Maison d’Haïti celebrates 50th anniversary

The cultural organization serving Quebec’s Haitian and Afro-descendant communities Maison d’Haïti is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

This year’s theme — ‘Living Memories’ — where the organization looks back on some of the historical highlights of Montreal’s Black community.

“It’s important that people who are young now, they have to realize that that they are standing on the shoulders of the others who were there before,” said Marjorie Villefrance, director general at La Maison d’Haïti.

Marjorie Villefrance.

The centre’s walls are adorned with artwork from Haitian artists and photos depicting their work since its inception in 1972. Villefranche’s office also carries old paintings made from children who were part of the Maison’s art therapy programs and photos of previous employees and members of the organization.

“To go further, you have to remember. And the memories are not dead because they are still living, because you are going further with what people did before you.”

With nearly 200 people passing through their doors every day, Villefranche refers to the Maison as a village. And in this village, they help newcomers integrate into life in Montreal and hosts cultural festivals to celebrate their heritage.

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The centre also provides children in the Saint-Michel neighborhood with homework help and offers summer camps and reading corners – an activity Villefranche has been doing since she began volunteering as a teenager in the 1970s.

“As a lot of the Black French-speaking people at that time, I was a little bit lost and I was looking for my identity, who I am and what I’m doing here. And I found Maison d’Haïti that shook me up and help me,” said Villefranche.

“A lot of time, I say Maison d’Haïti saved my life because I would be probably different if I didn’t meet people at the Maison d’Haïti.”

In return, she and the organization’s current team wanted to honour the people who built the foundation of Maison d’Haïti for its 50th anniversary.

“We made it,” said Villefrance about the organization reaching 50 years of community work. “We were there, and we fight for our rights. And we are still there and still fighting.”

Villefranche says the vision of the young and older generations who worked at the organization remains the same: a place in Montreal society, equal to any other communities in the city.

“We are part of Montreal. We are part of the community, of the society. And it is normal after 50 years to be recognized as a part of Montreal, because we are Montreal.”