Maternity-Cafés: Uniting generations in a unique way
|Life in residence
Starting in September 2024, the Boréa Residence launched “maternity-cafés”, bringing together expectant mothers and residents. These weekly meetings, designed to foster knowledge-sharing through intergenerational bonds, have rapidly grown in popularity, with the program already welcoming its third group in just a few months! Meet Jonathan Goulet, Boréa’s Recreation Manager and the visionary behind this impactful project. We’re willing to bet this initiative will continue to multiply!
Jonathan, what inspired the idea for the maternity cafés?
The project truly comes from a wish to open up the residence and bridge the gap between generations. Because motherhood is a subject that unites, connects and inspires solidarity, no matter your age, the magic just happens on its own.
I can speak from experience, because when I began working here 7 years ago, my little boy, Édouard—who’s now the oldest of my 4 children—was about to enter the world. But because he had a known heart condition, his birth was going to be risky. Of course, the program helped me quickly bond with the residents, who would ask about Édouard’s health every single day.
I can’t ignore the fact that the project grew out of this personal experience. Sharing my situation with the residents made such a difference during that challenging period because I felt supported, listened to… and truly understood!
Today, we continue to talk about my children, about the importance of family… it helps us feel connected to others. And listening to the residents share their experiences from when they had their own children—it shapes us. We become even more human.
So, are the maternity-cafés born of a desire to extend this chance to others?
Absolutely. The idea took shape through a partnership with Studio Moov, which agreed to host its aquafitness class for pregnant women at Boréa’s pool. After the workout, the women are invited to have a hot beverage and snacks while engaging in conversations with residents. The whole thing is beautifully organized by Mrs. Lise Guénette, one of the participants, who kindly volunteered to make sure everything is set up by the time the expectant mothers finish their class.
The activity seems to be a real hit! You’re already on your third group?
Yes! It’s amazing! Everyone adores it. The residents eagerly await their weekly gatherings with the expectant mothers, who, as I’ve heard, see the maternity-cafés as an added incentive to go work out in the pool. It shows that this fulfills a need to share, to feel understood and listened to… and to help, as well. To connect, in the end.
Do you have set themes every week?
Yes, but they’re really just an icebreaker. The participants begin by responding to a question such as, “Have you always wanted to be a mom?” or “What values did your parents instill in you that you’d like to pass on to your child?” It’s fascinating to see how times have changed, yet the core issues are still very much the same.
Oh, really? Can you give some examples?
Certainly. The concerns of today’s moms are similar to those the residents had in their time. There are many more resemblances than differences, even across generations, because at the end of the day, becoming a mother is universal. The fears around childbirth, the struggles after delivery, disagreements with a spouse or in-laws—these are timeless realities. The stress about money or parenting was just as real back then, too.
It might sound cliché, but feeding a family on a budget isn’t a new challenge. So, it’s still relevant to talk about these things and to receive advice or helpful tips.
And what are the differences today?
Well, the pressure parents feel to have their kids involved in a ton of classes or activities wasn’t a thing back then. Kids just played outside, end of story. Not too long ago, women didn’t have the freedom to choose when to have children either, since there was no contraceptive pill. They didn’t get to decide when they got pregnant!
Planned single parenthood, artificial insemination… the medical progress related to motherhood wasn’t as advanced back then, either. What’s amazing is how open-minded the participants are, regardless of age; whether it’s about shared experiences or differences, present-day topics or past memories, motherhood fosters a feeling of solidarity.
Connections happen naturally between moms because they share an experience that no one else can truly grasp unless they’ve been through it. That’s the magic of the maternity-cafés: they unite people.
So, you’re saying that the residents talk about their motherhood experiences like it was just yesterday?
Exactly! Even at 97, Mrs. Rita would talk about it with such sparkle in her eyes. She unfortunately passed away in December. She was always so full of smiles when she was with the young mothers.
To know that she spent her final weeks sharing, connecting, reminiscing, listening and offering advice to women who needed it so much… and finding happiness, ultimately… it fills my heart. It’s touching to see someone who had such a love for life and who shared it; right until the very end.
It’s indeed a gift that, sadly, not everyone is given.
And it breaks my heart. I’d love to say that every senior in Quebec gets to experience this kind of connection… to feel valued, to share all they still have to give, just as Mrs. Rita did.
But loneliness and isolation remain too prevalent in our society. Not everyone has the chance to live near their children. And as you grow older, fewer of your friends are still around. To me, this highlights the social importance of programs like this one.
You grow attached to these moms, right? It must be tough when a group finishes.
Yes, for everyone—even the various teams of employees involved. I didn’t see that coming! But in the end, we’re all woven into the same social fabric, whether it’s at work, with family or anywhere else.
It’s always easier to point out the differences that drive us apart. We’re quicker to spread judgment or prejudice than kindness or compassion. The maternity-cafés don’t just bring the participants together—they also unite all the organizers, whether directly or indirectly involved, around this unifying topic.
I think of Shirley and Nadira in the kitchen, lovingly preparing the little cookies to go with the drinks, and taking the chance to chat a bit with the moms and residents when they bring the snacks to the lounge. It gives them the opportunity to connect with people outside their usual circle of colleagues.
So, this project becomes another way to give meaning to their work. It brings even more life to their daily routine. There’s definitely a connection to be made: anything related to children is incredibly unifying. It taps into the most sensitive aspect of being human.
What’s next for the maternity-cafés?
Well, with our partnership with Studio Moov thriving and the groups getting bigger each time, I’d say the program has a promising future. By the fourth group, we’ll see moms from the first group returning to visit us with their little ones. The family is expanding! The moms who’ve already had their babies will also get to share their experiences and answer questions from the expectant moms.
The core of it all will always be bridging generations, and through this project, Le Groupe Maurice is putting its belief into practice: “A person’s potential and worth don’t fade as they grow older.”
In my opinion, places like residences have a big role to play in bringing generations together. It’s only by connecting with diversity that we realize how similar we are, that we say to ourselves, “In the end, you and I, we’re the same!”… that we see people for who they truly are, not for who we think they are.
It’s about respecting and valuing others. We must see older adults in their full humanity—not as individuals in decline or defined by age, but simply as people.
What do you think the maternity-cafés offer the participants?
I believe the young mothers come to find comfort and renewal in the residents’ reassuring calm. It’s no accident that, after all this time, I’m still here: the residents are deeply present, savouring the quiet moments. They’re calming, yet still curious and lively. In that environment, it’s so much easier to connect on a deeper, heartfelt level.
The maternity-cafés provide a space for young women to pause and embrace their pregnancy with more peace. They create a timeless environment where minutes don’t matter. It connects to something deeply genuine. The participants walk away feeling more personally enriched, ready to welcome their baby.
We have to discover what brings purpose to our lives. It’s obvious that, on a societal level, there’s a significant void in this area. In my view, it’s about being present. I think we need more people living with awareness and intention.
That’s what I’d say to any of my neighbours: to fight against stagnation and intellectual or spiritual darkness, the key is to pause for a moment. To go “against the grain” each day, bringing a little more light, connection and compassion into our lives.
Jonathan, it was a true joy to share this meaningful moment with you, where time seemed to stand still. I wish you many more unifying and hopeful projects like this one. Thank you for your dedication to creating spaces rich in humanity for those who seek connection and inspiration!
