FADOQ, Fermières and golden age clubs, the real social life of La Petite-Nation

Want to know what's really going on in a village? Skip the town hall. Go to Tuesday afternoon whist. Seniors' clubs and Cercles de Fermières are the social backbone of La Petite-Nation, and most of them start up again in September after the summer break.

You don't need to be from here. You don't need to be 80 either: FADOQ membership starts at 50. Most clubs run in French, but if you've retired to the cottage full-time, this is also the friendliest French practice you'll find.

FADOQ clubs

FADOQ is Québec's big network for people 50 and over. The local clubs:

• Montebello, Club d'âge d'or Belle Montée: news and activities go through its Facebook group.
• Saint-André-Avellin, Club Vallée d'Or: activities, outings and advocacy for seniors' rights. 819 983-1778, fadoqstaa@hotmail.com.
• Chénéville, Club Chéné d'Or (K034): weekly activities and outings. 819 981-0955.
• Montpellier, Les Rayons de Soleil (K061): 873 353-7690.
• Namur and Saint-Émile, shared club (K065): free board games Mondays at 1:30 p.m., cards Tuesdays at 7 p.m., September to May, at the Carrefour Namurois. Suppers too (Christmas, spaghetti, annual meeting), by reservation. 514 214-0733.

Golden age and social clubs

Papineauville. Les Aînés de la Baie have their room at 277B, rue Papineau and post a program every season. 819 427-5511, ext. 2551.

Thurso. L'Amicale is the 50-plus club: a monthly supper, dancing, and cards every Thursday afternoon at the community centre, 125, rue Bourget, September to April. Dues run around $15 a year. 819 985-3065. The Friendship Club meets at the same community centre (819 985-0183).

Plaisance. The Club de l'Amitié, at the Place des aînés, 62, rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste: supper dances, whist tournaments, and even a play staged in the church in spring 2026. 819 500-5935.

Val-des-Bois. Les Bons Copains play military whist Tuesdays 1 to 4 p.m., September to May. In summer it's Tuesday mornings: pétanque, mini-golf, horseshoes and bean bags, with a picnic in August. lesbonscopains119@hotmail.com.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette. Le Groupe Soleil has been getting people 50-plus out of the house since 1981. Meetings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, September to May, at 49, rue de l'Église.

And elsewhere. Club Joie de vivre in Ripon, at 31, rue Coursol. Fassett's golden age club, with about 300 members in a village of under 500 people (do the math). Club la Paix d'Or in Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, which publishes its calendar every fall (819 522-6695). Duhamel's golden age club, based at the town hall: call for the schedule, 819 428-7475.

Don't know anyone? Call ahead and say so. Someone will be waiting for you at the door, almost guaranteed.

Cercles de Fermières

Weaving, knitting, sewing, crochet, quilting, and a lot of chatting. The Fermières (Québec's women's crafts circles) are not a thing of the past: several circles here still weave every week, and passing those skills on is the whole point.

• Val-des-Bois and Bowman: active since 1938, about forty members. Every Thursday, during the day. This circle also runs the Christmas bazaar and the Festival country bingo, and gives handmade pieces to seniors and the sick. fermiere32@outlook.com.
• Montpellier: founded in 1943. "Petits lundis" every week at 4C, rue du Bosquet. 819 428-3565.
• Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette: weaving, quilting, crochet, knitting and embroidery classes every Wednesday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the old presbytery, 51, rue des Saules.
• Papineauville: a room at 277C, rue Papineau. They're the ones behind the annual Salon de Noël. 819 427-5511, ext. 2550.
• Thurso: at the community centre, 125, rue Bourget. cftthurso@gmail.com.
• Ripon: 31, rue Coursol, second floor.
• Saint-André-Avellin: 819 271-8156.
• Chénéville: 819 428-4152.

In Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, the Groupe d'artisanat works in the same spirit and is open to everyone: Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the old school, from mid-September. Bring your knitting or sewing and visit.

Bingo, bridge and company

• Les Villageoises, Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk: Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m., 299, route des Cantons. Bingo and OKO at $1.25 a card, little prizes and good cheer.
• Les Amies du Bingo, Thurso: the community centre bingo, run by volunteers (819 985-3418).
• Lac-Simon Bridge Club: in the council room. Its "bridge en folie" afternoons draw partners at random, so you can sign up solo.
• Lac-Simon coffee meet-up: Wednesdays 1 to 4 p.m. in the council room, alternating with a group walk.
• AFEAS Chénéville: women who meet to stay informed and push social causes forward (819 428-4132).
• Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 205, Chénéville: news and activities in its Facebook group (819 428-7974).

Singing and moving

The Chœur de Pom', about thirty singers from several villages; Le Cœur des Anges choir in Papineauville; and the Chœur Avellinois in Saint-André-Avellin. For gentle exercise, Viactive is free: Thursdays at 10 a.m. in Saint-Émile, Wednesdays at 9 a.m. in Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette. More in our adult sports and rec piece.

Cafés for playing

Café Passe ton temps in Saint-André-Avellin has more than 100 board games and as many puzzles, plus knitting and wood painting. Handy when the grandkids show up.

Staying home longer

CR3A, the "yellow house" on rue Principale in Saint-André-Avellin, has offered friendly visits, check-in calls, a tax clinic, caregiver support and bereavement groups since 1978. Monday to Thursday, 819 983-1565. Alliance alimentaire Papineau runs meals on wheels (819 983-1714).

To get to the club without a car, TAC Papineau offers shared transport to residents of all 25 towns. Register, then book 48 hours ahead at 819 308-0788, ext. 0. It runs seven days a week, 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

All these groups are in our Community directory. Your club isn't there? Add it, it's free.

MontebelloSaint-André-AvellinChénévilleMontpellierNamurSaint-Émile-de-SuffolkPapineauvilleThursoRiponPlaisanceFassettNotre-Dame-de-la-PaixDuhamelVal-des-BoisNotre-Dame-de-la-SaletteLac-Simon

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