The Monteregie West Community Network (MWCN) consulted with representatives of the English-speaking community of Vaudreuil-Soulanges in 2019 and at a forum in 2020 on what they wanted to see improved in the region with respect to the English factor.
In fact, 7 focus groups with 8 people in each were held in 7 cities in the region: Vaudreuil-Dorion, Saint-Lazare, Pincourt, Hudson, Ville de L’Île-Perrot, Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot and Rigaud; a total of 56 people from the English-speaking community gave us 2 hours of their time to come and share their perceptions and hopes.
Afterwards, we held a Forum bringing together 60 people representing all the institutions and regional organizations of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, including our federal and provincial MPs as well as the mayors of the seven aforementioned cities. At this Forum, we presented the results of the focus group consultations and worked on developing a plan to improve things. All the institutions and organizations present committed to investing time and energy to improve the living conditions of the English-speaking community of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Among the expectations expressed was the priority need to receive services in English in the health network and in dealings with public security (police, fire), as well as the development of a communication and access-to-information network in English by the school board, the cities, access to a Web site and use of social media, and finally, access to a local reference centre in Vaudreuil-Soulanges. In addition, the people we met expressed a desire to have access to a program of activities of all kinds in English on a seasonal basis, in education, health, culture, social and community services. Finally, the people we met recognized the desirability of creating links of exchange and collaboration with all the institutions, organizations and community agencies in Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Based on these observations, the MWCN initiated a series of actions aimed at responding to all these concerns. Our first seasonal program was launched on August 19, 2020 and we act as a reference centre for the English-speaking community of Vaudreuil-Soulanges on any issue of concern to it; we offer our translation services to all our partners and we maintain a communication network including a website and social media messages.
We are at your service: Clément Bergeron, Coordinator of the Network Partnership Initiative (NPI) of Vaudreuil-Soulanges 514 453-6257 clementbergeron@videotron.ca and Lorie Marcotte, Community Development Coordinator 514 425-0399 lmarcottemwcn@gmail.com.
Clément Bergeron
