Winner of the 2006 Foundation prize...

La Traversée, Winner of the 2006 Marie-Vincent Foundation Prize

Montreal, October 26, 2006 – The 10th Marie-Vincent Foundation Prize was awarded today to La Traversée—a Montreal South Shore organization that supports women and child sexual abuse victims—in recognition of its “Prévention de la violence et Philosophie pour enfants” program.

This innovative pedagogical tool teaches children in kindergarten to Grade 6 to become better citizens, develop their judgement, critical thinking and creative abilities in order to find peaceful solutions to violence. It also helps children develop their sense of citizenship, build stronger identities and become less vulnerable to violence.

Since its inception in 2005 and its introduction into ten South Shore schools, the program has produced several beneficial results such as increasing the children’s self-esteem, reducing violent behaviour and integrating values such as respect, dialogue, listening and tolerance.

The Jury

Members of the jury, chaired by Mr. Stéphane Rivard, President of the Québec Bar, were:

Anne-Marie Dussault, journalist,
Louise Geoffrion, Executive Director of “CAVAC de Montréal” (Crime Victims Assistance Centres),
Sonia Gilbert, Director of the “Protection de la jeunesse de la Montérégie”,
The Honourable Lucie Godin, Justice at the Court of Québec’s Youth Division,
Jean-François Noël, Executive Director of the International Bureau for Children’s Rights,
Venise Vignolat, Lieutenant-Detective, the Montreal Police Department’s Sexual Abuse Section.

A Prize of Excellence Awarded Yearly

Since 1997, the Marie-Vincent Foundation Prize has been awarded to either a person, a group or an organization that has made an outstanding contribution in preventing or treating abuse among children under twelve.

The Marie-Vincent Foundation Prize rewards deserving works or actions relating to the Foundation’s mission, characterized by concrete social or community results, which show a high degree of initiative, creativity or excellence and help increase knowledge. It includes a $7,500 award and a complimentary work of art produced by painter-enameller Bernard Séguin Poirier.

The Marie-Vincent Foundation.

Its mission is to help Québec children under twelve who are victims of maltreatment and more specifically of sexual abuse. The Foundation gathers funds to finance prevention, education and support programs for young victims and their families.