‘Women in Action’ forum in Montreal celebrates history, focuses on future change
- Tania Charron
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
City News article and interview. Read the full article and watch the interview online
“Women in Action: Inspire, Act, Transform Our Communities” — that’s the slogan for the Women in Action forum, held at West Island College (WIC) in Montreal.
The event marked the 85th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in Quebec.
“They’re all words of action. It’s women coming together in order to form, if I can say, alliances, relationships. I’m a big believer, as I mentioned, in women empowering women. That’s solidarity. It’s a force of nature, if I can say those words — in our society, in order to make the changes that we need to see,” said Brigitte B. Garceau, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Robert-Baldwin and Official Opposition Critic for the Status of Women, Culture and Communications, Youth Protection, and the Follow-up to the Rebâtir la confiance report.
The forum brought people together to honour the women who helped make that progress possible—and to reflect on the work that still lies ahead.
“When we have a space like this to exchange about our different experiences, we can get inspired, and then we can act, and we can change our community, our society, and we’re stronger together,” said Tania Charron, Executive Director of Action Jeunesse de l’Ouest-de-l’Île & Ricochet (Hébergement/Homes).
“I think that with the setbacks we’re seeing with women’s rights right now in America and elsewhere, it’s even more important to have events like this where women can gather and have honest conversations about what’s going on and what the future can be for us,” she added.
Throughout the day, participants took part in panels exploring topics such as the economy, social innovation, senior services, mental health, homelessness and intergenerational solidarity. These discussions sparked meaningful conversations and exchanged fresh ideas.
The event brought together community members, professionals, and leaders to listen, share experiences, and help shape a more inclusive and supportive future.
In reflecting on the significance of the event, Garceau shared her thoughts on its purpose and the broader context in which it was taking place.
“This is a women’s forum, which I decided to organize as a critique of the status of women. In conjunction, evidently, with the 85th anniversary of women’s right to vote in Quebec, which of course is a historic moment. And it was really a nice occasion for us to come together as women — women here in the West Island, but throughout Montreal — in order to celebrate the, if I can say, advances that women have made over the last 85 years, but also going forward. And the challenges that we have in terms of, as a society, there are different, if I can say, issues that are critical, that need to be resolved,” she said.
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Panel 2: Women, Mental Health, Homelessness, and Social Services — Inclusion and Action
This panel focused on the complex challenges women face when navigating mental health, homelessness, and social services, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, support, and meaningful action.
Emmanuelle Morin, Clinical Director at Perspective communautaire en santé mentale, stressed the importance of prevention in mental health. She emphasized the need to educate the public about psychological well-being and mental hygiene while also calling for stronger partnerships and better funding for community mental health services. She underlined how community-based support can make a meaningful difference, especially for young families and women in vulnerable situations.
Charron offered a clear picture of homelessness in the West Island. She spoke about local realities, systemic barriers like stigma and a lack of affordable housing, and the limited access to long-term, tailored services. She stressed the need to rethink how shelters and support systems are designed—especially for women whose needs often go unseen.
“I’m here today to talk about women and homelessness, what challenges vulnerable women are facing, and what can we do as a society to better answer their needs,” she said.
Addressing the critical need for specialized services for women facing homelessness, she emphasized the importance of creating safe spaces where women can heal from trauma and rebuild their lives.
“Homelessness is a complex phenomenon. Being a woman in 2025 is also complex, with the setbacks we’re seeing in our rights in America and elsewhere and the rise of masculinism. So, at the intersection of these two phenomena, there’s women and homelessness. That is even more complicated by the multiple oppressions that these women are facing. So, being a woman and being homeless means dealing with additional layers. You’re twice as vulnerable when you’re a woman on the street, and you can triple or quadruple that when you’re a black woman, a disabled woman, or a trans woman. So, I think it’s very important to tackle this issue and talk about it.”
The discussion continued with a focus on senior support and caregiving.
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