Historic

Learn the historic of the organism and the signification of its name.

History

Knowing the importance of leisure in a well-balanced lifestyle, an adapted leisure project was developed on October 14, 1986 in the Prescott-Russell area.  Following this, numerous services were added to widen its field of intervention to reach every aspect of the daily life of people living with a disability.

Le Phénix was incorporated on December 21, 1992 and has since then continued to promote social development.  Le Phénix has become the voice of people living with a limitation in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell.

A non-profit organization composed primarily of people living with a disability, our mandate is community development.

We aim to:

• Promote the social integration of people living with a disability;
• Represent the needs and interests of people living with a disability;
• Raise the consciousness of communities regarding the realities of people with a disability;
• Coordinate the realization of community integration;
• Create links between people living with a limitation and their communities.

Typical yearly activities include, amongst others, the conceptualization of various workshops including our awareness workshops.  These are presented to the public, for instance, in primary schools.  Different service providers also benefit from these workshops: police corps, financial institutions as well as agencies and private enterprises, etc.  These awareness workshops cover subjects such as violence done against people living with a disability, customer services for people living with limitations, employment and a wide variety of subjects.  Information sessions are regularly offered to people living with a disability to cover various aspects of their daily lives.  Another common endeavour, at Le Phénix, is the creation of information documents available throughout Ontario.  Each year, Le Phénix organizes activities to promote community integration of people living with a limitation.

 

Our Name

Initially, our agency was named the Social Integration Service (S.I.S).  Considering the context and goals at the time, this name was deemed appropriate.

Unfortunately, there arose some confusion with other agencies with similar names and vocations.

A short time before the incorporation, the members of the board of trustees decided to find a name that would allow us to distinguish ourselves.  The new name had to be intriguing, catchy and easy to remember. 

Starting with the two initials "PH", for "personnes handicapées" (French for handicapped person), a member decided to check the dictionary under the two aforementioned letters.

Le Phénix caught his attention.

The definition is simple: A mythical bird, which is reborn of his own ashes.  And figuratively speaking, a very special person.

These two definitions apply, and quite positively at that, to every person living with a limitation.

The name was adopted unanimously and the incorporation was made under Le Phénix: Social Integration Service.  Usually, only Le Phénix is used.

People usually start off asking how it's spelled.   We write it without the "O" found in the name of the American city Phoenix in Arizona.  Then they go on to ask us about its signification and origin.

Hence the detailed explanation up above.

Our dual objective of motivation and public recognition is therefore attained.  Generally people remember Le Phénix and its members are proud to mention their membership.

This text was written by Suzanne Fontaine, active member and militant for Le Phénix