An inclusive and inspiring playground

A little break from the election campaign for some good, accurate news from real life in the real world, as they say.

TVA Nouvelles actually reports the realization of an avant-garde initiative In the working-class neighborhood of Saint-Michel – a place where I had the chance to grow up.

Even though I don’t live there anymore, I love this neighborhood. Because it’s a true microcosm of Montreal diversity. Because it’s more interesting than the crime stories you see on the news.

Neighborhood kids can now enjoy a 16,000-square-foot “inclusive” playground that opened this week. Inclusive, because it – and finally (!) – fully accommodates children with physical, intellectual or sensory disabilities. Hilarious!

In this large park that caters for all needs, children, with or without disabilities, can enjoy and get to know each other together in a place of real social diversity. What a wonderful tool to eradicate prejudices, strengthen self-confidence and accept differences!

For the future

In this new meeting place, renamed Parc Julie-Hamelin, solid friendships will also be built for the future.

The project is the joint fruit of the Villere-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension Borough and the Fondation Bon Départ de Canadian Tire.

On Tuesday, Senator and former Paralympic champion Chantal Petitclerc, as well as Paralympic swimming champion Benoît Hoot, attended the opening of the park. Hats off to their support.

I can only imagine the enormous good such a park would have brought to my sister Manon, who had lived with an intellectual disability since birth, in Saint-Michel, in the 1960s and 1970s. A magical place and open to its own difference.

Saint-Michel, once again, you show us the way. Diversity in Montreal, in all its forms, is a treasure to be cherished. By all of us and for all of us.