Medicine was not a calling Dr. Louise Roy had always envisioned for herself. “A twist of fate,” she says with a smile. Naturally curious and a strong student, she found her way into medicine almost organically, even though nothing in her background had pointed her toward the profession.
Building and Leading a Team with Heart
Some people’s careers seem to follow an invisible thread. For Jessica Barboza, that thread is unmistakable: caring for others. Long before becoming Director of Operations at Aux trois sentiers, she had already chosen—often without even realizing it—to devote her energy to supporting those around her. Today, that same desire to help, listen and care for others continues to guide every decision she makes.
We are writing to express our strong support for Aux trois sentiers, an organization whose mission to accompany, support, and empower individuals and families through compassionate, community‑based services has made a profound difference in our lives.
On January 5, I received this message from the eldest son of one of our patients, who had passed away on New Year’s Day: “My father André, my family, and I had the privilege of receiving your care and support at home during his final weeks. We were deeply moved by the quality, compassion, attentiveness, and kindness that characterize your work, and which brought light and comfort to André’s final days, especially during the holiday season. For that, we would first like to express our heartfelt gratitude.
Taking the time, differently
For Aux trois sentiers clinical nurse Staphania Bastien, the path toward palliative care unfolded gradually, through experience… and contrast.
The mission of Aux trois sentiers is rooted in the generosity of people who choose to give their time and expertise. As part of National Volunteer Week, we are proud to highlight one of them: Julie Gaudette.
Accompanying a loved one through their final days is an experience of rare intensity.
Beyond the care provided to the person who is ill, this period profoundly affects family caregivers, who often carry a significant emotional, physical, family, and sometimes financial burden.
I had imagined my own death a thousand times: in the hollow gaze of a wasting patient, in the death rattle of a dying woman, in the cry of a grieving loved one, and in the final sentence spoken by a patient I will call Ms. C.
Several members of the Aux trois sentiers team joined the organization after accompanying a loved one through their final days. Such is the case of Catherine Bourdages, Director of Strategic Development of the organization, who made a complete career change after accompanying her mother at the end of her life.
Her new mission: to help improve end-of-life care in Quebec so that the beauty that can emerge at life’s end is accessible to as many people as possible.
For nearly fifteen years, Dr. Caroline Ouellet worked as an anesthesiologist-intensivist at the CHUM, thriving in the fast-paced environment of critical care and emergency medicine. Today, she has redirected her practice toward end-of-life care and the creation of Aux trois sentiers, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting people at the end of life and their loved ones. What led this physician—whom some colleagues affectionately call “the doctor with a big heart”—to make such a profound career shift?
At the heart of her mission is a simple yet powerful goal: bringing greater comfort, serenity, and humanity to one of life’s most inevitable journeys.