The past few years have been marked by significant growth for Chez Doris. I want to pay tribute to two remarkable women who left our board this quarter, without whom this growth would not have been possible.
Carole Croteau, accompanied by Manon Chevalier, Jill Hugessen, Mélanie Allaire, and Sylvie Girard, at the inauguration of the Elspeth McConnell Night Shelter.
Manon Chevalier, founding president of Communications Chevalier, had chaired our board’s communications committee since 2020. With her expertise and extensive professional network, she greatly helped to raise our organization’s profile. Chez Doris was fortunate to be able to rely on such a seasoned communicator!
For four years, she also oversaw our communications at Chez Doris, ensuring our messages were spread far and wide. She strengthened the organization’s image and enhanced its visibility. Communication is crucial for a non-profit like ours and requires a delicate touch. Manon approached this task with enthusiasm, helping us avoid the trap of self-pity and highlighting our concrete actions to help women in need. Manon’s contribution significantly increased our visibility among Montrealers.
Carole Croteau, with Sylvie Girard, Bruce Drummond McNiven of the Drummond Foundation, and Diane Pilote, Executive Director of Chez Doris, at the time of the purchase of the Fulford Residence.
Sylvie Girard, associate architect of Archi, had chaired our board’s real estate committee since 2016. She was instrumental in our shift towards site acquisiton to ensure the continuity of our services. To undertake such projects, the expertise of an architect of Sylvie’s calibre was invaluable to support our board members in the crucial decisions they had to make for the organization’s long-term stability.
Her determined expertise in our site acquisition phase also ensured the sustainability of our services. Under Sylvie’s direction, we were able to open essential residences: the Elspeth McConnell Emergency Shelter, the Bash Shetty Residence, the Marcelle et Jean Coutu Residence, as well as the purchase of a small hotel on Saint-Hubert Street and the Fulford Residence, ensuring the continuous development of Chez Doris. Sylvie also put together a committee of real estate experts, whose invaluable advice greatly benefited our organization.
I extend my profound thanks to Manon and Sylvie for their dedication and their immense contributions!
With gratitude and enthusiasm, I also welcome Annie Gagnon-Larocque, partner and team leader of McCarthy Tétreault’s real estate group, and Mark Shalhoub, a wellknown media and communications personality as they will now chair, respectively, our board’s real estate and communications committees. Thanks to the expertise of passionate people like you, Chez Doris can continue to grow and support women in need.
Carole Croteau
President of the Board, Chez Doris