SELF-HELP AND SUPPORT
Communicaid for Hearing Impaired Persons present retired audiologist Dale Bonnycastle and a testimonial by Debra Fisher: My Personal Hearing Journey and Pathways to Services on Wednesday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Chartwell Manoir Kirkland, 2 Canvin St. in Kirkland. Free. They are also taking registration starting Saturday for a 10-week course in Lipreading (Speechreading) to be held this fall. Place are limited. Call 514-488-5552, Local 4500 or visit hearhear.org. West Island Palliative Care Residence bereavement group sessions for the fall are taking registration.
Groups offered include an Afternoon Adult Group (French) on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. (Sept. 12-Nov. 7); Evening Adult Group (English) on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. and an Afternoon Adult Group on Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. (Sept. 13-Nov. 8). Call 514-693-1718, Local 231 or email kbouchard@wipcr.ca. Arthritis West Island Self Help (AWISH) offers programs of support and exercise to help individuals deal with arthritis and chronic pain. Day and evening classes available to help you manage your disease. Fall sessions start in Sept. Visit awishmontreal.org or call 514-631-3288. Embracing Grief workshops, designed by Vivianne LaRivière, of the Art of Soul Care, is being offered in partnership with ORA Loss and Living Program to help people develop coping skills for grieving through meditation, creative art activities and group discussions. A series of five Saturday sessions in St-Lazare or a series of eight Tuesday evening sessions at Ste. Geneviéve United Church in Dollard are offered. Cost $250 includes 30 hours or workshop time and all art supplies. Call 514-626-4795 or visit www.ora-mtl.org.
LGBTQ2+ Adult & Seniors supper open to adult and seniors who are questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Beaconsfield United Church, 202 Woodside Ave. Visit lgbtq2centre.com/meetups.htlml. Al-Anon Family Groups. Compassionate help for family and friends of alcoholics. If you are troubled by someone else’s drinking you can find help and hope in a friendly, supportive atmosphere with many meeting on the West Island. Call 514-8669803, email aisarea88english@gmail.com or visit al-anon-alateen-qc.ca. Adult ADHD Support Group — West Island. For adults and their loved ones who have ADHD. They meet every second Thursday at 7:45 p.m. Call 514-773-9815 or email adultadhd.wi@gmail.com. Quebec Grandparents Association. A non-profit volunteer organization to educate and support grandparents and their grandchildren to advocate their desire to continue a relationship that may be threatened with loss of contact, usually following family acrimony. For assistance and legal help, call 1-866-745-6110.
LGBTQ Support Group for parents of a child who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender or questioning their sexual identity. A discussion group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Beaconsfield United Church, 202 Woodside Rd. Share and discuss your concerns in a safe and confidential environment. Call 514-794-5428 or visit lgbtq2centre.com.
West Island Community Resource Centre is a community-based, non-profit organization that offers West Island citizens resources and information by phone, email and in person. They also offer resource publications and free legal and tax clinics several times a year. Call 514694-6404. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a low-cost non-profit organization that helps with weight-loss support. They meet every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cedar Heights Park Chalet, 20 Robinsdale Ave. in Pointe-Claire. Visit tops.org.
West Island Cancer Wellness Centre. Receive compassionate support and can participate in programs such as yoga, massage therapy, counselling, and more, for free. They work with your health care professionals to improve your well-being and their services help you manage the emotional and physical challenges that come from a cancer diagnosis. They are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on Wednesdays they are open until 8 p.m. at 115 Du Barry St. in Kirkland. Visit wicwc. org or call 514-695-9355.
Quebec Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association is a non-profit organization that is a national voice for people who are adversely affected by gluten, who are dedicated to improving diagnosis and quality of life. Their vision is to see the gluten problem found, treated and cured. They offer information and support in following a safe gluten-free diet. The organization relies on membership and donations. Visit celiacquebec.ca, email info@celiacquebec.ca or call 514-893-9856. New Moms support group, offered by the West Island Women’s Centre, meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. at St. Columba-by-the-Lake Church, 11 Rodney Ave. in Pointe-Claire. Free of charge. Free child care available. To register, call 514-781-8529. Gamblers Anonymous offers help to anyone suffering from a gambling problem. Call 514-484-6666 or visit gamontreal.ca.
Family Resource Centre, a nonprofit organization designed to support children age six to 25, parents and professionals, offers a variety of services to help youth who have social, academic and behavioural difficulties. Group formats offered every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Pierrefonds. For more information, call 514-685-5912.
Literacy Unlimited, a community organization dedicated to empowering adults through improved literacy, offers free, confidential, one-on-one tutoring in reading, writing and basic computer skills. Call 514-694-0007 or visit literacyunlimited.ca.
Lou Gehrig’s Disease — SLA/ALS Family Caregiver Support Group meets the first Monday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. Offered by NOVA West Island. Call 514-6958335, local 209.
Compassionate Friends, an international self-help, non-profit organization, offers friendship, understanding, grief education and hope for the future to all bereaved parents. The Montreal chapter meets the first Tuesday of each month. Visit TCFCanada.net or call 438-257-0881.
Look Good, Feel Better. Free cosmetic and hair workshops for women living with cancer on the first Monday of the month at the Lakeshore General Hospital. To register, call 514630-2225, local 1451. Communicaid for Hearing Impaired Persons (CHIP) provides continuing programs, services and support for people affected by hearing loss in the greater Montreal area and the West Island. Programs include Speechreading (lip-reading, communication strategies and information for adults and seniors), Outreach (educating, sensitizing and informing the public), and a new HEARENTENDRE awareness program for prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. For more information call 514-488-5552, local 4500 or visit hearhear.org.