An Artistic and Social Initiative to Raise Awareness About Aphasia Will Stop in Gatineau

An Artistic and Social Initiative to Raise Awareness About Aphasia Will Stop in Gatineau

An artistic and social initiative aimed at raising public awareness about aphasia will make a stop in Gatineau this spring. The tour Le silence qui parle (“The Silence That Speaks”), presented by the Théâtre Aphasique in collaboration with the Association des neurotraumatisés – Région de l’Outaouais and the library network of the Ville de Gatineau, will run from March 20 to May 18, 2026.

The project highlights the role of theatre as a tool for rehabilitation and for reclaiming communication for people living with aphasia, a language disorder that can occur following a stroke, among other causes.

Among the planned activities, the interactive exhibition Le silence qui parle will be presented at the Bibliothèque Guy-Sanche. Visitors will be able to explore personal testimonies, archival photos, objects, and short video clips that tell the stories of people living with aphasia and their loved ones.

Isabelle Côté, executive director of the Théâtre Aphasique, shares more details about the initiative.

According to the organizers, theatre allows people affected by aphasia to draw on much more than speech alone. By engaging the body, emotions and rhythm, it helps build confidence and strengthen social connections.

The tour, which has already stopped in Québec City, Montréal, Trois-Rivières and Granby, aims to raise awareness about the realities faced by people living with aphasia and to highlight the importance of community support in their recovery.