Frequently asked questions F.A.Q

The Companion Leisure Card grants free admission to the accompanying party of a disabled person and is recognized by leisure, cultural and tourist organizations.

This way, the accompanying person ensures that the needs of the person with a disability are met in a way that could not be met by the staff in place.

The disabled person pays the costs associated with his or her entry, but the card allows him or her to engage in a leisure activity without any additional cost that would be associated with the presence of an accompanying person.

Do you have the Tourism and Leisure Companion Sticker (TLCS)?

The Companion leisure card now replaces the TLCS sticker, a program that has been existed for more than 20 years.

You must replace your TLCS sticker by qualifying for the Companion Leisure Card as soon as possible at www.carteloisir.ca. You must keep your TLCS until you receive your card.

Yes, getting the card is free of charge.

• Be a person with a disability, that is, any person with a disability that results in a significant and persistent disability and who is subject to obstacles in carrying out day-to-day activities
• Be 5 years of age or older
• Require the assistance of an accompanying person when carrying out a leisure, cultural or tourist activity for at least one of the following reasons:
  • For eating
  • For getting around
  • For communicating
  • For carrying out personal care
  • For orientation purposes
  • For ensuring the safe conduct of the activity

If you meet the eligibility criteria, there are two ways to apply, depending on your situation. Please read the following two situations carefully.

Situation 1

Are you eligible for any of the government programs, to one of the measures for people with disabilities or do you have one of the recognized accompanying cards?

• Special Needs Allowance Program (Adult) – Accompaniment services provided
• Supplement for a handicapped child (Retirement Québec)
• Canada child benefit (Canada Revenue Agency)
• Amount for severe and prolonged impairment in mental or physical functions (Revenu Québec)
• Disability amount (Canada Revenue Agency)
• The Quebec accompaniment card for intercity coach transportation (Fédération des transporteurs par autobus)
• The STM accompanying card (Société de transport de Montréal)
• CNIB identification Card

If you have one of these supporting documents, please select situation 1 and complete the appropriate form.

Situation 2

You meet the criteria to get the Companion leisure card, but you are not eligible for one of the recognized programs, measures and accompanying cards?

If you do not have one of these supporting documents, please select situation 2 and complete the appropriate form.

Here is the list of health or social service professionals who can certify your application:

• Audiologist
• Family physician (general practitioner)*
• Nurse
• Occupational therapist
• Optometrist
• Orientation and mobility specialist
• Psychoeducator
• Psychologist
• Physical Rehabilitation therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Respiratory therapist
• Specialist in rehabilitation for the visually impaired
• Specialist physician (cardiologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, rheumatologist, etc.)*
• Specialized educator
• Speech therapist
• Social worker

* Please note that these professionals may charge you a fee to complete the request

You can complete the online form or the printable form and send us your documents, including your photo, in two ways:

By email to the following address:

[email protected]

OR

By mail to the following address:

CAL – AQLPH
858, rue Laviolette
Trois-Rivières, Québec
G9A 5J1

The photo must meet the following criteria:

• Format: JPG (if sending by email)
• Pictures taken with a cell phone are accepted, if sent by email
• Minimum dimensions of the photo: 300 pixels (width) by 300 pixels (height)
• A passport size photo is required (shoulders to head).
• The photo must have been taken within the last six (6) months;
• The photo must be clear.
• Black and white or color photos are accepted

The supporting documents must meet the following criteria:

• Format: PDF (if sending by email or online)
• Tourism and Leisure Companion Sticker (VATL) is not a supporting document

If your photo and supporting document do not meet the criteria in your application form, you will need to update your file.

If you have sent your application form by mail and it is incomplete, we will send you all your documents. You will need to update your application form  and return it to us by mail.

Here is the list of health or social service professionals who can certify your application:

• Audiologist
• Family physician (general practitioner)*
• Nurse
• Occupational therapist
• Optometrist
• Orientation and mobility specialist
• Psychoeducator
• Psychologist
• Physical Rehabilitation Therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Respiratory therapist
• Specialist in rehabilitation for the visually impaired
• Specialist physician (cardiologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, rheumatologist, etc.)*
• Specialized educator
• Speech therapist
• Social worker

* Please note that these professionals may charge you a fee to complete the request

A period minimum of 6 weeks is required to process a request and send the card.

If the request is incomplete or illegible, the AQLPH reserves the right to contact you.

Additional time will be required to process your request if its send by post.

If you receive a message stating that your request is incomplete or non-compliant, you should carefully read the message sent to you.

Your request may be incomplete for one of the following reasons:

• The photo provided does not meet the requested criteria
• The supporting document provided is not part of the accepted documents or is not sent in the requested format (PDF)
• One of the sections of the form was not completed correctly (personal contact or other)

You must update your request with the requested information.

Your request may be refused for one of the following reasons:

• If you complete the form for situation # 2 and you are a health professional parent. If you attest to your child’s need, there is a conflict of interest
• If none of the supporting document provided justifies the need for the Companion Leisure Card (CAL).
• If the applicant is under 5 years old

What can you do if your application is refused?

We invite you to contact us at 1 833 693-2253 to obtain more information.

In order to benefit for free admission for your accompanying person, make sure to have your card on hand when you make the reservation as well as when you visit places that accept the card.

Only the card holder (with photo ID) can use it.

We invite you to contact the Partner Organization to clearly identify the availability of seats, if applicable.

In some locations, a limited number of seats may apply.

Having the card does not guarantee you a place. It allows you to access activities at the same cost as the general population.

Keep in mind that the organizations that accept the card do so in order to encourage your participation. On a voluntary basis, they agree to offer free admission to the person accompanying you.

To find out which locations accept the card, click on the following tab

The card is issued for a period of five years. An expiry date is indicated on the card.

About two months before your card expires, you will receive a notification to renew it. You will need to update your application form and provide a new photo.

The Companion Leisure Card(CAL) is issued by the Association québécoise pour le loisir des personnes handicapées (AQLPH), with the support of the regional authorities responsible for the leisure activities of persons with disabilities and with the financial participation of the Government of Quebec.

In existence for more than 20 years under the name of the Tourism and Leisure Companion Sticker (TLCS), we underline the dedication and involvement of Zone Loisir Montérégie, which has managed the program since its inception.

The Companion Leisure Card (CAL) allows the participation of a clientele that would otherwise not be able to visit the sites, mainly because of the additional costs generated by the essential presence of an accompanying person, in order to assist them in getting around, finding their way, eating, etc.

When you join the Companion Leisure Card (CAL), you receive different promotional tools for your organization (stickers for signage and flyers).

In addition, your organization will be displayed in the directory of partner organizations of the card through the interactive search engine.

To join the card program, tourism and recreation businesses must fill out the appropriate form and sign the Memorandum of Understanding.

Then, the organization will need to adequately inform the reception staff, with the help of our promotional tools, so that free admission is granted to the accompanying party of the card holder.

A sticker will be provided to participating partner organizations to facilitate their identification. Managers of these organizations are also invited to mention their participation in the program in their regular advertising.