A message from our founder
Creating the conditions where people can thrive.
During more than eighteen years in policing, Dr. Michelle Vincent witnessed the
extraordinary courage, dedication, and humanity of those who serve. She also came to
understand that wellbeing grows through the environments we create, the relationships we
cultivate, and the communities we build together.
The Haven was founded on the belief that Public Safety Personnel, Military members,
Veterans, and their families deserve opportunities to strengthen connection, build
resilience, and discover the confidence, tools, and support that allow them to navigate
life's challenges and continue growing throughout every stage of life.
Every conversation, every program, every partnership, and every act of service
contributes to creating the conditions where individuals, families, organizations, and
communities can flourish together.
Dr. Michelle Vincent
Founder & Lead Director
Police Officer (Ret.)
Our History · Maison La Vigile
A vision that continues to inspire.
In the 1980s, Québec Police Officer Jacques Denis Simard recognized the unique challenges
experienced by Public Safety Personnel and the importance of receiving support within a
community that truly understood the realities of service. His vision led to the creation
of Maison La Vigile,
a pioneering centre dedicated to the wellbeing of Emergency Service Workers.
Built on trust, shared understanding, and evidence-informed care, Maison La Vigile
demonstrated the profound value of creating environments where healing, learning, and
growth could flourish alongside peers who shared lived experience. Over the years, this
vision earned the confidence of Québec's mental health professionals, insurers,
associations, and the Public Safety community it continues to serve.
The therapeutic care provided to Emergency Service Workers is most effective when
delivered amongst Peers.
Maison La Vigile became more than a place. It became an enduring example of what is
possible when we create the conditions where people feel safe, understood, and connected.
That vision continues to inspire The Haven as we carry this work forward, strengthening
individuals, families, organizations, and communities through connection, belonging, and
lifelong wellbeing.
Maison La Vigile, Val-Cartier, Québec
