Projects funded by the GoodSpark Fund
GASPESIE, QC, August 18, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – Desjardins Group has announced that it is investing $475,000 to support four projects in Gaspésie. Since its creation, the GoodSpark Fund has contributed nearly $2 million to finance 29 projects in Gaspésie and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
“The GoodSpark Fund supports local projects that make a real difference to communities,” said Guy Cormier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group. “It’s a way for us to help fund initiatives that make the area a better place to live and more attractive to people who may be considering relocating. The GoodSpark Fund makes substantial contributions to a wide range of projects , reflecting our cooperative desire to help communities with the priorities that matter most to them: employment, economic vitality, education and the environment.
Here is a list of projects that the GoodSpark Fund has recently supported in Gaspésie:
Mountain resort on the sea – Mount St. Peter ($200,000)
This hill station is meant to energize Mont St-Pierre tourism industry, making it a must-see place with unique and innovative tourist attractions. The project will focus on creating a unified and seamless experience for tourists, integrating five main hubs:
- The village place
- A virtual flight center
- A discovery center
- 4The beach
- The active tourism plan (cycling and walking paths)
Living in Gaspésie ($175,000)
The Vivre en Gaspésie project aims to contribute to the demographic growth and economic vitality of the region by helping to attract workers from outside the region. It will also help create the right conditions to encourage them to stay. People moving to Gaspésie can get help finding housing and registering for school and daycare services. The project also includes a financial aid program for graduates who complete internships in local businesses.
Gaspésie Intermunicipal Residual Materials Treatment Board ($50,000)
The intermunicipal waste management authority is working on the development of a process for incorporating flexible plastic waste into the asphalt pavement and engineering parts. Eventually, a new road leading to the Percé Geopark will be built using this new process, with waste materials that are not currently recycled. This project will showcase the region’s technological capabilities and its potential for sustainable economic development.
Percé Art Center ($50,000)
This project consists of renovating the Percé art center and reinventing it into a multidisciplinary art center that will host film screenings and various activities for the artistic community as well as for the community in general. The art center is a recognized heritage site, which means that the organization has a guaranteed permanent seat.
About the GoodSpark Fund
In 2016, Desjardins created a fund and pledged to invest $250 million by 2024 in projects created by and for the community. The GoodSpark Fund aims to support socio-economic recovery in Quebec and Ontario by investing in initiatives that support the environment, youth, health, entrepreneurship and recreational tourism development.
About Desjardins Group
Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets of $404 billion. In 2022, he was ranked as one of from Canada Top 100 employers by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the strongest banks in the world according to The banker magazine, Desjardins has some of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.
SOURCE Desjardins Group
For further information: (media inquiries only) Marc-Antoine Lavoie, Public Relations, [email protected]
