News Archives - Fondation Réa

A scholarship to support innovation in rehabilitation

The REA Foundation partners with the CRIR to create the Forget-Bélanger Innovation Support Scholarship

The Forget-Bélanger Innovation Support Scholarship, established in 2025 by the Scientific Directorate of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), in collaboration with Robert Forget, Céline Bélanger, the REA Foundation and the Nazareth and Louis-Braille Institute Foundation (INLB), aims to foster innovative projects that contribute to improving adaptation and rehabilitation practices.

A Concrete Commitment to Innovation

Rehabilitation is constantly evolving. New knowledge, innovative approaches, and the development of solutions adapted to the realities of people living with functional limitations are essential to improving care, services, and quality of life.

By supporting the next generation of researchers, the Forget-Bélanger Scholarship helps build a bridge between research, innovation, and clinical practice.

For the REA Foundation, this commitment is fully aligned with its goal of supporting projects that advance rehabilitation and that can ultimately have a tangible impact on people who use the services of the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal, the Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau and the Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique Raymond-Dewar.

A Legacy for the Next Generation

Through their contribution, Robert Forget and Céline Bélanger hope to leave a lasting legacy in the rehabilitation community and encourage those who will help shape its future.

The competition will be administered by the CRIR, which will oversee the annual call for applications, application management, project evaluation, and scholarship selection.

The REA Foundation is proud to contribute to this initiative, which gives the next generation the means to imagine, experiment, and help shape the future of rehabilitation.

You too can support innovation in rehabilitation!

Occupational Therapy Month

Do you know what an occupational therapist does?

To conclude Occupational Therapy Month, we met with Julie Comtois, an occupational therapist with 20 years of experience at the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal. She helped us discover a profession that remains little-known, yet is truly essential!

We also had the opportunity to speak with one of her patients, Pascal Gaudette, a farmer who became paraplegic following a mountain biking accident. He shared how occupational therapy has helped him regain his independence throughout his rehabilitation journey.

“With occupational therapy, we go further.”

Crédits

Production and editing: Elisa Gallot
Co-production, Camera, animation, and color grading: Ines Talis
With the participation of: Julie Comtois / Pascal Gaudette

REA Foundation Scholarships: “a true stepping stone to the future”

Six students will split $18,000 to support their pursuit of studies.

This year, the scholarships awarded by the REA Foundation will support six Quebecers with disabilities in the pursuit of their studies. Each recipient will receive a $3,000 scholarship as part of the fifth edition of the REA Scholarship Program.

Providing real opportunities for everyone

According to the Office for People with Disabilities of Quebec, among people with disabilities aged 15 to 64:

Approximately 31% had to interrupt their studies due to their health condition.
10% dropped out of their studies due to a lack of functional devices or support services.
Nearly half needed more time to reach their current level of education.

In light of these findings, the REA Foundation is committed to supporting students with disabilities in achieving their dreams. The scholarship program helps these students continue their studies in fields as varied as architecture, medicine, law, education, and many others.

Meet our six scholars and their

Vincent Girard-Bernier, 30 years old, DEC in 3D production and image synthesis, Cégep Limoilou (disability: cerebral palsy)

Born with cerebral palsy, Vincent faces many challenges. Despite this, he completed his studies in communications and pursued a career in the field. Today, he is taking on a new challenge: returning to school to follow his passion for 3D production. “No need to hide it, the scholarship I received will have a significant impact on the future of my artistic journey,” he shares.

Nathalie Hanna, 23 years old, Master’s in health technology engineering, École de technologie supérieure (disability: myelomeningocele spina bifida)

Throughout her education, Nathalie has been driven by a thirst to learn more about her condition and other neuromuscular disorders. After earning a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, she pursued a Master’s in engineering with the goal of acquiring “the skills needed to develop treatments and rehabilitation technologies for people with physical disabilities,” like her own, she explains.

Mathieu Lapointe, 36 years old, qualifying Master’s in teaching (Quebec culture and citizenship), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (disability: hemiplegia)

Thirteen years ago, Mathieu was left in a three-week coma after a violent attack and suffered a severe brain injury, leaving him partially paralyzed. He had to relearn everyday tasks like eating, speaking, and walking. “My journey has been full of obstacles, but today my goals are clear, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished,” he says. He is currently working on a Master’s in teaching and is expecting a child in October.

Walid Nassef, 42 years old, PhD in contemporary religious studies, Université de Sherbrooke (disability: quadriplegia from a spinal cord injury)

Currently a PhD candidate, Walid has a particular interest in cultural diplomacy and interfaith dialogue. With a physical disability, he faces daily challenges, especially with mobility and access to certain activities. “This scholarship means much more to me than just financial support: it will allow me to pursue my doctoral research under optimal conditions,” he explains.

Cindy Ouellet, 36 years old, PhD in neuroscience, Université Laval (disability: hemipelvectomy following Ewing’s sarcoma)

At the age of 12, Cindy survived bone cancer, which led to permanent loss of mobility. Today, alongside her second PhD, she is a professional athlete, preparing for her 7th Paralympic Games. Highly committed, she serves on several boards of directors and supports causes close to her heart, such as the fight against bullying in sports, mental health, and the development of adapted sports equipment. “This scholarship represents invaluable support for continuing my mission to advance science, sport, and inclusion,” she says.

Virginie Pilotte, 27 years old, DEC preparatory program (prerequisites for entering a dietetics technique program), Cégep de Trois-Rivières (disability: deafness)

Born deaf, Virginie has always shown perseverance in the face of life’s challenges. Since the death of her partner in 2024, she has been raising her child on her own, her main source of motivation for building a better future. This is why she decided to return to school with the ambition of earning a degree in dietetics, in order to contribute to the well-being of others. “This scholarship represents much more than financial assistance: it is a true stepping stone to the future,” she shares.

The REA Foundation appoints Isabelle Sicard as executive director

The REA Foundation is strengthening its role as a philanthropic leader in physical rehabilitation in Quebec with the appointment of Ms. Isabelle Sicard as Executive Director, effective April 23, 2025. With over 25 years of experience in the healthcare sector and a background in occupational therapy, she brings valuable expertise to support the Foundation’s mission. That mission is to engage the community in support of innovative and high-quality projects that aim to improve specialized clinical care, stimulate research, and advance academic excellence in physical rehabilitation.

“This appointment aligns with the REA Foundation’s mission to support projects across our three leading centers of innovation and excellence. With her extensive experience, vision, and unifying leadership, Isabelle Sicard will be a strategic asset in advancing our ambitious initiatives and ensuring a lasting impact with our partners, donors, and beneficiaries.”

– Patrice Bergeron, president of the REA Foundation

Previously, Isabelle Sicard served with the Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec and was Senior Associate at Cliniques Groupe Synergo. She holds a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy from McGill University and a graduate diploma in Management from HEC Montréal, along with certificates in Health AI from MIT Sloan School of Management and Non-profit Governance from the Rotman School of Management. In the philanthropic sector, Ms. Sicard has sat on the boards of Leucan and Fées Marraines, and on committees for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation Ball, the honorary committee for the benefit evening of Together for the respect of diversity, and the United for MS committee of the MS Society of Canada.

“I am deeply honored to join Fondation REA and to collaborate closely with its dedicated teams, valued partners, and the broader community to realize a vision of a Québec where physical rehabilitation is accessible and effective for all.”

– Isabelle Sicard, Executive Director, Fondation REA

A distinguished manager, Ms. Sicard is recognized for her ability to navigate constant change and complexity, uniting teams around shared priorities while remaining true to the founding values of compassion, integrity, and innovation in service of the public’s well-being. Fondation REA is confident that her strong background will be a tremendous asset to its daily efforts, focused on public awareness and fundraising in support of its mission and beneficiaries.

2024 Paralympic Games: 8 Quebec medals!

From August 28 to September 8, 2024, we followed the 126 Canadian athletes who competed in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. In total, the Canadian team came away from the competition with 29 medals, placing Canada 12th in the medal table.

Among these Canadian athletes, we would like to highlight the 27 Quebecers who participated in 10 different disciplines. Thanks to their efforts, 8 medals were won by several of our Quebec representatives:

Aurélie Rivard

Swimmer

Gold: 400m Freestyle (S10 category)
Silver: 100m Freestyle (S10 category)
Bronze: 50m Freestyle (S10 category)

Brent Lakatos

Athlete

– Gold: 800m (T53 category)
– Silver: 400m (T53 category)

Tess Routliffe

Swimmer

– Silver: 200m Individual Medley (SM7 category)
– Silver: 100m Breaststroke (SM7 category)

Allison Lang

Athlete

Bronze: Sitting Volleyball

The REA Foundation would like to congratulate all these athletes who have shone a light on Quebec during these Paralympic Games, while exemplifying courage and determination. Their dedication has helped the Canadian Paralympic team achieve its best performance at the Paralympic Games since 2008!

A former REA scholarship holder becomes world para ice hockey champion

On May 12, 2024, Canada defeated the United States in the final of the Para Ice Hockey World Championship in Calgary, marking their first victory since 2017! Among this newly crowned Canadian world championship team is Shawn Burnett, aged 21, a former REA scholarship holder and patient at the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal.

Indeed, in a testimonial given to the Foundation, Shawn expressed his gratitude to the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal for the support he received during his rehabilitation after a parachuting accident left him paraplegic at the age of 18.

At that time, Shawn had already spoken about his desire to “turn this tragedy into a personal challenge”, especially by pursuing para ice hockey to continue living his passion for sports.

Just one year after his accident, Shawn joined the Quebec national para ice hockey team, and within another year, he became one of the country’s top players by joining Canada’s national team.

In 2022, Shawn also received a $3,000 scholarship through the REA Scholarship Program, which aims to support social inclusion and access to education for people with disabilities.

The REA Foundation congratulates Shawn on his journey and for the message of hope he conveys.

Support the

Foundation

Launch of the fourth edition of the REA scholarships!

To actively contribute to the social integration of people with disabilities, the REA Foundation and its partners are launching the fourth edition of the REA scholarships for people with disabilities. This initiative is possible thanks to the financial support of the Fondation Groupe Forget, the Fondation Sibylla Hesse and the Fondation RÉA, committed to contributing to access to education for people with disabilities.

This year, the Foundation is awarding six $1,000 scholarships to individuals with disabilities. In total, $6,000 is being granted to people with disabilities to help them continue their studies.

Did you know?

15.8% of people with disabilities hold a college degree (compared with 18.2% of people without a disability)
18.2 % of people with disabilities hold a university degree (compared with 25% of people without a disability)
54.7% of people with disabilities between the ages of 15 and 64 are employed compared with 75.3 % of people without a disability (source: OPHQ).

Eligible programs of study

The following programs of study leading to a diploma are eligible, for courses offered on campus as well as remotely:

Vocational, DVS
College, ACS and DCS
University, undergraduate certificate and bachelor’s degree
University, specialized graduate diploma and master’s degree

Particular features of three of the scholarships – the Fondation Groupe Forget scholarships

Three of the scholarships are reserved for applicants with hearing impairments. The recipients of the Fondation Groupe Forget Scholarships can also receive assistance to obtain the latest in hearing aids or assistive hearing devices to help with better school integration. Recipients of the scholarship must include a copy of a recent audiogram. Please also ensure to specify your medical diagnosis in the “Qualifications” section.

The scholarships provide financial support to students with a sensory, language or motor impairment to help cover the cost of books, additional fees, housing, groceries or recurring expenses (electricity, Internet, etc.).

For more information, please visit the following link:

To learn more

Launch of the fourth edition of the REA scholarships - Fondation RÉA

Jeanne Carrière: big winner of the “Cours écrire ton court!” award

On March 25, 2023, screenwriter and director Jeanne Carrière won the prestigious “Cours écrire ton court!” award at the REGARD festival. The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) awarded her the prize, valued at approximately $130,000, enabling her to bring her short film script, BIGFOOT, to life.

With this award, the filmmaker will be able to launch her career, a dream she had already shared with us during the last spring campaign of the REA Foundation. At that time, she told us how being accepted into this competition, which happened around the time of her accident, motivated her to work even harder during her rehabilitation process at the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal.

“As part of psychological journey at the IRGLM, this goal helped to constantly motivate me in a process that I qualify as Olympian and in which I saw myself as an athlete. In October 2022, I was already able to get back to work. With my finger joints, I wrote my project proposal for the contest. “
Jeanne Carrière, 28 years old, scriptwriter and director

The REA Foundation congratulates Jeanne Carrière on her achievement and wishes her the best of luck with the filming of her short film, which is expected to begin by the end of 2024!

National Volunteer Week 2024

In this 50th edition of the National Volunteer Week 2024 (April 14-20, 2024), the REA Foundation wishes to honor all those who give their time in support of physical rehabilitation.

Whether they are volunteers in the shop, members of the board of directors, business volunteers, or fundraisers, we warmly thank all these individuals who support the REA Foundation!

National Volunteer Week 2024 - Fondation RÉA

Tribute to Alain Godbout

On January 30, 2024, during its first Recognition Evening, the REA Foundation paid tribute to Mr. Alain Godbout, formerly a physiotherapist at the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal. In addition to his exceptional work, he was the most frequently nominated “person of excellence” by our donors over the past five years.

Through this short documentary paying tribute to Alain Godbout’s career, discover the Specialized Vestibular Rehabilitation Clinic at the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal, a project supported by the REA Foundation and founded by Mr. Alain Godbout, a pioneer in physical rehabilitation. Learn more about vestibular disorders that affect many Quebecers each year.

Credits

Director and editor : Elisa Gallot
Assistant director and logo animation : Ines Talis
Featuring : Alain Godbout / Marc-Alexandre Wagnac / Mélanie Desrochers / Sylvie Houde

Make a DONATION

Who we are

Our rehabilitation centres

Highlights

You can make an impact

Actualité cat: News