The Project
Where does the project stand?
Press release of July 8, 2026: “The Centre Gabriel-Fugère (CGF) announces that it is ending the steps related to the housing, specialized services and research project for adults with ID-ASD planned on lots 6 464 714 and 6 357 518 in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines.” It adds: “The CGF will keep studying the options it has been offered to relocate the project. More details will follow on our website.”
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.
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.
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 and 2000+ caregivers benefiting monthly from the services offered by the CGF
The Centre in Images
Project renderings: Bergeron Thouin Associés Architectes (day centre) and Amireault Architecte (housing).
The ICRAAA
In 2026, the Centre Gabriel Fugère set up the ICRAAA. Virtual at first, it is meant to be a true hub, working with universities, research centres, clinicians, support workers and physicians all over the world.
Once the day centre is built, it will make it possible to develop concrete solutions that help autistic people age better: artificial intelligence, training tools for support workers, biological and physiological research.
It welcomes its first researcher: Malena Argumedes Charles, PhD, psychoeducator, associate professor in the Department of Psychoeducation at Université de Sherbrooke.
Contact
Daniel Fugère,
General Manager
Head Office:
212-B boul. Labelle Rosemère
(Québec) J7A 2H4
Centre Gabriel Fugère
Foundations for Life
Registered charity: 712102946 RR0001
© 2026 Gabriel Fugère Centre – All rights reserved – Website created by Intralys