In a house in the northern suburbs of Quebec City, Nancy Lachance not only welcomes adults with intellectual disabilities, but she also created a roasted nut company to provide a stimulating activity for its residents and give back to the next.
It was after visiting a friend who had become a foster family that Mme Lachance, a specialized educator, had a click: she would transform her house to accommodate people with intellectual disabilities and take care of them. If she has “long been embarrassed” to see this role as a vocation, 24 years later, she affirms it with a modesty that goes straight to the heart.
“Of course it takes a gift of oneself because there are constraints that come with being a foster family – but there are more positive sides! Paying it forward is part of me. The helping relationship in the field is what I like. I raised my children through foster care. For me, that my daughters can see what the difference is, I think it gives them a plus. It awakens them to that reality. »
Over the years, one thing became increasingly clear: activities for residents like those of Mme Lachance were less and less numerous and less and less frequent. Users suffer the consequences, and this has a negative impact on their behavior. “When there is a break in service in the day centres, they don’t understand why. And for them, consistency is super important. I said to myself: if we don’t speak for them, who will? asks the specialist educator again. Running out of options, she turned to her partner, originally from Germany, to stir up some ideas around the nuts she was roasting in an artisanal way for the family. What if luck was in its nuts?
A rewarding job
Little by little, a factory was created in the reorganized basement to meet standards and accommodate most of their equipment and two roasting machines. In another room, bags of nuts and jars of spread are waiting to be labeled — a task for residents, like Sylvie Gagnon, who is always there when production starts. “Sylvie has lived with us for nine years. For her, helping me keeps her busy and allows her to develop other skills. It also makes her responsible. Sometimes she accompanies me for the delivery, she comes with me when we have kiosks in the markets. She feels valued by her work and it allows her to socialize,” says the educator.
Three years later, Les Nuts de la chance is increasingly seen in the food landscape of the Quebec region. In addition to hazelnuts roasted in maple syrup—the flagship product—Nancy Lachance and her spouse have developed a recipe for hazelnut truffles, traditional German almonds, spiced pecans and various nut butters. The latest concoctions in the running: a “homemade Nutella without palm oil” and hazelnut oil.
For meme Lachance, the most important thing is not to cut corners despite the ever-increasing demand. “I’ve always said that I cast Lucky Nuts slowly but surely. In intellectual disabilities, stability is very important. So I say to myself: there is no press. Of course, starting my company in my 50s stimulates me intellectually and I see how big it could be, but we really do this to help. My residents have been giving me bread and butter for 24 years, now it’s up to me to give back to them. With the profits, Nancy spoils them, with obvious pleasure.
When the worst of the pandemic is over, her goal will be to open a day center attached to her host family to receive, for a few hours, other residents who have mild disabilities or disabilities. This would be an opportunity for them to socialize with other people, be challenged and take pride in doing a job. “Since COVID, there is no longer any activity, it is immensely sad. I wish there were other resources. May my idea serve other shelters who want to do it or who have a project in mind,” she says, her eyes shining with hope.