging is a new way of addressing the challenges of aging, based on combining the knowledge and experiences of citizens, service organizations, public managers, and researchers, to create practical solutions to meet the needs of older people in the region,” Marchand continued.
The project has three main steps; identifying the community’s needs, ideas and co-creation, and testing.
The pilot project chosen for GSLR and Harrington is an Outreach Caravan. Should the initiative prove successful, the results can be adapted and scaled for other territories in the province.
The caravan is a direct response to the needs shared by older people in Argenteuil, aimed at breaking isolation among older adults, improving access to nearby services, strengthening the sense of safety by encouraging social ties and community support, and overall helping seniors remain in their communities longer.
4Korners’ Program Manager for Seniors and Caregivers Mélanie Wilson was pleased to announce the first caravan would be held at the Harrington Golden Age Centre located at 259 chemin Harrington on Wednesday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Organizers are currently developing volunteer transportation plans for seniors who are unable to drive.
The caravan will bring health and wellness services together creating a single access point for seniors, including information kiosks from Coup de pouce, the Alzheimer Society, Sureté du Québec, and CISSS des Laurentides.
Also present will be a dental hygienist (appointment required), representatives from the Laurentian Literary Centre (to help with technological support on phones, tablets, and computers), and Viactive (a physical activity program for those aged 50 and over).
“This initiative is about more than just health and social services. It’s about people: making sure our seniors have the support, resources, and continued communal relationships. It has taken more than two years of research and planning, but today, we’re not just launching a program, we’re launching a purpose,” Wilson said.
Harrington Mayor Gabrielle Parr stated, “This project is particularly vital for our community. In Harrington, 40 per cent of the residents are over the age of 65, with many retired and on a fixed income. Our municipality has the lowest medium income, per capita, in the region. Nearly 20 per cent of our population lives below the poverty line.”
“With the territory spanning nearly 250 square kilometres and most services currently being more than an hour’s drive, the objective of this initiative is to bring the necessary services right here, to this centre,” Parr continued.
Mayor of GSLR Tom Arnold said, “GSLR covers more than 325 square kilometres and citizens deserve the same services as those in major urban centres in Québec. On behalf of the council and myself, I’d like to thank everyone involved in this project, which will greatly improve the quality of life of our most vulnerable citizens.”
Wilson explained that the Outreach Caravan will be recurring approximately every mid-month, with a rotating lineup of kiosks to offer a variety of services.
For more information on the Outreach Caravan initiative and its offerings, or to make an appointment, please contact Mélanie Wilson at 579-251-1421.
To follow MAAL updates as the project progresses, individuals are encouraged to visit its website at https://labvieillirlaurentides.uqo.ca.
