Who was Antoinette Robidoux  ?

Who was Gilles Cousineau  ?

Who was Agnes C. Higgins ?

Agnes C. Higgins was executive director of the Montreal Diet Dispensary from 1959 to 1981.

Before joining the Dispensary in 1948 as a dietician, Agnes C. Higgins worked in prenatal clinics where she observed that disadvantaged mothers very often give birth to babies that were underweight and sickly. To attack this problem, she persuaded the Dispensary to give priority to disadvantaged expectant mothers. She also developed the "Higgins Intervention Method," which combines nutritional assistance with counselling: expectant mothers are given basic foods such as milk and eggs, as well as nutritional supplements and advice on nutrition and budgeting.

Agnes C. Higgins passed away on August 27, 1985.

Who was Antoinette Robidoux?

Antoinette Robidoux was born in 1912 and lived in Longueuil. As the mother of 23 children, she devoted the first part of her life to her large family. But she was constantly concerned by the needs and problems of her community.

In 1970, she founded L'Entraide chez nous to provide the disadvantaged with access to emergency relief, education and training. She maintained that we all have a responsibility to help people in distress, and encouraged everyone to place their personal resources at the service of their community. A volunteer all her life, Antoinette Robidoux was a shining example of readiness to serve, creativity and leadership.

In 1979 she founded a youth centre, the Maison des jeunes de Longueuil. There she devoted innumerable hours to creating an environment where teenagers would feel truly welcome, while talking to anyone who would listen about the needs of the young. She was actively involved in the Maison until her death in 1985.

Antoinette Robidoux's invaluable legacy includes dynamic agencies, inspired volunteers, and many people who, thanks to her, found a little hope and joy.

Who was Gilles Cousineau?

Gilles Cousineau was one of the original pillars of Centraide: after working at the Fédération et Conseil de bien-être de la Rive-Sud, one of Centraide's founding organizations, he transferred to Centraide itself at the time of its creation.

He headed the Allocations and Social Analysis Department from 1977 to 1988, and then served as General Secretary of Centraide of Greater Montreal until his death in 1994.

Gilles Cousineau had an abiding faith in the capacity of the community to solve its own problems. He always vigorously promoted volunteer participation, both at Centraide and in the community agencies.