Desjardins Strengthens Partnership with FrancoFolies de Montréal

Montréal, July 15, 2009 – As partner of the last eight editions of Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, Desjardins Group is proud to present the latest feature of this partnership: Les Midis Desjardins. This new series, organized by the Société pour l'avancement de la chanson d'expression française (SACEF), showcases a new generation of French-language singers and will be presented at Espace vert Desjardins from August 3 to 7, at noon.

At the Place des Arts Esplanade, Espace vert Desjardins will welcome two performance series featuring up-and-coming artists from the French-speaking world: Nouvelle Chanson Desjardins, at 5 p.m., and Les Espoirs Desjardins, at 9 p.m. In all, 30 free shows will be presented between July 30 and August 8.

Also, the Desjardins music series Musiques d'ici et d'ailleurs will be back again this year at the Grande-Place in Complexe Desjardins. The program offers shows from local artists of all stripes, who will take us on a tour of culture and music from their countries of origin. Five free shows will be presented at 9 p.m. on July 31 and August 1, 6, 7 and 8.

AccèsD's BAND ÉCOLO squad

Desjardins is also continuing with its FrancoFolies recycling program. Firstly, the AccèsD squad will be back at Espace vert Desjardins encouraging festival-goers to join with AccèsD BAND ÉCOLO in being environmentally friendly by using on-site recycling facilities and keeping the festival grounds clean, while enjoying the party. There will also be a team dressed in Desjardins uniforms responsible for monitoring the areas around the stages and picking up all recyclable waste and bringing them to the sorting centre on the FrancoFolies site. This initiative will help reduce the amount of waste that gets thrown out.

Finally, we would like to remind you that, once again this year, VISA Desjardins credit card holders will be able to benefit from rewards program advantages by purchasing tickets through 1-877-BILLETS and at official FrancoFolies ticket outlets, where further information is also available.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, and the ninth largest in the world, with overall assets of approximately $160 billion. Drawing on the strength of its caisse network in Québec and Ontario, as well as its subsidiaries, several of which are active throughout Canada, Desjardins offers a full range of financial products and services to its 5.8 million individual and business members and clients. Desjardins Group is also home to a wealth of expertise in property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance, wealth management, services for businesses of all sizes, securities brokerage, venture capital, asset management and secure leading-edge virtual access methods, all part of an integrated offer that is the only one of its kind in Canada. One of the largest employers in the country, Desjardins is backed by the knowledge and skills of its 42,000 employees and the commitment of its 6,300 elected officers. To find out more, consult www.desjardins.com.

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Source (for journalists only):
Caroline Phémius
Advisor, Information and Media Relations
514-281-7000 or 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7646