Caisses Desjardins du Québec and Caisses populaires de l'Ontario [Change site]
Education and youth
Desjardins Group supports education in many ways, with donations totalling over $11.6 million in 2010. Desjardins is actively involved with Quebec universities, including:
- HEC Montréal
- Concordia University
- Université de Montréal
- Université Laval
- Université de Sherbrooke
- UQAC - Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
- UQAM - Université du Québec à Montréal
- UQAR - Université du Québec à Rimouski
- UQAT - Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- UQO - Université du Québec en Outaouais
- École Polytechnique de Montréal
- McGill University
Desjardins also contributes to various fundraising campaigns, including campaigns for the Fondation Universitaire du Québec, for the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and for the Université du Québec en Outaouais (Hull).
The Desjardins Youth Focus program is an example of how important young people are to Desjardins. All Desjardins Group components have a part in promoting the social, professional and financial development of young people aged 15 to 30.
The Desjardins Youth Focus program offers 4 bridges leading to a multitude of initiatives throughout Quebec and Ontario: commercial practices, knowledge and information, democracy and employment.
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Université LavalSince 2005, Desjardins Group has been supporting Université Laval's research in the fields of health, entrepreneurship and innovation. Several chairs have been created, including:
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 Building the Alphonse-Desjardins Trading Room at McGill UniversityIn 2011, Desjardins Group and McGill University joined forces to create the new Business Intelligence Centre for the Desautels Faculty of Management. The new centre's standout room will be the Alphonse-Desjardins Trading Room. In addition to being involved in the design, technological environment and technical features of the room, Desjardins is contributing a total of $1 million to the project. With cutting-edge technology inspired by Desjardins Group's trading centre, the learning facility will be dedicated to the financial education of university students and graduates. Work began in January 2011 and the official inauguration is planned for April 1, 2012 at the latest. Read the press release (PDF, 31 KB). |
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UQAC - Université du Québec à ChicoutimiDesjardins Group will soon announce the details of this major partnership with UQAC. Desjardins's financial support will help support research, award bursaries and develop university programs. Thanks to the generosity of our regional caisses and Desjardins Group as a whole, a total of $1.5 million will be donated to the university's foundation. |
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 Desjardins is sponsoring the Génies en herbe : l'aventure game show where the general knowledge of secondary 5 and grade 11 students from across Canada will be put to the test. During the first 8 programs, 2 bursaries will be awarded as part of the Boni Desjardins question. The young person who asks the question and the contestant who answers it correctly will each receive $500 to put towards a group project at their school. Tune in every week, from January 8 to April 16, 2011, and watch the adventure unfold! For more information, visit the Radio-Canada website (in French only). |
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 To increase young people's knowledge about entrepreneurship. Desjardins Group is proud of its association with the Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi Montmorency and Intègr'action jeunesse in launching the "Entreprends" ton savoir kit. Distributed free, the kit gives teachers and others who work with young people between 15 and 20 years of age a tool with which to lead dynamic workshops to increase young people's knowledge about entrepreneurship. In keeping with the Desjardins Youth Focus program, this sponsorship is offered with the goal of helping young people's entrepreneurial skills. |
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 For more than 25 years now, the Auberges du coeur welcome young people under 30 who are homeless or in difficulty. Since they opened their doors, they have taken in over 40,000 young people. Currently, more than 3,500 youths seek refuge there every year. Desjardins financially supports the Regroupement des Auberges du coeur of 29 shelters throughout Quebec. |
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Fondation Madeli-Aide Desjardins Group has accepted to award $200,000 to the Fondation Madeli-Aide, which give financial support to young Magdalen Island residents wanting to pursue their studies on the continent. As part of its ongoing "Naviguer au grand large" fundraising campaign, fundraising events were held in Montreal and Quebec City. The goal of the campaign is to raise $1.5 million by the year 2012. |
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Forces AVENIR Already a partner of the Forces AVENIR university program, Desjardins is extending its sponsorship to help this program expand to the secondary school level, giving more youth the chance to benefit from it. Forces AVENIR recognizes, honours and promotes young people's contributions to society and spirit of entrepreneurship. |
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RIASQ Founded in 1995, the Réseau intercollégial des activités socioculturelles du Québec (RIASQ) is an affiliate of the Fédération des cégeps. RIASQ groups the majority of sociocultural educational services of Quebec colleges, academic centres and campuses, public and private, French and English. Its mission is to promote the educational aspects of cultural activities and their contribution to college success. It organizes, among others 4 major cultural events: Cégeps en spectacle, the Festival de theatre étudiant, the Festival de danse du Québec and the Exposition intercollégiale d'arts plastiques. Desjardins Group has been partners with RIASQ since 1997 and would like to honour the efforts, determination and talent of thousands of young people who have enriched the cultural tradition in Quebec. |
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Fondation pour l'éducation à la coopération Through the Youth Focus Program, Desjardins Group helps promote the work of the Fondation pour l'éducation à la coopération. Desjardins Group has entrusted Fondation Desjardins with a capital fund of $1 million entirely dedicated to coordinating and leading the activities of the Fondation pour l'éducation à la coopération and developing tools for youth and cooperative education. By tying the work of its own foundation with that of the Fondation pour l'éducation à la coopération, Desjardins Group is translating into action its desire to contribute, both directly and indirecly, to the promotion of cooperation, teaching of democracy and support of cooperative entrepreneurship among young people. |
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 In 2008, Desjardins Group and La Presse created a program that allows secondary school classes to use the La Presse newspaper for educational activities. Copies of the daily newspaper are made available as an educational tool to teachers and students at participating schools in Montreal. |
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 The "Caring Together Activity Kits," offered free of charge by Atelier Frédéric Back are designed to awaken children, teachers and parents to the active role they can play as citizens, today and tomorrow. Designed for children aged 6 to 12, they encourage reflection on current issues such as the fundamental value of respect for others, the exploitation of natural resources and the fragility of our world. Desjardins is proud to help fulfill Frédéric Back's wish to make all his work accessible and useful! |
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