To sum up very roughly, we could present the Quartier.Québec platform launched this week as a youth center in version 2023. Aimed at 14-25 year olds, it offers as many live web shows as in-person meetings, commented video games as yoga or cooking workshops. All this under the benevolent eye of “virtual guardians” trained to help young people in difficulty.
The creator of this project, Louis-Félix Cauchon, a well-known figure in Quebec video games and president of the independent studio Borealys, agrees: it’s not easy to sum up the concept of this “interactive virtual platform” that is Quartier.Québec. “It’s normal that it’s scattered, there’s a place for everyone in the Neighborhood. »
First, this platform, accessible on a web browser, on a computer or in a format adapted to mobile devices, is not that virtual, since it will also offer meetings in the flesh to young participants. Then we cast a wide net, from 14 to 25 years old, from high school to university.
The idea was born from a call from the office of Prime Minister François Legault, says Mr. Cauchon, who wanted to help young video game players during the pandemic.
Very graphic and colorful without being childish, the Quartier.Québec home page shows a series of places, each with its own sub-menu. In the Agora, we have a calendar of conferences, with influencers and electronic sports experts on the menu. On the Stage, artists meet the spectators and perform there. Twitch and Discord channels are used to give appointments on all themes. A directory has been designed to offer walk-in medical consultations as well as information on cybersecurity or help lines for LGBTQ people.
And this is just the beginning, warns Mr. Cauchon. “The Quartier is a place where you can find most of the centers of interest for this population that you hear little about. It is meant to evolve. We didn’t want it to be only virtual, only to consume content, but we want to involve them, have them communicate with each other, have face-to-face activities. »
Without pressing too hard on the pencil, he specifies that “sentinels”, participants called “virtual guardians” who have undergone a short training, will be there to detect signs of psychological distress. He recalls that, according to Statistics Canada, the percentage of 15-24 year olds reporting having excellent or good mental health has gone from 60 to 40% with the pandemic.
“I don’t necessarily want young people to come to the Neighborhood because they have a problem, I want them to come even if it’s going well. If you are a young artist, you want to put yourself on stage. If you love journalism, you will be able to have your say. We are able to bring everything together, to express your passions or have fun with other people. Quebec is big. »
The comparison with a youth center 2.0 makes him smile. “The first time I was president was at the youth center in Roberval! It helped me a lot. »
The other dream of Mr. Cauchon is that older people also come to take a look at what makes young people vibrate. “Let Ginette Rouleau, 46, from Beauce, come to the Quartier. I would like it to be a point where the rest of the population can see the young people, see how they are. »