Practical support through separation or divorce
The Unique Project is a bilingual program designed for women going through a separation or divorce. This transitional period is often accompanied by significant legal, financial, social, and psychological challenges.
The program aims to support participants in the process of adapting to the changes associated with separation, promote their well-being and independence, and help reduce social isolation.
The program is delivered in cohorts of 15 participants, beginning September 29, 2026. Each cohort is offered in person at the Montreal Women’s Y and includes 12 to 15 workshops tailored to participants’ needs.
The program includes:
- Group Sessions
- Practical and Informative Workshops
- Leisure and Wellness Activities
- Individual psychosocial and socio-legal support
Fill out the registration form
Support Across Six Key Areas
Because every journey is unique, the Unique Project offers comprehensive support tailored to the diverse realities women experience during separation or divorce.
Our Six Areas of Support
- Social protection: to meet basic needs
- Financial inclusion: to promote financial literacy and autonomy in managing finances
- Employability: paving the way toward sustainable livelihoods
- Health and well-being: to support the overall health of participants
- Social empowerment: to break down isolation and foster social connections
- Access to justice: to help participants understand their rights and legal procedures, and to empower them
Information Sessions
Would you like to learn more about the Unique Project or find out if it’s right for you? We invite you to attend one of our information sessions
For participants – in person :
For women going through a divorce or separation.
Starting August 11, 2026, information sessions will be offered weekly, alternating between French and English:
August 11, August 25, September 8, and September 22
- 10:00 am – 11:00 am: in English
- 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: in French
August 18, September 1, and September 15
- 10:00 am – 11:00 am: in French
- 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: in English
Address: 1275 Avenue De Lorimier, Montreal, QC, H2K 0G1 | Accessible via the Papineau metro station
For partners – online :
For speakers, organizations, and anyone else who would like to learn more.
- Tuesday, July 28, 2026: in French
- Thursday, July 30, 2026: in English
Contact us to get the link for the virtual meeting — unique@ydesfemmesmtl.org
Activities and Workshops
Each session is designed to provide you with both useful information and a space to relax, be creative, and reconnect with yourself. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits you.
▸ Understanding Yourself and Your Rights
Workshops to help you better understand what you’re going through: legally, financially, and within your family, while equipping you with practical tools.
- Understanding the separation process
- Understanding the legal system
- Managing your daily budget
- Recognizing and understanding domestic violence
- Navigating co-parenting
▸ Taking Care of Yourself
Spaces to explore your emotions, regain confidence, and move forward at your own pace.
- Emotional Management
- Empowerment Seminar
- Community Sewing Workshop
▸ Building Connections
Opportunities to reduce isolation, share experiences, and create together.
- Community cooking workshop
- Courthouse Visit (when relevant)
Program Schedule
Start of the Fall Cohort: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Cohort Schedule
- Tuesdays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm : French-speaking group
- Tuesdays, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm : English-speaking group
Admission Criteria
To be eligible for the Unique Project, you must:
- Speak and understand French or English
- Be going through a separation or divorce
- Be available to participate in all workshops
A Unique Intervention Model
The Unique Project aims to develop and test a multidimensional intervention model to better support women going through separation or divorce.
This model builds on the experience and lessons learned through the implementation of the Unique Project from 2019 to 2024. As part of this first phase, a research component helped identify the main challenges faced by women and gain a better understanding of their needs.
Learn More
The knowledge gained informed the development and testing of an intervention model across several cohorts, accompanied by an ongoing evaluation process to refine the approaches, tools, and support methods.
The positive outcomes, promising practices, and lessons learned in collaboration with internal and external partners now provide a solid foundation for adapting and strengthening this intervention model to better meet the realities and needs of women going through separation or divorce.
Our Approaches
A variety of theoretical approaches have served as the basis for developing a holistic, flexible, and adaptable intervention model tailored to the needs of each woman:
- Anti-oppressive
- Intersectional feminist
- Graduation (adapted to the Montreal context)
- Transcultural
- Trauma-informed
- Gender-Based Comparative Analysis Plus (GBCA+)
Contact Us
Would you like to participate in the Unique Project? Please fill out the form below. A member of our team will contact you as soon as possible to verify your eligibility, answer your questions, and, if necessary, invite you to an in-person meeting.
Please note that our call may appear as a private or blocked number on your caller ID.
Contact us at unique@ydesfemmesmtl.org or call us at 514-866-9941 # 214
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Unique - Registration
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