A story of compassion and solidarity for an entire community
Eight years of work were needed before La Maison Aube-Lumière came into being.
Abbé Desève Cormier, president of Caritas Estrie, launches the idea of founding a house intended to care for people with cancer at the end of their life.
Letters patent, as applied for, are issued to “La Maison Aube-Lumière” (the house of the light of dawn), the name proposed by Abbé Desève Cormier.
La Maison Aube-Lumière obtains the mandate and a government subsidy to open a ten (10) room establishment in the context of a shift to ambulatory care. A residence already acquired on Ontario Street in Sherbrooke cannot meet the requirements.
From the Archdiocese of Sherbrooke, the organization acquires the former monastery of the Pères du Très Saint-Sacrement located at 220 Kennedy Street North, for the symbolic sum of $1.
Marie-Paule Kirouac is hired as executive director to prepare for the opening of the future house and ensure its management thereafter.
After 8 years of work and fundraising campaigns, the first person with advanced-stage cancer is welcomed at La Maison Aube-Lumière on December 1, 1997. It is the beginning of a great and beautiful adventure!
After carrying out a major fundraising campaign over a period of 3 years, La Maison Aube-Lumière moves into a brand new 12-room building located on the land surrounding the CHUS-Fleurimont. Shortly after this major move, Marie Bécotte takes over from Mrs. Kirouac as executive director of the establishment.
La Maison Aube-Lumière becomes the first palliative care home in Canada ready to provide medically assisted dying to patients who request it, while fully respecting government requirements in this matter.
La Maison is now headed by Christian Gagnon, who had the challenge of managing the organization during a pandemic while continuing day-to-day operations, always prioritizing the well-being of patients.
We celebrate the first 25 years of operation of La Maison. At this point, La Maison has already supported nearly 3,800 patients and their loved ones, greatly grateful for the care and services received.