Thinking big with parents

Parents at the Heart of the Initiative

In 2019, following concerning results from the Enquête sur le développement des enfants à la maternelle (EQDEM), the Collectif estrien 0-5 ans and R3USSIR established the “Thinking Big for Our Children” Estrie Charter, which has since been signed by more than 945 individuals and organizations. The charter’s first guiding principle is to recognize and support parents as the primary allies in children’s development. With this in mind, the Collectif estrien 0-5 ans and R3USSIR joined forces to better support positive parenting in Estrie.

A Two-Phase Approach Implemented by the Collectif estrien 0-5 ans and R3USSIR

1. Parent Engagement Tour across the MRCs
   Objective: To hear from parents about their parenting experiences and identify their main needs.
2. Regional Event Bringing Together Parents and Professionals
   Objective: To identify potential solutions to the needs expressed by parents during the tour. Ultimately, this initiative aims to inform a potential intersectoral action plan for fostering positive parenting in Estrie that responds to parents’ needs.

An Estrie Tour to Connect with Parents

In spring 2024, the Collectif estrien 0-5 ans and R3USSIR met with parents of children aged 0-8 in each territory of Estrie to hear about their parenting experiences and identify their main needs.

Parent Profile and Brief Methodology

Target population: Parents of children aged 0-8 residing in Estrie’s 9 MRCs

Data Collection:

• Focus group discussions – 2 hours each (8 MRCs; 12 groups) (N=140)

• Online survey – 10 minutes (1 MRC – Haut-Saint-François) (N=90). The survey replaced the workshop at the request of local partners.
  Focus group period: March–April 2024 – Survey: April 2024

Respondent Profile:

• 230 respondents (89% women, 11% men)

• All socio-economic backgrounds

• All family types

• At least 8% of parents from cultural communities

The results of this initiative were unveiled during the Early Childhood Week on November 20, 2024, coinciding with World Children’s Day. A regional fact sheet for Estrie, as well as a fact sheet for each MRC, was produced to present the needs of Estrie parents and the specific characteristics of each territory.

A Unifying Event Focused on Solutions

Three out of ten children enter kindergarten with vulnerabilities (EQDEM, 2022). With this in mind, and recognizing the pressures of parenting, the Collectif estrien 0-5 ans and R3USSIR brought together stakeholders from all sectors on May 15, 2024 to work collaboratively on concrete solutions to implement early childhood support measures.

More than 120 professionals, managers, and parents who had participated in the consultation workshops and wished to continue their involvement attended the “Thinking Big with Parents” event. The professionals and managers present came from the education, early childhood, health and social services, community, municipal, and governmental sectors, all working with children aged 0-8 and their families.

Key Data:

• 120 participants

• 21 parents present (17.5%)

• 99 professionals present (82.5%) from various sectors: community (23), early childhood (18), health and social services (33), preschool and school (11), government (10), other (4)

• 86% of participants who responded to the satisfaction survey enjoyed the event (rating of 8/10 or higher)

In addition to learning about the results of the Estrie consultation tour, participants were able to discuss the best potential solutions to collectively support positive parenting in Estrie.

For more information on the “Thinking Big with Parents” event, please see the press release.

Nine Inspiring Projects to Support Parents in Estrie

In March 2025, the Collectif estrien 0-5 ans and R3USSIR launched the “Thinking Big with Parents” competition to support mobilization around the needs expressed by parents during the spring 2024 engagement tour. The competition invited Estrie-based organizations involved with family needs to propose concrete projects addressing parents’ concerns.

A total of nine local initiatives—one per MRC—were selected and will receive a $1,000 grant to bring their ideas to life and better support families.

Here are the nine winning projects in each MRC:

1. Brome-Missisquoi: Baby-gym – Sutton Kindergarten (Village Familles)

2. Coaticook: Easy Go! Kitchen – CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS

3. La Haute-Yamaska: The Cookbook – CPE Familigarde

4. Memphrémagog: Being Parents in 2025 – Maison de la famille Memphrémagog

5. Les Sources: Healthy Digital Management Committee – CDC Des Sources

6. Le Granit: Wireless Happiness – La Constellation du Granit

7. Haut-Saint-François: Fathers Make the Pair – La Relève du Haut-Saint-François

8. Val-Saint-François: Small Steps, Strong Bonds – Comité de première transition scolaire

9. Sherbrooke: The Reuse Space – CPE des Nations

For more information on the projects, see the press release.