Julie Jobin is a pioneer in massage therapy in Quebec, with an impressive 35 years of experience under her belt. She has been offering massages three days a week at Maison St-Raphaël since it opened.
Julie first worked as a daycare educator. In 1984, she decided to study massage therapy and quickly advanced to become a teacher herself in various massage schools in Quebec, including Arborescence, which specializes in oncology massage. Since 2006, Julie has focussed on massage for people living with degenerative and incurable illnesses. Before offering her services at Maison St-Raphaël, she worked for seven years at St. Mary’s Hospital in the Cancer Care Day Centre as well as at Le Phare, a pediatric palliative care organization.
Dedicating two thirds of her time to the Day Centre, Julie offers massage to patients at the Care Home as well as those living at home with an incurable disease, caregivers and the bereaved. She works closely with the other members of the multidisciplinary team—a professional dream come true. She enjoys taking the journey alongside her clients, being there for them and supporting them along the way. She finds the work of touch wonderful and sees every session as a gift. For Julie, massage is a tool that provides physical, mental and spiritual comfort.
The work on the theme of death that first comes to mind for Julie is Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. The movie tells the story of the dog Hachi who waited daily for his deceased master at the train station. She likes this movie because it showcases the relationship and intimacy between beings beyond death. She also enjoyed the more recent Perfect Days, which follows the daily life of a toilet cleaner from Tokyo who lives in the moment and finds beauty in all the mundane aspects of life. It reminds her of the importance of living in the moment, especially in her work as a care provider. Finally, the song that touches her deeply is “Avant de m’assagir” by Jean-Pierre Ferland, particularly these lyrics: “Je veux mourir ma vie et non vivre ma mort” (“I want to die having lived life and not live as if dead”).
As hobbies, Julie loves making art, particularly drawing and collage, as well as gardening. She also adores spending time with family and friends, in nature and with animals.
