Who are we?
The Palliative Home-Care Society of Greater Montreal enables all persons in the advanced stages of cancer or other life-limiting illness to conclude the final chapter of their life in the comfort of their home. The Society will provide all the necessary care, services and support free of charge. From an academic and research perspective, the Society contributes to the advancement of knowledge in palliative care and participates in the development of scientific and clinical approaches, particularly related to in-home palliative care.Our commitment

To the patient

To the patient’s support network
Our approach and values

Service excellence

Open-mindedness

Dedication and compassion

Respect and tolerance

Listening
An interdisciplinary team at your side
What is unique in our interdisciplinary approach is the sharing between caregivers and other members of the team who give themselves permission to live, without judgments; all intimate moments of the patient’s. This collective caring translates into a quality service that is reflected in our flexibility, reactivity and our compassion for the patients entrusted to us.
Our history

1967-70 : The beginnings
The beginning of the Palliative Home-Care Society of Greater Montreal (SSPAD) coincides with the arrival in Quebec of hospitalization insurance coverage in 1967, then government medical insurance in 1970. In taking over control of the management of health care services, the government of Quebec abolishes all ‘billing’ of in-home private medical services. This brings about the unfortunate disappearance of a very useful service, the Société des Infirmières Visiteuses (Visiting Nurse Society).

1973 : Birth of the “Association d’Entraide Ville-Marie” (Ville-Marie Mutual Assistance Association)
It was thanks to the unwavering determination of a small team, without any formal organisation, financially strapped, but full of benevolence, that the Association d’Entraide Ville-Marie (AEVM; Ville-Marie Mutual Assistance Association) was born in 1973. It’s challenge – to care for and support patients and their families. As the notion of palliative care becomes clearer and more known (especially with the opening of the palliative care unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1975, and at Notre-Dame Hospital four years later), the mission of the AEVM becomes clear:
Provide palliative care, psychological support and spiritual guidance to all patients in an advanced stage of cancer who would like to live the final stage of their life at home. The Association also provides caregivers with help and support, with all the respect, dignity and compassion that such work requires.

1980 : Creation of the “Fondation Docteur Maurice Bertrand” (Doctor Maurice Bertrand Foundation)
Achieving this noble objective required both private funds and ongoing financial contributions from the government to ensure the sustainability of the organisation. In light of this, friends with a shared belief initiate the creation of the Fondation Docteur Maurice Bertrand (Doctor Maurice Bertrand Foundation), in honour of a great humanist who was exceptionally devoted and showed unwavering commitment to the development of the AEVM (Ville-Marie Mutual Assistance Association). In 2009 The AEVM changed its name to become the ‘Société de Soins palliatifs à domicile du Grand Montréal’ (SSPAD; Palliative Home-Care Society of Greater Montreal).
Since its creation, SSPAD has treated and accompanied over 55,000 patients and their families. Each year, the work of the society helps 60% of its patients die at home, if that is their wish.
Board of Directors
2019-2020 Board of Directors
President
Mr. Réjean Picard
Managing Director
Secretary
Ms. Patricia Pineault, MSc
Researcher and professor
Treasurer
Mr. Yves Desjardins
Chief Executive Officer
Regroupement québecois des résidences pour aînés
Mr. Bérard Riverin
Chief Executive Officer
The Palliative home-care Society of Greater Montreal (SSPAD)
Consultant in Management, Health and Social Services
Mr. Pierre Bertrand
Consultant
Ms. Laurence De Villers
General manager
Résidence Les Verrières Du Golf
Le Groupe Maurice
Ms. Guylaine Bolduc
Head of customer relations and strategic projects
JAMP Pharma
Ms. Julie Salvail
Senior Director of legal affairs
Pharmaceutical Division, Groupe Jean Coutu
Ms. Gabrielle Tourigny, MSc
Coporate Director
Mr. Denis Courcy
Consultant in human resources
Palliative care specialist, researcher
St. Mary’s Hospital
Lawyer
Associate Lawyer, Director
LCM AVOCATS INC.
For more information

1110 Jean Talon East, office 301, Montreal, QC, H2R 1V9