1920 - 1944: Organizing the network

Some months before he died, Alphonse Desjardins had submitted to the caisses the outline for his plan to create a federation. As the number of caisses grew, he felt it would be better to consolidate them under the control of a central organization. As it turned out, he did not live to see that plan to fulfillment.

Regional unions and provincial federations

However, after his death, his fellow cooperators took up the task, and created the first regional union of caisses in Trois-Rivières on December 15, 1920. The following year a similar institution was formed in Lévis to serve the Québec City region. Two others followed, in Montréal (1924) and in Gaspésie (1925).

Those organizations, that would later become caisse federations, were similar to the model designed by the founder except that their basis was regional or by diocese rather than provincial.

It wasn't until 1932 that the concept of a provincial organization was actually implemented, with the creation of the Fédération de Québec des unions régionales des caisses populaires Desjardins.

The original federation included the four existing regional unions, later adding the six others that were to be founded from 1934 to 1944. Its objectives were, among other things, to provide technical support for the caisses and see to their proper inspection.

Strong growth

Slowed by the recession in the early 1920's, then severely shaken by the Great Depression in the 1930's, the caisses receded in number, in membership, and in total assets.

However, by 1934, business was once again on the upswing. Québec was emerging from the crisis with its clergy, academics and social leaders turning to cooperation as an avenue for economic reform. There was also the onset of WWII, which was to signal the beginning of an era of prosperity that will contribute to the financial growth ofthe caisses.

In 1944, there were 877 caisses populaires with total assets of $88 million. In the course of 1944 alone, 115 caisses were founded!

The caisses now covered the entire territory of Québec, supported by centralized professional services being offered by the first generation of permanent employees.

Timeline

1920	December 15 -- Founding of the Union régionale des caisses populaires des Trois-Rivièresregional union.
1921	December 27 -- Founding of the Québec regional union.
1923	February 8 -- Creation of a "propaganda committee", the first part of the future provincial federation.
1924	May 8 -- Founding of the Caisse centrale Desjardins de Lévis. June 27 -- Founding of the Montréal regional union.
1925	September 1 -- Founding of the Gaspé district regional union. First congress, in the fall, of caisses populaires held at Université Laval.
1930	The government of Québec adopted a law o n April l creating a state inspection system; the law is poorly received by the caisses.
1932	February 24 -- Founding of the Fédérationde Québec des unions régionales de caisses Desjardins, to which the government of Québec allocated an annual subsidy to ensure the inspection of the caisses.
1934	May 14 -- Founding of the Sherbrooke regional union.
1935	The magazine La Caisse populaire Desjardins, which in 1941 became La Revue Desjardins, was launched.
1937	July 25 -- Founding of the Rimouski diocese regional union.
1939	Agreement between the federation and the banks concerning cheque clearing and currency supply.
1943	August 1 -- Founding of the Chicoutimi regional union.
1944	February 29 -- Founding in Abitibi of the western Québec regional union. May 2 -- Founding of the Saint-Hyacinthe regional union. November 14 -- Founding of the Joliette regional union.