Upcoming Event
April 15, 2026
UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING (MAiD)
A Half-Day Conference
Seniors Action Quebec and McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL) invite you to an ongoing series of presentations examining the legal, ethical, and personal dimensions of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Ruby Foo's Hotel | Singapore Room
7655 Boul. Décarie, Montréal, QC H4P 2H2
Free parking | Namur Metro
Presentations by:
Maître Allan Gold, B.A., B.L.C., Civil and Elder Law
With over 50 years of legal expertise to his practice, specializing in commercial-corporate law, civil/elder law, and litigation, Maître Gold is an attorney, author and retirement counselor.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree also from McGill University.
Annabel Soutar, Artistic Director and co-founder, Porte Parole Productions
Annabel Soutar is a Montreal-based playwright and theatre producer. In 2000 she co-founded Porte Parole Productions with Alex Ivanovici.
Annabel studied English and Theatre at Princeton University, where she learned about the documentary approach to theatre. Since 1998 she has written 8 plays — Novembre, 2000 Questions, Import/Export, Sexy béton, Seeds, The Watershed ,Fredy and The Assembly — that have been mounted in Montreal, across Canada and around the world. Since 2014, Soutar has also accompanied young playwrights in Montreal as a dramaturg and producer in the development and production of their documentary plays: J’aime Hydro by Christine Beaulieu, Tout inclus by François Grisé, Rose et la machine by Maude Laurendeau, and Projet Polytechnique with Jean-Marc Dalphond and Marie-Joanne Boucher.
Soutar’s recent collaboration with co-writers Alex Ivanovici and Brett Watson, The Assembly series, premiered in 2018. Eight episodes have been created to date in Canada, the US, Germany, Brazil and in Kaunas, Lithuania.
In December 2015, Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper named Soutar to its list of Canadian Artists of the Year. Annabel was named a Doctor of Letters by McGill University in 2022. She lives with her husband Alex and two daughters Ella and Beatrice in Montreal.
Moderator:
Ruth Pelletier
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Registration | Tea, coffee and light fare will be served
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
CANADIAN-MADE MAiD: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
PRESENTER
Maître Allan Gold, B.A., B.L.C.
Me Gold offers a clear-eyed look at Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) — Canada's legally sanctioned, federally regulated end-of-life framework. This is not a routine subject. By definition, it is a matter of life and death.
Cutting through the noise of politics, media, and emotion, this presentation will deliver the essential information that every Quebecer deserves to have. It is designed to be thought-provoking — inviting honest reflection and genuine soul-searching. Attendees will leave better equipped to form their own views and, their own decisions.
OPENING:
MAiD in plain language: what it is, what it isn't, and why it matters
Part 1 | The Past:
From criminal act to constitutional right: the legal journey that made MAiD possible
Part 2 | The Present:
The law as it stands today: who qualifies and how is MAiD carried out?
Part 3 | The Future:
Where is Canada headed? Exploring possible future directions
Is MAiD the right answer?
Or a shortcut past harder questions?
Is there a better way forward?
11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Health Break ~ Refreshments & Light Fare
11:30 - 11:50 a.m.
Questions & Answers:
This is the time and place for dialogue, guided by ongoing, probing questions, in a concerted effort to explore the beliefs that shape participants’ views and opinions—using the Socratic method. Learn more about the Socratic Method
11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
A CONVERSATION WITH ANNABEL SOUTAR
PRESENTER
Annabel Soutar, Artistic Director & co-founder, Porte Parole Productions
Playwright and producer Annabel Soutar will share how acclaimed Porte Parole Productions came to explore MAiD through documentary theatre — in French and rooted in the Quebec experience. Porte Parole Productions’ new play, Club Sandwich Mayonnaise, runs April 8–18, 2026, at Usine C in Montréal.
The play weaves personal narrative, social investigation, humour, and existential inquiry to examine how Quebecers are navigating a profound shift in their relationship with death. Ms. Soutar will also reflect on how audiences have responded to the work.
12:20 – 12:30 p.m.
Question & Answer Period
12:30 p.m.
Draw for two FREE TICKETS to attend Club Sandwich Mayonnaise on April 18!
Whether you are an older adult, a family member, or someone who wants to be informed, you will leave better prepared to face one of life's most consequential decisions.
ADMISSION PRICES
MEMBERS OF SENIORS ACTION QUEBEC: $ 10.00
NON-MEMBERS: $ 35.00
REGISTER HERE
Become a Member of Seniors Action Quebec ($20.00)
and get this event FREE as a new member!
All prices include taxes
Need more information?
