Remi Poliquin
Counsel
MIRA: Changing Lives, One Dog at a Time
by Patricia Aldred, CAPDA
Dorval Elementary and St. Charles Elementary had the pleasure of welcoming volunteer representatives from the Mira Foundation. Valerie, Francine, and Daniel introduced students to the organization's mission: changing lives, one dog at a time.
Students from Cycles 1–3 learned how Mira promotes autonomy and social inclusion for individuals living with visual or physical disabilities, as well as youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), through guide and service dogs. A key aspect of this work is that all services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. These highly trained dogs support beneficiaries in different ways depending on their needs, including mobility assistance, orientation, and greater independence, helping them move more confidently within their environments.
With the help of Adèle, a 9-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, and Litchi, a 5-month-old Black Labrador, our presenters shared the journey of a Mira dog. Students learned about the various internships: birth at the Mira facility in Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, placement with a foster family for socialization until about one year of age, evaluation, and then, for successful dogs, specialized training before being matched with a beneficiary. Mira dogs typically work until the age of 7 or 8, after which they enjoy a well-deserved retirement, often being adopted by someone close to the beneficiary or returning to their original foster family for a peaceful life filled with love and affection.
Un grand merci à Valérie, Francine et Daniel pour leur visite et pour nous avoir présenté Adèle et Litchi. As both dogs are currently in their socialization phase, students were especially excited to interact with them. The visit was a meaningful opportunity to connect with an important community partner all while celebrating Mira’s 45th anniversary and learning firsthand about the impact of their work.
