ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT
Maison de l’amitié has been touching people’s lives for 50 years now. With a mission to build a healthy and dynamic community by supporting the social integration of newcomers, enhancing the employability of marginalized or disadvantaged individuals, and fostering a spirit of mutual aid, our services have evolved over the years to meet the needs of those who walk through our doors.
The second part of our anniversary celebration stems from a long-standing awareness: our building is not accessible. This means that we are closed off to a segment of society and that instead of breaking isolation, we are in fact contributing to the isolation of people with reduced mobility.
What better way to face the uncertainty of our times than to invest in a project that opens doors literally and figuratively? What better way to celebrate 50 years of friendship than by opening them even wider? Over the next year, we will raise funds to install an elevator from the main entrance to the basement and to renovate the basement washrooms to include a universally accessible bathroom. This project will make one third of our building accessible to everyone. It’s a first step.
The project will cost $130,000. We’ve already raised $20,000! With your support, we can reach our goal. No amount is too small (or too big!).
Stories from our community
To continue being a source of positive change in people’s lives, we need the support of our community. We need your support! Your generous donations help us provide opportunities, support, and a sense of belonging to many.
Help us make a difference! Read the stories of our past and present students, volunteers, and staff.
François Bernier
I’m a passionate entrepreneur and strategist, but above all, someone who puts people at the heart of everything I do. My journey, shaped by challenges from an early age, taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of human relationships.
I was born with type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, so I grew up knowing that every day was a challenge but also an opportunity. My childhood and teenage years were marked by obstacles, hospitalizations, and moments when I could have given up. But instead of letting my physical limitations define me, I chose to focus on what I could control: my intellect, my creativity, and my ability to build strong connections with others.
I studied business management and strategy at HEC Montréal, determined to forge my own path. That’s how I co-founded Horizon B2B, a company specialized in optimizing business strategies on LinkedIn. My goal is simple: to help entrepreneurs and companies stand out, grow, and build authentic business relationships. Today, Horizon B2B, born from an idea between two childhood friends, has become a thriving team guiding dozens of businesses toward success.
But beyond the business world, I’m also an advocate for inclusion and universal accessibility. I work with companies to promote inclusive hiring and adapt workplaces for people with disabilities. My commitment doesn’t come only from a belief, but from lived experience: I know how much accessibility can impact a person’s life and an organization’s performance.
Always eager for new challenges, I refuse to be boxed in. Passionate about sports, I found unique ways to take part in the games of my childhood, making my place on street baseball fields or in spontaneous cosom hockey matches. A huge fan of electronic music, I discovered in festivals and concerts a space of freedom and connection. And when I faced the limits of daily life, I chose to work around them rather than settle, finding creative ways to travel, go out with friends, and fully live each experience.
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I believe there’s always a way forward. In business or in life, I embody this simple idea: limits exist, but they don’t define who we are.
Sorayda Mendoza
My name is Sorayda Mendoza. I had the chance to get involved with the Maison de l’amitié during the pandemic, as a volunteer teacher in the online language classes. Even though everything was done remotely, I quickly felt like I was part of a welcoming and caring community. The team was always available, and I truly enjoyed sharing my knowledge with the participants.
I particularly remember the day I went to pick up the printed manuals on site. Upon arriving, I realized the building wasn’t accessible for people in wheelchairs, it was a clear reminder of the obstacles many of us face in our daily lives.
That’s why I find the Maison de l’amitié’s accessibility project so important. Making shared spaces accessible, installing an elevator, adapting the bathrooms, adding tactile paving, and more. These are concrete changes that can truly make a difference. Not just for people with disabilities, but also for seniors, parents with strollers, or anyone with temporary limitations.
To me, universal accessibility is above all a matter of inclusion. Being able to enter a place without barriers means feeling welcomed, respected, and free to participate like everyone else. I’m happy to have contributed, in my own way, to the mission of the Maison de l’amitié, and I’m deeply moved to see it continuing to evolve with strong values of openness and equity.