When conviction steps in for kindness
|Blog
In my last blog post, I ended by wishing us a year defined by kindness – a value I deeply cherish. But 2025, you’ve been far from convincing so far. The recent U.S. presidential elections have reignited fierce divisions, pushing compassion to the margins. I’ve never been one to give in to despair. If anything, moments like these remind me of my younger years, when I’d never back down from defending those who were bullied. Now, a bit wiser, I stand with conviction to safeguard what we’ve collectively fought for all these years: the protection of human rights.
Whether we’re politically engaged or not, what’s happening south of our border is on everyone’s lips. We’re navigating unprecedented political and economic fog – and if this trend holds, we’ll be thrust, whether we like it or not, into an era of austerity. Experts agree: the missteps of this global superpower will send shockwaves across the planet.
We feel a collective sense of helplessness, anger and anxiety toward a future that suddenly seems uncertain again. These reactions are justified when basic human values – ones we thought were secured long ago – are now being trampled by the brutal, often cruel decisions of the U.S. government. To me, this social regression is nothing short of an outrage.
What’s within our control
This will be a daily effort, and though personally wounded by this wave of indifference, I refuse to let social anxiety consume me or to believe solutions don’t exist.
To quiet my own exasperation and sense of helplessness in the face of our recent political reality, I believe we have no choice but to focus on what we can control. And among the variables within our power? Holding steady, learning to navigate the storm with clarity, staying true to our convictions and ensuring our actions match our values.
That’s why I will never accept Le Groupe Maurice backing down on fundamental principles like DEI, women’s rights, minority and LGBTQ+ rights, or calling out ageism. I may not control foreign policy or our province’s politics, but on a smaller scale, I can take action where it’s within my power. And believe me when I say I’ve never been more convinced of the need to do so.
This deep belief in the importance of openness to others traces back to my childhood. I was an only child living with my single mother who showed tremendous courage and resilience, reinventing herself to give me a sense of security despite daily adversity. But her true wealth was her community; her support came from a mosaic of friends from all walks of life. I therefore grew up surrounded by diversity. My open-mindedness and refusal to tolerate injustice took root early, though I know this was a privilege not everyone was granted.
When kindness isn’t enough
And so, in response to this creeping tide of regressive thinking threatening to take hold on Canadian soil, I vow to reaffirm both my personal values and those of Le Groupe Maurice with even greater assurance – to fight harder than ever to uphold them and turn them into tangible reality.
But let’s be clear: some of these values, kindness included, may prove no match for the callousness we’ve witnessed lately. Now more than ever, we need conviction. A corporate value whose urgency rings truer to me by the day.
So I speak for myself in declaring that my response will be a deeper commitment to my role and responsibilities at Le Groupe Maurice – a company that, fortunately, naturally aligns with resistance against this collective gloom. Thanks to our belief in our mission and the respect for human dignity we strive to uphold daily, I remain convinced no wave of cynicism will ever erode us.
As leaders in our industry, let’s own our responsibility and continue setting an example as visionary catalysts for positive change. We must use our platform to move society forward with respect, intelligence and careful balance. Our mission remains: to create warm, compassionate residences that become havens of happiness and well-being for all who live or work there. Because ultimately, the one thing we truly control is how we choose to be.
Keepers of the light
Looking after our own well-being and that of others within our sphere of influence should be everyone’s priority, regardless of our field. Because I remain convinced that putting people first – not profits, as some seem determined to do – is what will ensure a promising future. And it starts with us, with our own wellness if we hope to be truly present for our families, friends and colleagues.
This reflection brings me back to my recent participation in a suicide prevention conference attended by 250 community workers from across Quebec. In my address, I emphasized their vital role: they are beacons in the night for so many who are temporarily adrift in darkness.
How I wish Amélie and we, her parents, had known to turn to community support. Instead of colliding with a “system” stripped of compassion, we might have found proper guidance, genuine listening, someone to steady us with a caring hand. When darkness makes us want to retreat, let’s reach for the light-bearers – the role I now choose to embrace, as Amélie did when she tended among others to disabled children and the homeless.
Helping brighten the days of those without the support or resources to do so themselves has become a priority for me. I’ve learned firsthand how these simple acts of compassion can mean the difference between life and death.
I concluded my speech by committing to what I refer to as “constructive indignation,” meaning a refusal to accept the unacceptable. We all have the power to influence those around us. All of us. If each individual commits to positively impacting their immediate circle, imagine what we could accomplish together on a broader scale.
We’re human beings interacting with other human beings. That’s how families, friendships, unions, businesses, politics – in short, society as a whole – came to be, to achieve amazing and meaningful things! But when people stop listening to each other, understanding one another and showing respect, organizations tend to become destabilized. That’s when crises start to emerge.
Let’s make it our mission to preserve a spirit of solidarity in our exchanges and to continue recognizing one another’s humanity. Let’s choose to foster kindness in spite of everything, and remain confident that decency will triumph over darkness. The answers will always be found in how we carry ourselves – an approach that, ultimately, comes down to our own personal choices.
Now more than ever, I am convinced of this.