FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE
Support for our adults
Respite for our caregivers
One of the most important projects in Québec, bringing social innovation
and exceptional visibility to our nation.
About Us
The Gabriel Fugère Centre (CGF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual disabilities by offering a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment. We also strive to provide essential respite for caregivers.
Our Mission
Our mission is to maintain and strengthen the skills of adults with intellectual disabilities while offering indispensable support to families. Through educational, social, and therapeutic activities, we foster inclusion and individual fulfillment.
Our Vision
We aim to transform the Gabriel Fugère Centre into a non-profit social economy organization, where each entity contributes to the organization’s self-financing, thereby ensuring the ongoing development and expansion of our services
The Centre’s History
On October 7, 1996, Gabriel was born with Down syndrome and ASD. His educational journey began in 2004 at École des Érables, an exemplary environment that inspired his parents and sparked the dream of creating a similar place for adults like him.
Between 2010 and 2015, the idea of a day centre began to take shape: a model inspired by École des Érables, combined with a self-financing concept through the rental of commercial spaces. In August 2015, an initial official meeting was held to move the project forward.
The 2020 pandemic put everything on hold, but on February 10, 2021, Pascale, Carole, and Daniel founded the non-profit organization Centre Gabriel Fugère. Starting in 2022, the project resumed and accelerated.
On July 4, 2023, a visit to École des Érables with elected officials and partners marked a turning point: the constituencies of Groulx and Sainte-Anne committed themselves actively.
From July 2023 to November 2025, an impressive series of developments took place, leading to the architectural details presented below (you can view the full process in the Archives section).
In November 2025, following the most recent elections, the CGF decided to relocate to another city.
The story continues. More to come…
The Classes
The Gabriel Fugère Centre is inspired by École des Érables in Deux-Montagnes to provide a structured and adapted environment for adults living with intellectual disabilities. Our modern facilities include a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a Snoezelen room, as well as several specialized rooms designed to meet the needs of each participant.
The program is organized into four classes, each welcoming 10 adults and 4 support staff members, with a rotating schedule that allows up to 40 adults to be served each day. Groups are assigned on a fixed basis: one group attends on Mondays and Tuesdays, a second on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and a third on Fridays. This structure promotes personalized follow-up while optimizing access to services.
The Centre operates in three annual sessions — fall, winter, and summer — with registration completed one session in advance to ensure effective planning.
Registration fees will apply for both classes and recreational activities.
Leisure
Alongside the classes, our facilities are open to adults who wish to take part in adapted recreational activities. These moments provide opportunities to socialize, relax, and explore new interests in a safe and supportive environment.
Participants have access to a variety of spaces and engaging activities, ranging from sports (swimming, gymnasium, relaxation) to creative workshops (painting, music, gardening), as well as moments of rest and well-being in our specially designed rooms.
To ensure optimal organization, reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Depending on available funding, registration fees may apply; however, our goal is to offer as many services as possible free of charge and to ensure equitable access to activities.
Registration fees will apply for both classes and recreational activities.
IMPORTANT: the Gabriel Fugère Centre will include a “school” for adults with ID-ASD
The Gabriel Fugère Centre is not a residential facility, as some may believe, but rather an essential complement to existing housing resources.
More simply, the CGF will offer a “school” for adults with an intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The term “school” is used to make the concept easier to understand, but in reality it refers to a day centre built according to the standards of a modern educational facility.
The CGF will also include:
social housing units,
short-term respite spaces,
commercial areas integrated into the self-financing model.
The “school” section will accommodate at least 120 different adults per week, meaning that approximately 240 natural caregivers will benefit from respite periods each week.
With more than 110,000 people with ID-ASD in Québec, we deliberately chose this model to meet the needs of a greater number of families. For caregivers who wish, short-term respite can be aligned with the days of attendance at the centre, providing two full days of respite.
Fees will be associated with these services; however, the amounts remain to be determined.
For a Structured and Inclusive Future
Major opportunities for the
Thérèse-De Blainville
Regional County Municipality (RCM)
The Gabriel Fugère Centre represents a transformative project with significant benefits for the region. Its impact is felt on social, economic, and municipal levels, strengthening local cohesion and vitality.
Social
Strengthening the population’s sense of pride and belonging
Building connections between Centre participants and the community
Social reintegration and innovation in social practices
Economic
Creation of specialized jobs for local residents
A structuring investment that stimulates the regional economy
Development of commercial spaces and affordable housing
Partnership
Development of a long-vacant site for a project with high social value
Partnership with the CGF for the use of facilities and the swimming pool
Complementing government services in health and social services
The Centre in Images
Our Vision
To create and innovate responsibly, becoming a leading and committed stakeholder from an architectural, social, and environmental perspective.
Live
Dream
Create
An Inclusive Residential Component
Affordable Housing
52 affordable housing units
20 one-bedroom units dedicated to autonomous adults with ASD, currently allocated to Habitations l’Envolée des Basses-Laurentides
4 units with 6 bedrooms each intended for short-term respite stays (24 spaces in total)
Cafeteria and recreation rooms located directly on the garden level
Enclosed and heated passageway connecting the social housing units to the day centre
In addition, commercial spaces serving both our participants and our approximately 60 employees will be located directly on the site.
Essential Services for a Community in Need
A Tangible Impact in Numbers
4
classes of 10 adults
4
support staff members per class
35+
Adults able to use the day centre facilities at any time
250+
Adults attending the day centre each week
1000+
Adults
2000+
Caregivers
benefiting monthly from the services offered by the CGF
4
classes of 10 adults
4
support staff members per class
35+
Adults able to use the day centre facilities at any time
250+
Adults attending the day centre each week
1000+
Adults
2000+
Caregivers
benefiting monthly from the services offered by the CGF
Figures that illustrate the impact of the CGF on our adults, their families, and the community
An Inspiring Wave of Solidarity
A concrete action for real impact.
Meaningful support for the community
The CGF is receiving an incredible wave of support!
Be Part of the Change
By supporting the Gabriel Fugère Centre, you help provide a structured and caring environment for adults living with intellectual disabilities and ASD, while offering essential respite to families and caregivers. Every donation helps fund educational programs, adapted activities, and specialized support.
Tax receipts will be issued later this year.
Contact
Daniel Fugère,
General Manager
Head Office:
212-B boul. Labelle Rosemère
(Québec) J7A 2H4
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