A social programme led by Université de Montréal is expanding with the creation of the Centre for Parenting, Immigration and Culture (CPIC), described as “an intersectoral partnership to strengthen preventive support for immigrant parents and their children.”
The programme aims to promote parenting skills and prevent family difficulties among newcomers to Quebec. Its expansion is made possible by a $785,000 grant from the provincial government, running until 2029.
Added to this is $315,000 contributed by the project’s seven partners, including the cities of Montréal and Laval, bringing the total to $1.1 million.
The Quebec government grant to psychoeducation professor Sarah Dufour is one of 11 grants totalling $6.3 million awarded by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE). These grants follow a call for social innovation projects launched in spring 2025.
At UdeM, the new funding will support the expansion and long-term sustainability of the Espace Parents programme, founded by Dufour in 2016, which received $1.2 million from the Public Health Agency of Canada between 2022 and 2026 to tackle domestic violence.
Operating in nearly 70 community organizations across Quebec, Espace Parents offers nine workshops to immigrant parents, often isolated in their host society, who wish to better understand how Quebec institutions work and are ready to share their experiences.
During the sessions, mothers and fathers discuss topics as varied as children’s independence and self-expression, as well as the challenge of growing up in multiple cultures. Strategies for disciplining children in a positive manner are also covered.
To date, nearly 3,000 immigrant families have taken part in the workshops. Over 350 practitioners have been trained to lead them since the programme began.
Another key component of the CPIC, Espace Intervenants, supports community practitioners who work with immigrant families by strengthening their intercultural skills and their ability to network.
