Mon Ami Gil returns!

We were invited to meet Gil by Gil himself. Although a man who has difficulty expressing himself in words, he made it clear that he wanted to be filmed. Manu Allard, Gil’s friend at the Dépanneur Sylvestre, and his team at Voices and Colors New Media helped Gil realize this dream with the support of Gil’s family, friends, and community.

Mon Ami Gil was filmed by Voices and Colors with the support of donors and the Association Jean Vanier, which acted as producer.

The first part of the web series, consisting of one-minute video clips, was edited and broadcast with the support of L’Arche Canada and the Association Jean Vanier. L’Arche Agapè and the Association des Arches du Québec helped launch and share the films more broadly including a piece on Radio Canada.

The second part of the web series, which is produced by Voices and Colors New Media with the help of private sponsors, includes testimonies by Gil’s family, teacher, and others who witnessed his journey to adulthood and welcoming into the community of L’Arche Agapè. Like many persons with intellectual disability of his generation, Gil grew up in his family home and community and did not suffer the impacts of institutionalization. Yet he has faced challenges in his life and discovered his strengths and capacities as well as loss and vulnerability. All of these experiences have shaped Gil into the wonderful man he is today.

Although we have not been directly involved in the production of this new series, L’Arche Canada wants to support Voices and Colors New Media and L’Arche Agapè to reach a wide audience in Québec (the videos are in French only) and beyond. We look forward to a short film of Mon Ami Gil expected in the fall of 2019.

To follow the new web series (in French), register on its brand new website, “like” Gil’s Facebook page or subscribe to his YouTube channel:
https://monamigil.blog/
https://www.facebook.com/gil.monami.9
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClvnA1E3sCZ90B0YJDPBXow