To ensure the safety and well-being of its entire population, and in particular of those with special needs, the Town of Pincourt launched the Persons Requiring Specific Needs Assistance (PRSA) registry program on Tuesday.

The purpose of this program is to identify Pincourt citizens who may require specific assistance in the event of an emergency or emergency situation.  “During events such as last December's power outage, we realized that by using traditional communication channels, i.e., the Internet, the Town's electronic signs or alert messages, we weren't necessarily reaching the most vulnerable people, the ones who needed our help,” explained François Plaisance, Division Manager, Public Security for the Town of Pincourt, at a press briefing.

In addition to the registry, a map of registered people will enable emergency services and responders to quickly find out how many citizens in a given area need extra support. 

“The safety of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable, is our priority. This program stems from a request from the municipal council and represents our commitment to building a more inclusive and supportive community. Thanks to this registry, we will be able to intervene more quickly in the event of an emergency and offer support tailored to each individual. I'd like to thank the teams who are working to set up this program and who are on the ground to ensure its deployment,” noted Pincourt mayor Claude Comeau.

The program is open to anyone living in Pincourt who meets one of the following criteria:

- People aged 65 and over living alone;

- People with a loss of autonomy;

- People with reduced mobility;

- People with disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, sensory);

- People with intellectual disabilities;

- People with cognitive problems;

- People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD);

- People with mental health problems.

Membership of the program is entirely voluntary. “People who wish to benefit from this 'safety net' offered by the city can sign up,” adds Plaisance.

In addition, the Town of Pincourt wishes to reassure its citizens regarding the confidentiality of the information collected as part of the PRSA registry program, assuring that only authorized persons will have access to the data, and only for the purpose of ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals. 

Involved partners

To ensure the success of this program, the Town of Pincourt will be working closely with local players in the social field, as well as with government bodies and various organizations operating on its territory.

“When we began discussing the project, we quickly realized that it would benefit from being rooted in the community and developed in collaboration with local partners. So we extended an invitation to community and healthcare network partners to come and think about the project with us. They responded in large numbers, and already, in the embryonic phase, we were able to benefit from their knowledge of local needs. This enabled us to develop the project as we are launching it today,” points out Sabrina Martel, social and community development officer with the Town of Pincourt.

Among the organizations that answered the call and helped set up the PRSA registry program were Centre d'action bénévole L'Actuel, L'Aiguilage, Centre communautaire des aînés de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Carrefour bienveillance 50+, Parrainage civique de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, CISSSMO and the Sûreté du Québec.

“Community organizations play a complementary role, providing the personalized attention and proximity essential to identifying the specific needs of individuals. By working hand in hand, we can create a network of solidarity and vigilance that goes beyond simple emergency responses. This collaboration will enable us to better identify isolated citizens, offer them immediate support and ensure that no one is forgotten. By establishing effective communication systems and facilitating local mutual aid, we will create a resilient and supportive community. This collaboration must be built on a daily basis, by encouraging interaction between the different strata of society and strengthening the links between individuals and institutions,” adds Stéphanie Aubert, department manager at Centre d'action bénévole L'Actuel.

“For several weeks now, we've had a volunteer working to make calls to Pincourt citizens who use the services of L'Actuel. We thought people would be a bit resistant, but no. The response has been very positive. The response has been very positive, people are happy,” continued Ms. Aubert. 

How to register?

There are two simple steps to joining the NAP register:

- Stage 1: online pre-registration

People wishing to apply or register must go to the Town of Pincourt website (villepincourt.qc.ca), to fill in the pre-registration form. This step allows us to gather initial information and facilitates the process.  

- Step 2: Home visit

Upon receipt of a registration request or referral, a member of the municipal team will contact the contact person to schedule a home visit to finalize the registration.

This meeting is an opportunity to discuss specific needs and sign the consent form. Once registration is complete, the information gathered will be used to develop a response method in the event of a fire, power failure or other emergency situation.

To find out more about the Persons Requiring Specific Needs Assistance (PRSA) registry program, visit the Town of Pincourt website. 

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