Our Organization

In 1987, a community organization composed of young gays and lesbians was created. Within its first year, Jeunesse Lambda identified an important need for reliable information among 13 to 16-year-olds questioning their sexual orientation. To respond to this need, the Social Intervention Committee (CIS), initiated an intervention project offered in vocational and social training classes. These interventions were delivered through the personal testimonies of facilitators.

These intervention opportunities were then used to collect statistical data concerning the perception of homosexuality. This data was collected using a questionnaire that participants were asked to fill during workshops

The CIS officially becomes the Montreal Research and Social Intervention Group (GRIS-Montreal).

Over the years, the organization has been involved in different courses at different levels of schooling and in a growing number of institutions, which are not limited to the academic environment.

Given the increased demand and urgent needs, a team is set up in Quebec City by parents who have a homosexual child.

They form a team called the Regional Group of Social Intervention. The first GRIS outside the metropolis sees the day. 50 school interventions are carried out from the first year.

The Chaudière-Appalaches region joins the Quebec team set up two years earlier to raise awareness of homosexuality among young people.

A third GRIS was born: the GRIS Chaudière-Appalaches.

GRIS welcomes its first spokespersons: Mireille Deyglun and Gilles Renaud. They start the very first annual fundraising campaign and will brilliantly represent GRIS on all stands for four years.

More than 100,000 young people have been met by GRIS-Montréal volunteers since its inception.

In addition, the organization adapts its methods to meet the growing demands of new clienteles: primary schools (3rd cycle), English schools and francization classes.

From the first year, the organization carries out 21 interventions in the primary schools, 18 in the cultural communities and 16 in the anglophone clientele.

The actors Macha Limonchik and Vincent Bolduc became the new spokespersons of the organization, succeeding Mireille Deyglun and Gilles Renaud.

So far, they continue to fulfill their roles with brio and generosity, not missing a single opportunity to talk about GRIS.

At the same time, a third GRIS was officially opened in Mauricie / Center-du-Québec.

After a long process of reflection and a general consultation of GRIS members, the organization adds the demystification of bisexuality to its mission.

Bisexual caregivers are trained to be gay and lesbian volunteers.

The education and health communities applaud the work of GRIS with two high distinctions.

The Department of Health and Social Services awards the organization with the prestigious “Prevention, Promotion and Protection of Health and Welfare” Award of Excellence and the Alliance of Professors of Montreal, the Prix Léo-Guindon.

Aware of the isolation suffered by LGB seniors, GRIS is conducting a one-year pilot project to adapt its intervention format to the living environment for the elderly. One year later, with the support of key partners, GRIS officially extended its interventions to this new clientele.

From the first year, a hundred people are met. At the same time, the fifth GRIS was born: GRIS-Estrie.

GRIS-Montréal is today the largest organization to demystify homosexuality and bisexuality in schools in Quebec.

The year-over-year increase in the number of interventions and the increasing need to train new workers demonstrate the success of the formula employed and the importance of the work done by the group.