La Maison – About us
A House in Memory
History
of the House
While kids his age were playing Nintendo or floor field hockey in the streets, Mathieu Froment-Savoie was fighting a fierce battle against a formidable adversary: cancer. At the age of 12, during a period of remission in the summer of 1990, he sat down at his computer to write a moving account of his fight for life.
This project, born of his own desire to ” empty his heart ” but also “toencourage and inspire others “, gave birth to his autobiography: Le cancer à onze ans. In three months of intensive work, Mathieu demonstrated exceptional tenacity and maturity. He wrote directly on the computer, helped by his father to structure his ideas.
Published on February 22, 1991, the book is dedicated to his parents, his younger sister, his family and friends, as well as to all those suffering from a serious illness, and to those who support them.
A few weeks later, Mathieu Froment-Savoie died at the age of 13, leaving behind a legacy of hope, courage and humanity.
Birth of a Maison in tribute to Mathieu
Buoyed by Mathieu’s living memory and inspired by his message, the idea of creating a hospice was born among Outaouais healthcare professionals. After several years of hard work, the Maison Mathieu Froment-Savoie officially opened its doors in January 1999, at 55, rue du Couvent in Gatineau (Aylmer sector), with an initial capacity of 6 beds.
In January 2009, La Maison moved into the former Saint-Benoît-Abbé church, at 170 Sherbrooke Street (Hull sector). This change has increased its capacity to 11 beds.
In 2019, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Maison celebrated two decades of compassionate, humane care.
Then, thanks to the support of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec and the generosity of donors to the Avec vous, jusqu’au bout fundraising campaign , the Maison increased its capacity to 16 beds in 2020, responding to growing demand in the region. Today, the Maison Mathieu Froment-Savoie continues to proudly bear the name of the young cellist, and to embody his values of courage, solidarity and love of life. It offers free, warm and dignified support to people at the end of life and their loved ones, with the utmost respect for human dignity.
Vision – Mission – Values
Vision
We are an organization recognized by the health and social services network, as well as by the community we serve, for the strength of our values and the depth of our commitment to people at the end of life and their loved ones.
As a center of expertise, we aspire to significantly influence the evolution of palliative care, both regionally and provincially, by focusing on innovation, quality of care and our leadership in training.
Mission
The Maison Mathieu Froment-Savoie is a pillar of palliative care in the Outaouais region, and an essential partner in the healthcare network. We offer warm, compassionate support to people at the end of life and their loved ones, free of charge.
In a caring, family atmosphere, we enable them to live out their final moments with serenity, respect, dignity and compassion.
Values
Every action taken by our team of dedicated professionals and volunteers reflects our deep commitment to alleviating suffering and providing sensitive, humane support.
We place well-being, compassion, respect and dignity at the heart of everything we do, to support people at this stage of life.