A year after being helped by parents during the teachers’ strike, some of them are mobilizing to give back: they are organizing, in the name of all those who supported them, a major fundraiser.
Published at 5:00 a.m.
The money collected will be donated to the Lutins de Saint-Vincent-Marie, an organization in eastern Montreal that helps children from disadvantaged families.
“We received such an outpouring of love! says Elisabeth Bourassa, second cycle teacher at the Roseraies school in Anjou. We wanted this great chain of solidarity to continue. »
The memory of more difficult times for all teachers in Quebec, exactly a year ago, made M want tome Bourassa to help those who are going through a difficult financial situation as the holidays approach this year.
“During these five weeks of strike, we saw incredible gestures of generosity from parents and neighborhood merchants,” she says. Lots of teachers found themselves with a hole in their budget, some were crying, some were depressed. We saw a community sticking together. »
She remembers that through the Mutual Aid for Striking Teachers Facebook page, hundreds of donors were matched with teachers in need. In all, nearly 1,800 teachers received financial assistance, including the provision of supermarket gift cards.
“We received donations from retired teachers, colleagues from private schools, former students. I remember a gentleman who gave saying that he had had a difficult life and had not had the chance to go to school. He thanked us for existing,” confides Mme Bourassa, before adding: “I think I’m going to start crying. »
Wave of solidarity
Now that things are better, the 48-year-old teacher, mother of two young adults, is setting up this initiative informally and on a voluntary basis. Already, around twenty teachers from his school and the Albatros school have joined the movement.
We would like it to snowball. I don’t have a target amount in mind. I would simply like as many teachers as possible to get on board with this wave, and not just those in the territory of the Pointe-de-l’Île school service center!
Elisabeth Bourassa, second cycle teacher at the Roseraies school, in Anjou
She and her colleagues extend the invitation to all teachers in Quebec, “all those who were affected by last year’s strike,” specifies the woman who has 20 years of teaching experience.
A reminder: the 66,500 members of the Autonomous Education Federation were on an unlimited general strike from November 23 to December 28, 2023.
Everyone has their own cause
Elisabeth Bourassa adds that each school service center can identify a community organization in its area to which to give donations. For their part, she and her colleagues chose Les Lutins de Saint-Vincent-Marie, a non-profit organization that provides gifts and pajamas to children in need during the holiday season.
Recently, swimming lessons1 were also offered through this organization.
“We chose this cause because it brings kindness to children in our area,” says M.me Bourassa. If all the teachers in our school service center make a donation, we will make a big difference for the students in our sector. »
And there is no “small amount,” she emphasizes.
“It’s very personal. I know that some teachers just can’t give, they don’t have the means. But those who can, I encourage them to do so. It’s time to be grateful to those who have been with us. It’s our turn! »
1. Read the article “Pilot project: gift swimming lessons in a disadvantaged environment”
