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For over 20 years, Nuit Blanche Montréal has been an essential artistic, cultural, and winter event in the city.
Inspired by Nuit Blanche Paris, the festival celebrates creativity in all its forms: visual arts, cinema, dance, exhibitions, games, music, and light installations. From Old Montreal to Mile End, passing through the Quartier des Spectacles, the event transforms the city into a vast cultural exploration space.
This year, for the first time, the residents of CHSLD Paul-Émile-Léger had the pleasure of participating in this unique event, thanks to the efforts of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal’s recreation team.
More than 605 visitors stepped through the center’s doors, creating a vibrant meeting space where residents, neighborhood families, and art and culture enthusiasts shared a memorable moment.
Under the theme “Ice Bubbles: The Fusion of Ephemeral Art”, five ice sculptures were displayed in front of the establishment, one of which was created live by sculptor Nicolas Godon.
Inside, residents and visitors collaborated on collective stencil artworks, inspired by the theme of bubbles. These pieces will soon be displayed in the CHSLD’s hallways, preserving the memory of this special event.
The festive atmosphere was enhanced by a DJ outside and a hostess in a ballroom gown serving alcohol-free bubbles to guests.
We wanted to create a moment where residents are not just spectators but fully engaged participants. Here, we don’t just talk about community openness—we live it! We embraced the POP theme of the festival: bursting bubbles in collaborative art, comic strip-style speech bubbles for sharing thoughts, and even transforming the CHSLD space to reflect the theme.
With events like this, we no longer feel isolated. We’re part of a living, inclusive cultural movement, and that’s incredibly empowering for everyone.
Organizing such an event within a CHSLD aligns with a broader mission: reducing resident isolation and strengthening their connection to society.
Over the past three years, several initiatives have fostered these interactions, particularly with schools and festivals.
We have a role to play in changing perceptions of long-term care centers. They are not isolated spaces but rather living environments where people can exchange, create, and share with the community.
Given that our CHSLD serves a younger clientele compared to others, integrating it into a dynamic cultural event like Nuit Blanche was a natural decision. Seeing people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying themselves together proves that inclusion is not only possible but essential.
A huge congratulations to the recreation team for organizing this fantastic event!
The Fondation Santé Urbaine is incredibly proud to have supported this meaningful project, which has had a profound impact on the residents of CHSLD Paul-Émile-Léger.
Thanks to community donations, we support thousands of recreational activities throughout the year in the 14 CHSLDs of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal—from purchasing equipment to organizing major events. Our goal is simple: enhancing the quality of life for our CHSLD residents.
This article was written in collaboration with Pascal St-Gelais, Communications Advisor at CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
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© 2025 Fondation Santé Urbaine
Charitable registration number: 11892 3291 RR 0001