Working together on local projects

From April 19 to May 31, 2022, Desjardins Ontario Credit Union launched a call for projects to provide $200,000 for meaningful projects in Ontario. The following 12 projects were selected to receive financial support.

Toronto area and Southwestern Ontario

Organization: Club Renaissance Sacré-Coeur de Welland
Region: Welland
Amount granted: $23,000
Area of investment: Healthy living
Project description: Club Renaissance wants to have 10 issues of the Clin d'œil newsletter printed professionally. They'll be distributed by mail to francophone seniors in southwestern Ontario. The newsletter for people over 50 features varied content about physical and mental health and helps readers develop good habits to stay healthy. Every issue helps to reduce loneliness and isolation by inspiring hope and courage.

Organization: Coopérative 3 Mamans Yoginis Corp.
Region: Greater Toronto Area
Amount granted: $12,000
Area of investment: Healthy living
Project description: The co-op's teachers work with very young and school-age children. Visual material can be very helpful during yoga workshops, but French-language resources can be hard to find. The project aims to produce a workbook with breathing exercises for children, worksheets with yoga poses and a wellness journal. Francophone educators and parents will be able to use and share the resources with their children. A first workbook called "Le Yoga en chansons et couleurs" was produced in 2021–2022.

Organization: École élémentaire catholique Georges-P.-Vanier
Region: Windsor
Amount granted: $15,000
Area of investment: Education, Healthy living
Project description: The project aims to improve students' physical and mental health by giving them the opportunity to learn outside. The schoolyard is large, but there isn't much shade or activities for students. Unfortunately, the existing play structures failed their yearly safety inspection, so students can't use them. The old play structures need to be replaced.

Sudbury and Northern Ontario

Organization: Adanac Ski Club
Region: Greater Sudbury
Amount granted: $25,000
Area of investment: Healthy living, Economic development
Project description: The club needs a new lodge at the foot of the Adanac ski hill to replace the old one, which gets flooded every spring and has become dangerous. The new lodge will have better training equipment for competitive skiers. It will also make it easier to organize downhill ski competitions that will attract athletes and families from across the province.

Organization: École catholique La Renaissance and Sacred Heart Catholic School
Region: Espanola
Amount granted: $5,000
Area of investment: Healthy living, Education
Project description: The 2 schools teach French to young people and give them a space to practice it in a majority English-speaking community. The schools encourage families to settle down in the community, thereby promoting economic development. Playgrounds are a space for children to create memories while developing a positive relationship with physical activity. The different obstacles help children develop their motor skills, coordination and physical strength. Our financial assistance will allow the schools to purchase the necessary equipment for their playgrounds.

Organization: Greater Sudbury Pickleball Association
Region: Greater Sudbury
Amount granted: $10,000
Area of investment: Healthy living
Project description: Pickleball has gained in popularity in Ontario in recent years. The Sudbury association requested financial assistance to add lighting to one of the region's only outdoor pickleball fields.

Organization: Centre d'éducation des adultes de New Liskeard
Region: Témiskaming Shores
Amount granted: $10,000
Area of investment: Education, Healthy living
Project description: "Les technos en action" is a project where young francophones ages 14 to 25 can help older francophones ages 55 and over with technology. They provide personalized help using laptops, cellphones, tablets and workshops about new technologies. A trainer and team leader oversee the young people and put on workshops about using AccèsD, shopping online, and other topics. The project allows young people to share their knowledge about computers with seniors while developing relationships that have a positive long-term impact on the community. The organization needs new laptops to continue the program.

Eastern Ontario

Organization: Club Richelieu Embrun in partnership with Association Cycliste Embrun
Region: Embrun and Russell
Amount granted: $25,000
Area of investment: Culture, Healthy living, Economic development
Project description: The 12 km mountain bike trail crosses the town of Russell. Three kilometres are located in Parc Richelieu Embrun, located along the Castor River. The organization plans to set up 3 bike paths in the park: one balanced path for beginners, a rodeo bike path and a path with bike jumps. The paths in the park are maintained year round and are used for walking, cycling (in both summer and winter), cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Organization: Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network
Region: Eastern Ontario
Amount granted: $25,000
Area of investment: Culture, Healthy living, Economic development
Project description: The project aims to increase awareness about the importance and benefits of local food products in rural regions in eastern Ontario. A new brand for local products will be easily recognizable and appeal to local residents and tourists alike, in both English and French. A series of bilingual video profiles will present local producers and tell the stories behind their products in order to connect consumers and producers. A website will host the new local food brand. Users will be able to use online maps to find producers, watch the video profiles and learn more about local markets, special agri-food events and agritourism in the region. A promotional campaign will also reach out to local residents and visitors using print media, radio and social media.

Ottawa

Organization: Petrie Island Canoe Club
Region: Orleans
Amount granted: $15,000
Area of investment: Healthy living, Economic development
Project description: The Petrie Island Canoe Club needs a dock to continue offering its canoeing program safely and promote healthy living for youth, seniors and individuals with physical or mental disabilities. For the latter group, the dock will be designed to make it easier for them to get into the canoes. The new dock will be an important contribution to the club's growth.

Organization: Pleasant Public School Parent Council
Region: Ottawa
Amount granted: $15,000
Area of investment: Education, Healthy living
Project description: Over the last 2 years, the pandemic has raised questions about the security of students and teaching staff inside schools. As a result, school administrators have tried to increase the amount of time spent outside to ease concerns. This has led the Parent Council to start planning and raising funds for the construction of an outdoor classroom for 30 students with seats for students, a blackboard, a stage and an accessible space.

Organization: Centre Espoir Sophie
Region: Ottawa
Amount granted: $20,000
Area of investment: Humanitarian work and community service
Project description: The housing crisis in Ottawa is getting worse. The organization offers a housing program that can accommodate up to 6 women. The goal is to help them overcome obstacles so that they can live independently and develop life skills in the company of other women in similar situations. By providing housing with lower rent, the residence will ease the financial pressures on the women. There will also be a small coffeeshop selling desserts prepared by our head cook. Residents will have to work there at least once a week.

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Do you have a project that could use financial assistance? Fill out the partnership application form - External link. This link opens in a new window. in our Community involvement section.