Yellow Stands for Help       

Connexions annual general meeting focus on access to health care in English   

Reuel S. Amdur

There was a happy surprise at the Connexions Annual General Meeting at the Gatineau Golf Club on June 27.  After the regular business matters were dealt with, Joanne Dubois took the floor.  She is assistant to the Director of the Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) in Pontiac. However, the project she announced holds for all of the CISSSO, not just for Pontiac.

Her initiative is colored yellow.  Sometime this fall, the project “Allo, parlez-vous anglais?” is scheduled to take off.  Staff wearing a yellow badge will be able to talk to you in English. Why did Dubois undertake this project?  “I am a proud Québécoise,” She said, “but health has no language.”

Participation in the project is voluntary.  “We have a union workplace,” she observed.  “No one is forced to participate.  Yet, I have found enthusiasm for it everywhere and at all levels of the organisation.”

Not just professional staff, but also everyone else can take part—janitors, clerical staff—you name it.  So beginning this fall, on your visit to a hospital, CLSC, etc. look for the yellow badge.

This AGM marked the end of Cary O’Brien’s long service as President of Connexions.  He hands the mantle over to Ruth Williams.

Photo captions:

1. Joanne Dubois announced colour code for language service in Outaouais. 

2. This AGM marked the end of Cary O’Brien’s long service as President of Connexions.  He hands the mantle over to Ruth Williams. 

Photo credit: Reuel S Amdur