Fleurs d’attache

Program & Host Organization

Fleurs d’attache is a not-for-profit initiative based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded by Ariane Beaudin, the program creates community spaces where people can explore eco-anxiety, reconnect with nature, and develop new personal and collective narratives that support meaningful engagement with the climate crisis.

Location & Scope

The initiative operates locally in Montreal, with most activities held outdoors in parks and in a community garden. Seasonal programming runs mainly from May to September, with workshops offered in organizations during the rest of the year.

Who It Serves

Fleurs d’attache serves people experiencing eco-anxiety, including activists seeking grounding and individuals curious about climate engagement who do not connect with traditional forms of activism. Most participants are young adults, many of whom are queer, educated, and living in urban environments.

Climate & Mental Health Focus

The initiative addresses the emotional disorientation associated with the climate crisis, including eco-anxiety, grief, and uncertainty. It responds to the broader context of urban heat waves, wildfire smoke, and intersecting societal stressors such as housing insecurity and rising living costs. Its work emphasizes sensemaking, emotional grounding, and the creation of narratives that support resilience and action.

Activities & Format

Activities include bi-weekly two-hour sharing circles, creative workshops, mindfulness and eco-somatic practices, and nature-based activities in a collective garden. Sharing circles begin with discussion of eco-emotions and expand into rotating themes such as ecological grief or rethinking abundance. Garden activities focus on reconnecting with nature through hands-on engagement and creative expression. Additional collage workshops contribute to an annual zine. Participation is flexible and open, with most activities functioning as one-time events that attract a mix of returning and new participants.

Inclusion & Accessibility

The program promotes inclusion by hosting most activities outdoors to reduce the spread of illness, requiring masks at indoor events, providing accessibility information, and inviting participants to share specific needs. The team emphasizes cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and awareness of social privilege.

Outcomes & Evidence

The initiative aims to help participants feel grounded, understood, and better equipped to make sense of their climate emotions. Medium-term outcomes include improved emotional regulation, deeper self-understanding, stronger daily nature connection, and a greater sense of community. Long-term goals focus on community resilience, grounded activism, and leadership that supports reconnection with nature and one another. Evaluation occurs through ongoing participant feedback and internal reflection. The approach is informed by research on the mental-health benefits of nature connection and community-based emotional processing.

Guiding Principles

Fleurs d’attache aligns with principles of climate literacy, emotional processing, optimism, social connection, nature bonding, emotional resilience, climate justice, trauma-informed practice, community-led adaptation, and collective responsibility. These principles shape how the program frames the polycrisis and guides group dialogue.

Resources & Sustainability

The initiative currently operates with minimal funding supported by volunteer work, a low-cost garden space, and occasional workshop revenue. Its ideal annual budget would support a paid staff member. A potential two-year private foundation grant may strengthen long-term sustainability.

Team & Partners

Activities are co-facilitated by board members and volunteers with backgrounds in fields such as sexology, psychology, communication, and religious studies. Additional support comes from a partner organization that provides staff and volunteers for garden activities.

Challenges & Context

Major challenges include limited capacity for outreach and communication, reliance on volunteer labour, and outdoor activities that may be affected by extreme heat. Growing emotional distress linked to the climate crisis may increase demand, though overwhelming conditions may also hinder participation.