L’impact de l’expression artistique sur la participation sociale des aînés suite à la tragédie ferroviaire à Lac-Mégantic

Abstract

Seniors were greatly affected, as was the rest of the population, by the railway tragedy that occurred in the Lac-Mégantic community in 2013. In the aftermath of the events, the Canadian Red Cross settled there in order to support the population and to implement the Arts and Crafts program, which includes arts and crafts workshops for seniors with loss of autonomy. This article presents the results of an exploratory study aimed at determining the effects of these workshops on the elderly who benefitted from them. The results show that this artistic expression has led participants to break free from their isolation, develop their self-esteem, feel pleasure, and enjoy life again. The positive response from the people of the community of Lac Mégantic to the projects produced by the participants suggests that artistic expression is a form of social participation since it demonstrates a vitality that is always present in people who were no longer believed capable of innovation. It becomes a source of hope for a community that is going through such a hard time.