On July 15, the Maison de la Famille de Vaudreuil-Soulanges (MFVS) team, surrounded by its various partners, turned the symbolic sod to launch construction of the new Maison de la Famille de Saint-Zotique. Work will officially begin the week of August 26.

Members of the Maison's Board of Directors were on hand for the occasion, as were Saint-Zotique Mayor Yvon Chiasson, Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard, Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille, Maxime Poirier of Struxar, François Paquin, Chairman of the Board of Desjardins Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and François Lafond of Burnbrae Farms and Promutuel Assurance Horizon-Ouest.

France Pomminville expressed her enthusiasm for this major milestone: “It's a significant moment for all Soulanges families to be able to begin construction of the new Maison de la Famille.  It's a concrete step towards the completion of the project.  I can just imagine the first children and families walking through these doors in 2025.  What a joy to come!“

“I can't hide how happy I am that the Maison de la Famille is staying with us. We have so many young families in Saint-Zotique. The Maison de la Famille is so important, not just for Saint-Zotique families, but for all Soulanges families. It's a direct service for our population, and I'm very happy about that,” said Saint-Zotique mayor Chiasson. 

“We know this is an important project for the region, and it reflects everything we want to do as an agent of change,” said Mr. Paquin, of the Caisses Desjardins de Vaudreuil-Soulanges. Desjardins Vaudreuil-Soulanges has announced a $250,000 contribution to the Maison de la Famille Saint-Zotique construction project, through its Fonds du Grand Mouvement.

A necessary need

The new home will be located at 1008, rue Principale, where the Maison des Optimistes currently stands. The Municipality of Saint-Zotique has signed a 99-year emphyteutic lease with the organization. This lease will entitle the Maison de la Famille to use the land for the construction of their new premises, while paying a symbolic rent of $1.

With this project, Maison de la Famille aims to reach 250 new families in Soulanges County. The new home will enable the deployment of a number of services and programs, such as homework help and tutoring, language stimulation workshops, a community drop-in daycare center, perinatal programming and access supervision services.

By building a new home adapted to the growing needs of the population, the Maison de la Famille team also hopes to correct a certain inequity between the Vaudreuil and Soulanges sectors.

Estimated at $1.2 million, the project will be carried out by design-builder Struxar, in partnership with architect Claude Matte and contractor Sylvain Ménard. Nearly half of the funds have been raised to date, via a socio-financing campaign launched last spring on the La Ruche platform, and thanks to the first edition of a Lobster Supper held last June.