{"id":150572,"date":"2025-11-21T13:54:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T18:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lamaisonnee.org\/?p=150572"},"modified":"2025-11-21T13:58:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T18:58:40","slug":"first-winter-in-quebec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lamaisonnee.org\/en\/first-winter-in-quebec\/","title":{"rendered":"First Winter in Quebec !"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":150402,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"class_list":["post-150572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article-en"],"acf":{"subtitle":"Adapting, Protecting Yourself, and Taking Care of Your Health with La Maisonn\u00e9e and ICI Sant\u00e9.","intro":"Quebec winter: a discovery as magnificent as it is disorienting.
\r\nNovember is slowly settling in Montreal, accompanied by its first snowflakes and frigid temperatures. For many newcomers, it's a season synonymous with wonder, but also with numerous adjustments.","text":"

Between the beauty of the snow-covered landscapes and the challenges of the cold, the early nights and the early morning sun, the first winter in Quebec represents a key step in the integration process. How can you best prepare, maintain your health, and continue to enjoy daily life despite the snow and long evenings?
\nIt is with this in mind that La Maisonn\u00e9e, through its ICI Sant\u00e9 service, supports newcomers and immigrants in vulnerable situations and\/or with complex issues in accessing health and social services, through personalized interventions, referrals, and intercultural mediation.<\/p>\n

The role of the Intercultural Community Health Worker is to provide you with all the information you need to understand how the healthcare system works, guide you in accessing the healthcare network, and raise awareness and inform healthcare institutions about the challenges faced by newcomers (migration shock, language barriers, etc.). The service is structured around individual interventions and group activities.<\/p>\n

SERVICES OFFERED
\n\u2022 Needs assessment, support, and referral to services offered by the CIUSSS, public organizations, or community resources
\n\u2022 Assistance in finding a doctor
\n\u2022 Assistance in finding social support
\n\u2022 Information on the healthcare system in Quebec
\nFor group activities, as part of various other La Maisonn\u00e9e projects, the Intercultural Community Health Worker often leads workshops on discovering winter life in Quebec, from health prevention and outdoor activities to physical and mental well-being.
\nThe shock of the first winter: adapting gently.
\nICI Sant\u00e9, for example, offers free workshops on practical topics:
\n\u2022 How to dress effectively in winter (adults and children)
\n\u2022 How to recognize the signs of hypothermia and frostbite
\n\u2022 Tips for staying active and healthy despite the cold
\n\u2022 The importance of vitamin D and a balanced diet during the darker months
\n\u2022 And much more!<\/h2>\n

Taking care of yourself and your loved ones: physical and mental health.
\nWinter can sometimes mean isolation or fatigue, especially for those who come from warmer climates. At La Maisonn\u00e9e, we emphasize the importance of maintaining mental and social balance: going out, being active, talking, participating in community activities, and maintaining social connections. Many of the free group activities in our projects address these needs, including ICI Sant\u00e9, ICI Jeunesse, Duo interculturel, and PAAS-Action.
\nWinter is a time when we need each other. Our workshops, led by ICI Sant\u00e9, go beyond medical prevention: we also address mental health, stress management, and small everyday actions to keep our spirits up.
\nCold, flu, or just fatigue? Here are some good habits to adopt.
\nThe first few months of winter also bring their share of seasonal viruses.<\/h2>\n

ICI Sant\u00e9 can raise awareness among newcomers about essential preventative measures:
\n\u2022 Wash your hands frequently
\n\u2022 Ventilate rooms even when it’s cold
\n\u2022 Get enough rest
\n\u2022 Consult a healthcare professional if needed
\nInformation sessions are also regularly offered to help understand the Quebec healthcare system, know where to seek help if you experience symptoms, and distinguish between genuine emergencies and situations that can be managed at home.<\/p>\n

Discover the magic of a Quebec winter.
\nWinter isn’t just a challenge; it’s also an invitation to discover new activities and cultural traditions. From ice skating and snowshoeing to outdoor hiking, light festivals, and hot chocolate in Montreal’s Old Port, the La Maisonn\u00e9e team encourages newcomers to embrace this season, get outside, and fully experience a Quebec winter! Don’t forget, we offer several recreational activities each season to fully experience these discoveries, and the Community Life Committee (CVC) is fully committed to this.
\nCommunity outings organized by the organization, such as a day of sledding on Mount Royal, exploring Christmas markets, Montreal’s winter festivals, a day at a sugar shack, etc., help build connections, combat isolation, and embrace the cold in a friendly atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Comprehensive support for lasting integration.<\/h2>\n

For over 46 years, La Maisonn\u00e9e has been a pillar of welcome and support for newcomers. With its diverse programs, from French language training to employment, including services and projects like ICI Sant\u00e9, it contributes to social, economic, and human integration.
\nWinter, more than just a season, becomes a metaphor for adaptation and resilience: learning to equip oneself, to protect oneself, and to find human warmth in community solidarity.
\nInterested in ICI Sant\u00e9?
\nContact Diana Perez at (514) 271-3533 ext. 222 or by email at diana.perez@lamaisonnee.org<\/a><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Conclusion
\nIn December 2025, as Montreal dons its white coat, La Maisonn\u00e9e and its ICI Sant\u00e9 service remind us that a successful winter is, above all, a well-prepared winter. Between prevention, support, and a welcoming atmosphere, every new face discovering the snow contributes to enriching Quebec’s vibrant community.<\/p>\n

Because here, winter is experienced together.<\/p>\n

To discover upcoming ICI Sant\u00e9 workshops or register for other projects and activities, visit the list of our services on the associated webpage of La Maisonn\u00e9e’s website: https:\/\/lamaisonnee.org\/fr\/services-gratuits-immigrants\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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