Inspired by a European model, the first pink house in North America opened its doors on Thursday in Montreal. It is a place to soften the daily life of women with breast cancer before, during and after this test.
The project was carried out by the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation which invested more than $ 2 million there thanks to its donors. It is by visiting the house RoseUp in Paris, in France, that the CEO From the Foundation, Karine-ISEULT IPERSIEL, was inspired by noting the important role of this place for women affected by breast cancer.
Maison Rose offers a multitude of free services offered by professionals, such as psychological support, onco-aesthetic services, adapted yoga workshops and discussion workshops with a psychosocial worker and support groups. The objective of this space is to transform the support of patients and their loved ones.
The idea here is that everything is free, underlines Ms. Ippersiel during a visit to the premises. There is no program where patients pay and there is no time limit. If you have had breast cancer, you can do suitable yoga and there will be the daycare service to manage the time of your yoga class so that you can take care of the children, that you have this moment that belongs to you to restore you and take the time to take care of yourself.
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Anick Lemay, spokesperson for Maison Rose and Karine-Iiseult Ippersiel, CEO of the Quebec Cancer Foundation, inaugurated the new establishment in Montreal, on May 1, 2025.
Photo: Canadian press / Christinne Muschi
Actress Anick Lemay, who is the spokesperson for the Rose house, said that she would have liked to have a place like this when she received her diagnosis.
To have access to a place, storefront, with free services, support, listening: it will change the lives of girls. Because honestly, it is expensive to have cancer. All these professionals usually are [plus de] $ 100 per session
she says.
It also argues that patients can weave new friendships. To talk about it with people who live the same thing as you, it changes everything
says Ms. Lemay.
She herself made new friends through her ordeal and they have not left each other for seven years, she said.
We say to ourselves what we cannot say to our caregivers, to our loves, because either it would scare them, or they will be in a state of vulnerability because they will not know what to say
testifies Ms. Lemay.
Demystify and educate
The establishment also offers conferences each month on specific subjects, for example on immunotherapy or breast reconstruction.
The educational component is important for Ms. Ippersiel who specifies that each breast cancer is different.
There are not two such cancers and it is not the oncologist who has time to explain your illness to you. The pivotal nurse is overwhelmed, so she doesn’t have time either. So we are here to really demystify, educate, then give ”empowerment” It is up to women to make choices in their care trajectory.
The discussion groups offered are adapted to the reality of people. They need to be alone and then speak together in a confidential or informal way at the top [à la machine à café]
explains Ms. Ippersiel. For example, there is a group for young patients aged 20 to 30 and for those with stadium breast cancer which do not have a favorable healing prognosis.
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Karine-Iiseult Ippersiel, CEO of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation
Photo: Canadian press / Christinne Muschi
Breast cancer is the most common in women. In Quebec, it is evaluated that a woman in eight will be reached during her life. About 16 % of breast cancers are diagnosed in women aged 50 and under, and on average, four Quebecers die every day.
In Quebec, the Quebec Breast Cancer screening program invites women aged 50 to 74 to spend a mammography every two years.
As soon as the disease is announced, patients and their loved ones will be able to attend the pink house. Support pilot programs led by professionals will also be established within the establishment in order to deploy them on a larger scale possibly.
The complete program of the Rose house is available on the Quebec Cancer Foundation website. More than a hundred people can be welcomed by volunteers every day.
Women, men and people from gender diversity affected by breast cancer are welcome. It is also possible for the latter to simply meet with each other to eat together in the establishment.
Maison Rose is located near several health establishments, at 1111 avenue Laurier Ouest, in Montreal. It is also possible to rent rooms for the general public, a way for the foundation to operate this new project.
