Community projects bloom in Quebec

Drummondville, Quebec, July 6, 2006  – Community enhancement projects are blossoming in rural Quebec this summer thanks to Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) AgriSpirit Fund.

The FCC AgriSpirit Fund enhances community centres, food banks, recreation centres, care homes, and playgrounds in rural communities across the country.

“We’re inspired by the creativity, spirit and enthusiasm for community improvement in rural Quebec,” says Alain Gagnon, FCC Vice-President of Quebec Operations. “It’s an honour to fund projects that benefit the communities where our customers live, work and play every day.”

The FCC AgriSpirit Fund awards capital project funding in communities with population less than 100,000. To qualify, projects must enhance the quality of life in rural communities. A total of 42 projects across Canada were selected from 283 applications to receive between $5,000 and $25,000 in funding. Seven projects are receiving funding in Quebec this year. They are Ste-Claire Accueil-Sérénité, Centre équestre thérapeutique in Ste-Justine-de-Newton, Multipurpose clubhouse for the Municipality of Sainte-Prosper, Maskinongé RMC Coopérative de solidarité de la Maison familiale rurale in Louiseville, Loisirs Saint-Léonard Inc., St-Arsène senior citizens lodge and Loisirs St-Jude (St-Hyacinthe) enr. See the attached background information for project descriptions and contact information.

The FCC AgriSpirit Fund will be available again next year. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the FCC website this fall. Details about the eligibility criteria and the application process will be available at www.fcc-fac.ca in the About Us section.

FCC is Canada’s largest provider of business and financial solutions to farms and agribusiness. Operating out of 100 offices located primarily in rural Canada, FCC employees are passionate about the business of agriculture. A healthy portfolio of $11 billion and 12 consecutive years of portfolio growth are a reflection of our customers' success.

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Background

Accueil-Sérénité, Ste-Claire
Accueil-Sérénité will benefit from $10,000 to help with the cost of purchasing and setting up a residence to meet the needs of cancer patients. Located in the heart of the Bellechasse RMC, a large rural area, Accueil-Sérénité provides basic services for people diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones. Some of these services include workshops and conferences on cancer-related subjects, adapted massage therapies, psychologist services, individual and family counselling and support groups, as well as meditation, relaxation and other courses.

For more information about this project, please contact:
Diane Couture, Coordinator, Accueil-Sérénité, (418) 883-2121
Jocelyn Jeffrey, FCC District Manager, (418) 648-5655
Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual), FCC Communication Consultant, (306) 780-8630

Centre équestre thérapeutique Marie-Laurence, Ste-Justine-de-Newton
The Centre équestre thérapeutique Marie-Laurence will receive $10,000 to help cover the cost of building an addition to the existing stable and meeting room. This space will provide the customers with a safe area in the stable complex for theoretical lessons before practicing on horseback. 

For more information about this project, please contact:
Lucie Allard, Executive Director and Instructor, (450) 764-3156
Vincent Giard, FCC District Manager, (450) 771-7456
Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual), FCC Communication Consultant, (306) 780-8630

Multipurpose clubhouse, Municipality of Saint-Prosper
The Municipality of Saint-Prosper will benefit from $5,000 to help construct a multi-purpose clubhouse for recreational activities. This building will house a kitchen, a community centre and a sports equipment rental area. The addition of a multipurpose clubhouse will consolidate existing sports facilities and will provide a family gathering place.

For more information about this project, please contact:
Dany Desjardins, Recreation Officer, Municipality of Saint-Prosper, (418) 594-8135, ext. 223
Jocelyn Jeffrey, FCC District Manager, (418) 648-5655
Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual), FCC Communication Consultant, (306) 780-8630

Maskinongé RMC Coopérative de solidarité de la Maison familiale rurale, Louiseville
The Maskinongé RMC Coopérative de solidarité de la Maison familiale rurale will benefit from $7,000 to help construct residences for students of the Maison familiale rurale. The Maison familiale rurale is proposing more effective teaching solution to help reduce the number of young people dropping out of school. Students will receive theoretical instruction one week and practical instruction the next. The residences will provide students with the opportunity to socialize with students and teachers, take part in various recreational group activities and learn to respect the living environment.

"The MFR residence can provide students with the resources they need to reach their goals and become full-fledged citizens,” says Sarah Pellerin, MFR Communication Officer. “The help provided through the AgriSpirit fund will have a lasting impact on the life of our students. It will contribute to providing them with the education they need to get a high school diploma and a recognized occupational specialization."

For more information about this project, please contact:
Myriam Demers, Coordinator, (819) 228-5921, ext. 265
André Blouin, FCC District Manager, (819) 478-1782
Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual), FCC Communication Consultant, (306) 780-8630

Loisirs Saint-Léonard Inc., Saint-Léonard-d’Aston
Loisirs Saint-Léonard will benefit from $5,000 to help cover the cost of building the multifunctional Richard-Lebeau centre. This building will house an indoor skating rink and a service building. The new facility will host a variety of cultural, social, recreational and sports-related activities for all seasons.

For more information about this project, please contact:
Mathieu Lebeau, Manager, Loisirs Saint-Léonard, (819) 339-3969
André Blouin, FCC District Manager, (819) 478-1782
Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual), FCC Communication Consultant, (306) 780-8630

St-Arsène senior citizens lodge
The St-Arsène senior citizens lodge is receiving $5,000 to help cover the cost of constructing a residence. This new building will allow functionally dependent seniors to remain in their municipality where they have spent most of their lives.

For more information about this project, please contact:
Guillaume Pigeon, Development Officer, St-Arsène Senior Citizens Lodge, (418) 867-2205
Jocelyn Jeffrey, FCC District Manager, (418) 648-5655
Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual), FCC Communication Consultant, (306) 780-8630

Loisirs St-Jude (St-Hyacinthe) enr., St-Jude
Loisirs St-Jude (St-Hyacinthe) enr. will benefit from $10,000 to help with the construction of a recreational building in place of an existing old barn, located adjacent to the local skating rink. The facility will provide skating in the winter, a playground in the summer, indoor lawn bowling and a meeting room for community organizations.

For more information about this project, please contact:
Carmelle Laflamme, Secretary-Treasurer, Loisirs St-Jude, (450) 792-2337
Vincent Giard, FCC District Manager, (450) 771-7456
Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit (bilingual), FCC Communication Consultant, (306) 780-8630

For more information about the AgriSpirit Fund, click here.