Our story
Our organization was born out of an urgent need for respite, caregiving and emergency support for families living with a child or children with an intellectual disability or PDD.
The situation inspired us, and continues to motivate us, to act in order to improve the daily lives of families. Here you will find an overview of Répit le Zéphyr and all those who have been involved in one way or another in the success of Répit le Zéphyr since its foundation in 2001. Please see our annual reports for more information.
History of our services
2001
Répit le Zéphyr has been offering services since 2001, providing in-home respite for families caring for a person between the ages of 0 and 65 with special needs. As a complement, the organization also offers a leisure accompaniment service, which involves accompanying the person in question and his or her family on cultural outings, family outings, cinema visits, vacations, etc.
2015
In 2015, Répit le Zéphyr introduced a summer day camp service for young people aged 13 to 21 with special needs such as intellectual disability (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The activities offered at this day camp are specifically adapted to meet the participants’ special needs, but also their interests.
2017
Since November 2017, Répit le Zéphyr has taken over the coordination of Opération Nez rouge Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. This means that the organization is responsible for the Opération Nez rouge Campaign in the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield region, enabling it to promote impaired driving prevention during the holiday season.
2020
In the spring of 2020, Répit le Zéphyr was accredited by the Secrétariat nationale de l’Opération Nez rouge to also become the lead organization for the Centrale de Vaudreuil-Dorion.
Also in 2020, the organization added new services to its offering, including the spring break day camp, as well as Maison Zéphyr, a respite home located in Vaudreuil-Dorion. This respite home is dedicated to natural families who are responsible for a person aged 4 to 65 with an intellectual disability and/or an autism spectrum disorder, whether or not there is an associated physical disability. Stays at Maison Zéphyr can vary from 1 to 7 consecutive days, depending on the family’s needs.
2021
One year later, in 2021, Répit le Zéphyr opened a second respite home, named Maison Jean-Reid, located in the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield area, to better meet the needs of families in this region.
2023
In 2023, the organization launched the pilot project “Une place 0-5 et un accompagnement pour tous!”. This service aims to support the integration and maintenance of an educational childcare space for parents of preschool-aged children with special needs, whether they have already been diagnosed or are still awaiting diagnosis. This service is specifically offered in the Beauharnois-Salaberry MRC.
Partnership with the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, for the 5-12 year olds Day Camp.
Mission
Répit le Zéphyr is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the social integration of people with an intellectual disability (ID) or an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) while allowing their families to achieve greater autonomy.
Our values
- Respect
- Communication
- Dedication
- Empathy
- Collaboration
Team
Émilie Couillard
ecouillard@repitlezephyr.com
Katherine Dixon
kdixon@repitlezephyr.com
Board of directors
Anne-Renée Gravel
Nathalie Lachapelle
Looking for a new member
Alexandre Pelletier
Nancy St-Pierre
Cynthia Doucet
Isabelle Cocher
Fundraisers
Répit le Zephyr takes the reins of Operation Red Nose
Répit le Zéphyr took over the reins of Operation Red Nose Salaberry-de-Valleyfield in November 2017.
The organization coordinates the Operation Red Nose Campaign for the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield region. In addition to preventing impaired driving during the holiday season, Répit le Zéphyr is able to collect donations in order to offer more respite services to families.
In the spring of 2020, Répit le Zéphyr was accredited by the Operation Red Nose National Office to take the reins for the Vaudreuil-Dorion region as well.
In 2025, Operation Red Nose Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Operation Red Nose Vaudreuil-Dorion will become Operation Red Nose Valleyfield–Vaudreuil. This change is intended to streamline organization and management, improve the way we inform and bring people together, and simplify our communications. A single operations centre will welcome volunteers from both regions in a friendly environment adapted to our activities.
Operation Red Nose 2025 *** Campaign results to come ***
The 42nd Opération Nez Rouge campaign, “Un retour bien accordé!”, allowed Répit le Zéphyr to raise
Amount to come… xx xxx$
Mission accomplished for this 42nd designated driver campaign!
A huge thank you to all the volunteers who made this campaign a success and to everyone who chose to use Opération Nez Rouge’s services to get home safely!
Many many thanks to the volunteers of the organizing committee for their dedication, commitment, generosity and presence which make a real difference in the course of the campaign, year after year, before, during and after the campaign.
Thank you for all the donations received during this 42nd campaign.
Finally, a special thank you to our partners and sponsors for their support and loyalty!
The designated driver service was offered by Operation Red Nose Valleyfield-Vaudreuil on November 28-29, December 5-6, 12-13, 18-19-20, 26-27 and 31, 2025, in order to make our roads safer during the holiday season.
Overview of the Board of Directors
2001-2002
Members of the working committee
- Louise Larivière – Valleyfield
- Claudette Caron – Valleyfield
- Jean-Paul Clément – Valleyfield – parent
- Micheline Leduc – St-Timothée
- Carol Haineault – Valleyfield
Members of the first board of directors
- Carol Haineault, president – volunteer – Valleyfield
- Louise Larivière, vice-president – public sector – Valleyfield
- Claudette Veilleux, secretary – private sector – Valleyfield
- Louise Fougère, treasurer – private sector – Châteauguay
- Jean-René Amyot, administrator – private sector – Valleyfield
- Lise Daignault, administrator – parent – Valleyfield
- Michèle Daoust, administrator – parent – Valleyfield
2002-2003
Members of the board of directors
- Carol Haineault, president – volunteer – Valleyfield
- Louise Fougère, treasurer – private sector – Châteauguay
- Lise Daignault, administrator – parent – Valleyfield
2003-2004
Members of the board of directors
- Carol Haineault, president – 26/11/2001 – volunteer – Valleyfield
- Lise Daignault, administrator – parent – 26/11/2001 – Valleyfield
- Karine Bergevin – administrator – parent – 07/05/2003 – Valleyfield
- Mireille Potvin – secretary – public sector – 25/11/2003 – Vaudreuil
- Johanne Ménard – administrator – public sector – 25/11/2003 – Valleyfield
2004-2005
Members of the board of directors
- Carol Haineault, president – volunteer – Valleyfield
- Karine Bergevin – administrator – parent – St-Timothée
- Mireille Potvin – secretary – public sector – Vaudreuil
- Jean Amiaud – administrator – retired – Valleyfield
2005-2006
Members of the board of directors
- Carol Haineault, president – 26/11/2001 – volunteer – Valleyfield
- Karine Bergevin – administrator – parent – Timothée
- Jean Amiaud – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- Mireille Potvin – secretary – public sector – Vaudreuil
- Geneviève Rondeau – secretary – public sector – Châteauguay
2006-2007
Members of the board of directors
- Carol Haineault, president – volunteer – Valleyfield
- Karine Bergevin – administrator – parent – St-Timothée
- Jean Amiaud – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- Geneviève Rondeau – secretary – public sector – Châteauguay
- Diane Clermont – treasurer – public sector – Valleyfield
- Micheline Latour – administrator – retired – St-Timothée
2007-2008
Members of the board of directors
- Carol Haineault, president – volunteer – Valleyfield
- Karine Bergevin – administrator – parent – St-Timothée
- Jean Amiaud – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- Geneviève Rondeau – secretary – public sector – Châteauguay
- Diane Clermont – treasurer – public sector – Valleyfield
- Micheline Latour – administrator – retired – Valleyfield
2008-2009
Members of the board of directors
- Karine Bergevin – president – parent – St-Timothée
- Jean Amiaud – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- Diane Clermont – treasurer – public sector – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit – secretary – retired – Valleyfield
- Marlène Garijo – administrator – public sector – Vaudreuil
- Sylvie Hamelin – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil
2009-2010
Members of the board of directors
- Karine Bergevin – president – parent – St-Timothée
- Jean Amiaud – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- Diane Clermont – treasurer – public sector – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit – secretary – retired – Valleyfield
2010-2011
Members of the board of directors
- Jean Amiaud – president – retired – Valleyfield
- Denis Besner – vice-president – Valleyfield
- Diane Clermont – treasurer – public sector – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit – secretary – retired – Valleyfield
- Isabelle Bowes – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil
- Simon Gamache – administrator – community member – Huntingdon
2011-2012
Members of the board of directors
- Jean Amiaud – president – retired – Valleyfield
- Denis Besner – vice-president – Valleyfield
- Diane Clermont – treasurer – public sector – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit – secretary – retired – Valleyfield
- Isabelle Bowes – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil
- Simon Gamache – administrator – community member – Huntingdon
2012-2013
Members of the board of directors
- Jean Amiaud – president – retired – Valleyfield
- Denise Girard, vice-president – parent – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit – treasurer – retired – Valleyfield
- Céline turcotte – secretary – parent – Valleyfield
- Marcel Lalonde – administrator – parent – Valleyfield
- Isabelle Corbeil – administrator – parent – Valleyfield
2013-2014
Members of the board of directors
- Jean Amiaud – president – retired – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- Céline turcotte – secretary – parent – Valleyfield
- Isabelle Corbeil – treasurer – parent – Valleyfield
- Marcel Lalonde – administrator – parent – Valleyfield
2014-2015
Members of the board of directors
- Marcel Lalonde – president – parent – Valleyfield
- Alain Leduc – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- James Garand – secretary-treasurer – parent – Valleyfield
- Francine Chené– administrator – retired – Valleyfield
- Jean Amiaud – administrator – retired – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit – administrator – retired – Valleyfield
New
- Director General, Isabelle Corbeil
2015-2016
Members of the board of directors
Director General – Isabelle Corbeil
- Marcel Lalonde – president – parent – Valleyfield
- Alain Leduc – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- James Garand – secretary-treasurer – parent – Valleyfield
- Francine Chené– administrator – retired – Valleyfield
- Jean Amiaud – administrator – retired – Valleyfield
- André Montpetit – administrator – retired – Valleyfield
2016-2017
Members of the board of directors
Director General – Isabelle Corbeil
- Alain Leduc – president – retired – Valleyfield
- Marilyne Picard – vice-president – parent – Saint-Lazare
- Hans Madër – treasurer – private – Valleyfield
- Alain Castagner – secretary – municipal – Saint-Anicet
- Cynthia Doucet – administrator – parent – Valleyfield
- Pierre Dufour – administrator – pharmacien – Valleyfield
2017-2018
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Isabelle Corbeil
- Alain Leduc – president – retired – Valleyfield
- Marilyne Picard – vice-president – parent – Saint-Lazare
- Pierre Dufour – treasurer – pharmacist – Valleyfield
- Alain Castagner – secretary – municipal – Saint-Anicet
- Cynthia Doucet – administrator – parent – Valleyfield
- Michèle Daoust – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Dorion
- Yves Trottier – administrator – media – Valleyfield
2018-2019
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Isabelle Corbeil
- Pierre Dufour – president – pharmacist – Valleyfield
- Cynthia Doucet – vice-president – parent – Valleyfield
- Yves Trottier – treasurer – communication – Valleyfield
- Anne-Renée Gravel – secretary – parent – Valleyfield
- François Labossière – administrator – retired – Valleyfield
- Michèle Daoust – administrator – Vaudreuil-Dorion
2019-2020
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Isabelle Corbeil
- Pierre Dufour – president – pharmacist – Valleyfield
- François Labossière – vice-president – retired – Valleyfield
- Anne-Renée – secretary-treasurer – parent – Valleyfield
- François Moïse – administrator – parent – Saint-Lazare
- Manon Gauthier – administrator – community member – Godmanchester
- Candy Champagne – administrator – parent – Howick
2020-2021
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Isabelle Corbeil
- Anne-Renée Gravel – president – parent – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Manon Gauthier – vice-president – community member – Haut-Saint-Laurent
- Beata Rozynska – treasurer – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- François Moïse – secretary – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- François Labossière – administrator – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Candy Champagne – administrator – parent – Haut-Saint-Laurent
- Ann Gagnon – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
2021-2022
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Isabelle Corbeil
- Anne-Renée Gravel – president – parent – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Manon Gauthier – vice-president – community member – Haut-Saint-Laurent
- Beata Rozynska – treasurer – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Ann Gagnon – secretary – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Nathalie Lachapelle – – administrator – community member – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Candy Champagne – administratrice – parent – Haut-Saint-Laurent
- Nancy St-Pierre – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
2022-2023
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Isabelle Corbeil
- Anne-Renée Gravel – president – parent – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Manon Gauthier – vice-president – community member – Haut-Saint-Laurent
- Beata Rozynska – treasurer – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Nathalie Lachapelle – secretary – community member – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Ann Gagnon – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Candy Champagne – administratrice – parent – Haut-Saint-Laurent
- Nancy St-Pierre – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
2023-2024
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Isabelle Corbeil and Acting Director General – Jessica Mathers
- Anne-Renée Gravel – president – parent – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Nathalie Lachapelle – vice-president – community member – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Beata Rozynska – treasurer – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Bianca Lefebvre – secretary – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Ann Gagnon – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Nancy St-Pierre – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Mélanie Gauthier– administratrice – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
2024-2025
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Jessica Mathers
- Anne-Renée Gravel – president – parent – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Nathalie Lachapelle – vice-president – community member – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Bianca Lefebvre – secretary – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Nancy St-Pierre – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Alexandre Pelletier – administrateur – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Cynthia Doucet – administratrice – communauté– Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Isabelle Cocher – administratrice – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
2025-2026
Members of the board of directors
General Director – Jessica Mathers
- Anne-Renée Gravel – president – parent – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Nathalie Lachapelle – vice-president – community member – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Position to fill – secretary – community member – Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Nancy St-Pierre – administrator – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Alexandre Pelletier – administrateur – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- Cynthia Doucet – administratrice – communauté– Beauharnois-Salaberry
- Isabelle Cocher – administratrice – parent – Vaudreuil-Soulanges
