Joyful Connections Founder Aileen Borruel Wins 2025 Iris Unger Recognition Award
MONTRÉAL, QC (November 25, 2025) – YES Employment + Entrepreneurship (YES) is thrilled to announce that the founder of Joyful Connections, Aileen Borruel, has been awarded the 2025 Iris Unger Recognition Award. This honour recognizes Aileen’s outstanding community impact, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to creating joyful, meaningful connections among older adults in Quebec.
Aileen Borruel: Champion of Connection and Joy
Since launching Joyful Connections in 2017, Aileen, a social worker and special care counselor, has built a mission-driven organization focused on reducing loneliness, promoting active aging, and empowering intergenerational relationships through laughter yoga, reminiscence groups, memory programs, and more. Through her innovative and compassionate approach, she has helped seniors, caregivers, students, and corporate clients rediscover the power of human connection.
A Legacy Honored
The Iris Unger Recognition Award, presented annually by YES, celebrates clients whose work embodies the core values of Iris Unger, YES’s longest-serving Executive Director, including community impact, perseverance, and heart. Aileen’s nomination and selection reflect her dedication to bringing people together, nurturing wellness, and spreading hope and laughter.
“It means the world to me. It validates the importance of joy and human connection, especially in a world that feels so heavy,” said Aileen upon receiving the award.
YES’s Role in Supporting Aileen
YES, a Montreal-based not-for-profit, supports English-speaking Quebecers as they launch businesses, strengthen their careers, develop artistic ventures, and build community. Over the years, YES has provided Aileen with guidance, mentorship, and encouragement — helping her grow Joyful Connections from a heartfelt idea into a thriving enterprise.
Joyful Connections: Impact and Growth
Under Aileen’s leadership, Joyful Connections has:
- Guided memory-care programs and cognitive-vitality workshops for older adults.
- Facilitated reminiscence groups, where seniors share stories and build deep social bonds.
- Delivered laughter yoga, both in-person and online, including through partnerships with the Alzheimer Society of Montreal.
- Launched intergenerational conversation programs, pairing university students with seniors for regular weekly dialogues.
- Created “light touch” wellness sessions for corporate clients — helping teams bond, de-stress, and laugh together.
Aileen sees the award not just as a personal milestone but as a validation of her broader mission. “Loneliness is an epidemic,” she says. “I’m trying my very best to create a ripple effect — spreading joy, love, laughter, and human connection wherever I can.”
With the new recognition and support, Aileen and Joyful Connections hope to expand their offerings and build their capacity through partnerships and grants to continue to reach underserved seniors through free or subsidized programming.
About YES Employment + Entrepreneurship
YES is a charitable non-profit that fosters a more inclusive and prosperous future by providing accessible, English-language services that open doors to opportunities to employment, entrepreneurship, and the arts—empowering individuals to build sustainable careers and contribute to economic growth across Québec. YES, because everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive and feel connected to their community. www.yesmontreal.ca
About Joyful Connections
Joyful Connections is a wellness organization founded by Aileen Borruel, focused on building human connection, resilience, and well-being through laughter, memory exercises, storytelling, and intergenerational dialogue. Based in Montreal, Joyful Connections serves seniors, caregivers, community groups, and corporate clients across Quebec and beyond. (More at joyfulconnections.ca)
For photos, interview requests or further information, media representatives may contact:
Kathy Slotsve
Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
514-878-9788 ext. 337
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