Support in Your Community

Community Action Grants

Arthritis Society Canada is committed to extinguishing the fire of arthritis in communities across Canada. This is why we offer Community Action Grants aimed at providing more opportunities for people to connect, learn, and thrive with arthritis in their own communities. Living with pain can be isolating, but together we can fight the fire of arthritis.

Community Action Grants support communities exploring local solutions. We are looking to support groups and individuals addressing arthritis-related needs specific to their communities, including health inequities and disparities that impact access to arthritis information and care.

Arthritis affects 1 in 5 people over the age of 15, and almost half of people over the age of 65. This program will help community members, groups and organizations deliver arthritis and joint pain related programs, services, or information directly in communities.

Our grant funding is always contingent upon the generosity of our donors. The maximum grant per application is $5,000 for up to one year of activities. These grants are non-renewable.

Learn More  
 

In this section, we provide you a series of resources and information to help you find support in your local community to live better with arthritis:

Healthcare Professionals in Québec

Specialists like physiotherapists, orthopaedics, ergotherapists and orthesists may also help you in a wide range of fields. 

The Physiotherapist

For further information, please contact the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec at (514) 351-2770. 

The Orthopedic

For further information on the members, please contact The Canadian Orthopaedic Association at (514) 874-9003.

The Ergotherapists

For further information on the members, please contact the Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec at (514) 844-5778 or at 1 (800) 265-5778.

The Orthesists

Please contact the following organizations for additional information: Ordre des technologues professionnels du Québec, 514-845-3247 or 1-800-561-3459, or the Association des Orthésistes et Prothésistes du Québec at (514) 396-9303 or 1 (888) 323-8834.

Social services centers

Help is also available at your CLSC (Centres Locaux de Services Communautaires). For additional information, please contact your local Social Services or visit the CLSC website.  

To learn more on accessing care, medication and care options, visit our Navigating Through Arthritis page.

Navigating Through Arthritis  

Support Groups

• Aide Arthrite du Bas-Richelieu offers adapted exercises, group meeting, conferences, helpline, and training. 450 989.0618, aabr81@hotmail.com 
• Arthritis South Shore is a community organization from the Montreal area with the mission of informing, supporting and helping individuals and their families to live better with arthritis, whatever its form. The ASS aims to improve the quality of life of people with arthritis by offering conferences, training workshops, regular meetings held by support groups, referrals, and exercises adapted to their condition. For information: i​n​f​o​@​a​r​t​h​r​i​t​e​r​i​v​e​s​u​d​.​o​r​g​ or 438-630-7215. F​a​c​e​b​o​o​k: ​h​t​t​p​s​:​/​/​w​w​w​.​f​a​c​e​b​o​o​k​.​c​o​m​/​A​r​t​h​r​i​t​e​-​R​i​v​e​-​S​u​d-Arthritis-South-Shore-103652914668569 
• Association des arthritiques du Lac-Saint-Jean promotes the wellness of people with arthritis, advocating for them. Prevention, resources, peer support, information Saguenay/Lac Saint-Jean. 418 693.8862. 
• The Association québécoise de la douleur chronique (AQDC) (Quebec Association for Chronic Pain) has a mission to improve the condition of people suffering from chronic pain in Quebec and reduce their isolation. They offer programs intended to support and encourage: 
  • the efforts of those researching chronic pain;
  • people suffering from chronic pain at work;
  • people suffering from chronic pain and their loved ones.
  • 514 355.4198 or 1 855.230.4198, aqdc@douleurchronique.org 
• Association québécoise de l’encéphalomyélite myalgique(AQEM) (more commonly known in Quebec as "Chronic fatigue syndrome") Promotes the recognition and understanding of ME/CFS in the general public. Helps people suffering from ME/CFS, including those with symptoms commonly associated with it, to cope with the illness as effectively as possible. Represents the interests of people with ME/CFS and empower them to realize their rights. Support groups in different regions of Quebec: Montreal, Québec, Sherbrooke, Montérégie and TroisRivières. Information, support and referral service. Publication of newsletters: The Blue Ribbon and Info-AQEM. Liaison patient network. Conferences Greater Quebec Area. 1 855 369.0386, aqem@spg.qc.ca
• A.W.I.S.H offers education, information and support. Exercises with physiotherapists, information, education, support Dorval and its surroundings. 514 631.3288, info@arthritismontreal.ca
• Canadian Spondylitis Association is a National association to advocate for and support those suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and associated Spondyloarthritis diseases. The Canadian Spondylitis Association is run entirely by volunteers with Spondyloarthritis.  With a broad offering of Support Groups, awareness and connectivity on Social Networks along with Educational Seminars and Events, the Canadian Spondylitis Association has a strong commitment to supporting the Spondylitis Community.
• Groupe d'entraide arthritiques de Beauce offers support groups and information on arthritis. 418 228.1352, groupedentraideaba@gmail.com
•  Sjogren Syndrome Association inc. offers education, information and support. Helpline,bulletin, meetings, conferences. Téléphone : 1-877-934-3666, Montreal : 514-934-3666. sjogrenquebec@gmail.com
• Scleroderma Quebec strongly believes in the merits of self-help groups. Self-help group meetings create an environment conducive to discussions by providing a meeting place where people affected by the disease can share personal experiences and learn how to improve their well-being. Provide support to scleroderma patients and their families is the objective that they have set for themselves in establishing various self-help groups. Their nurse, Marielle Pelletier, acts as a contact-person for all volunteer peer support group leaders.   To find a support group in your area, visit their web site at scleroderma.ca.
• The mission of the Société québécoise de la fibromyalgie is to consolidate and support the many fibromyalgia associations in Quebec working with affected individuals and their families to better meet their needs. On their web site, you will find a list and links to a fibromyalgia association in your area. Each one has a support group. 450 933.6530,sqf@fibromyalgie-sqf.org

Resources

• Association des aidants naturels de la Côte-Nord mission is to break informal caregivers’ isolation by offering them a place where they can get counselling and share possible solutions in a context of mutual aid. Respite and massage, respite and babysitting, telephone support, coffee hours, workshops, lectures, individual meetings. 418 589.2229, aidants.naturelscn@hotmail.com
• Centre d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée de Dollard-des-Ormeaux aims for education and maintaining independence and offers support and adapted exercises. 514 684.0173, ext. 1365. 
• Centre de jour Berthiaume du Tremblay provides home support to help improve the wellbeing of seniors. Training, exercise, tai chi, relaxation, consultation, various activities, support groups for informal caregivers. 514 381.1841, ext. 287. 
• Centre de ressources pour la vie autonome de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue offers support for independent living. Information and networking, support, development of new services, development of independent living aptitudes, respite service. 819 824.5434 or 1 800 594.5434, crva-at@cablevision.qc.ca vavdo@cablevision.qc.ca
• Constance-Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre aims for education and maintaining independence.  They offers support and services of rheumatology rehabilitation. 514 487.1891 or 1 866 487.1891 
• CLSC Suzor-Côté offers space and resources for arthritis sufferers. Meetings with key informants. 819 751.8511, ext. 2203, guylainetherrien@ssss.gouv.ca
• CSSS Papineau and Petite Nation helps maintain independence. Classes, specially adapted classes, support groups. 819 983.7341, ext. 6433,  marijoseelabellet@ssss.gouv.ca
• Ressources d'aide aux personnes handicapées du Bas Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Îles-de la-Madeleine promotes the social integration of persons with a disability. Information, counselling, publicity, activism, financial aid (equipment, summer camp, accommodation). 418 722.7233, laressource@globetrotter.net
• Located in Montreal’s Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood, Perform Center's community programs are adapted to the condition of people living with a chronic disease. Perform's Athletic Therapy Clinic delivers prompt and professional care to staff and faculty, students as well as the general public. The Clinic is a fully functional treatment center with the very latest in equipment and modalities, including Swim-Ex for aqua therapy.  athletictherapy@concordia.ca

Individual nutritional programs are designed to provide participants with nutritional guidance and support. All nutritional evaluations and counselling sessions are conducted by a registered dietitian or a dietetic intern overseen by a registered dietitian. Nutrition Suite Supervisor, 514 848.2424 ext. 4018.