On Wednesday, October 9, the Fondation du Cégep de Valleyfield launched its second major fundraising campaign. Under the theme Invest in local geniuses, the campaign aims to raise $1 million over the next two years. 

The launch was attended by Yves Trottier, General Manager of the Foundation, Patrick Tanguay, Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Directors, Marc Rémillard, General Manager of the Cégep, and Marc-André Loiselle, Honorary President of the campaign. A number of the college's partners and staff were also in attendance.

“This campaign will enable the Foundation to raise its profile in the regional community and have a direct positive impact on the living environment of Cégep de Valleyfield students,” said Yves Trottier. “With the expansion project, the CEGEP has given us an extraordinary tool to weave the fabric on which we can build a promising future for the new generation who will eventually come to fill the workforce needs of the region's businesses. By improving facilities, learning spaces and common areas, perhaps we'll convince students from other regions to come and settle here in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and to stay after their studies,” he added.

The funds raised will enable the Cégep de Valleyfield to purchase equipment for training students in the mechanical, electrical and civil engineering technical programs, as well as to develop common spaces such as the Foundation Lounge, two outdoor terraces on the roofs of the two new buildings, and a student lounge.

“It's important for me to have a sustainable development component, a greener component, to which we will devote 20% of the funds raised. In fact, we've already taken the first step in this direction with the installation of six electric terminals, thanks to the contribution of Groupe SGM,” says Patrick Tanguay, Chairman of the Board and Account Director for Navada.

“We've set ourselves a target of $1 million for students. We already have partners who are on board, with the aim of improving student life and making the learning experience more enjoyable for our students,” added Mr. Tanguay.

To date, $600,000 has already been raised thanks to the involvement of various regional partners. A visibility campaign will be deployed to highlight the ambassadors, as well as the Foundation's projects and events in connection with the major fundraising campaign. 

New premises and new spaces

Launched in recent months, the Cégep de Valleyfield expansion project will give students in engineering programs access to new, modern premises and state-of-the-art equipment. Engineering students are currently housed in the basement of G wing, where they have been for the past 50 years, following a fire in 1970.

The work, along with the addition of the civil engineering program to the program map, will also considerably increase the college's capacity. 

The $1M target will enable us, yes, to purchase equipment for the three programs, but also to ensure a healthy and pleasant living environment. We spend a few years at Cégep when we're in a technical program, so we need a living environment where young people feel at home, and the $1M contribution will certainly make that possible, and we're very proud of it,” says Cégep General Manager Marc Rémillard. 

A committed president

To bring this second major fundraising campaign to fruition, the Fondation du Cégep de Valleyfield has appointed Marc-André Loiselle, President and CEO of Ali Excavation inc. as Honorary Chairman. 

“It's important for us to have a campaign chairman. When we got together to form the campaign committee, we wanted to target someone who would be able to give this campaign greater strength and leverage. Our choice was Marc-André Loiselle,” says Mr. Tanguay.

“My role as Honorary President is to be actively involved, to support and help the Foundation team. I want to be a point of contact to support the cause and the campaign, and to seek maximum support from the business community“, says Mr Loiselle.

The campaign chairman also praised the Cégep's initiative in implementing the civil engineering program. “The Cégep's commitment to creating new programs like civil engineering is a bold response to a crying need for skilled labour in this field. I congratulate everyone involved in the successful implementation of this program. Thank you for daring to integrate such an important program. As a civil engineering technician and engineer, it's an honor for me to develop such a promising program in the region. I'm convinced that the programs will contribute not only to the improvement of our infrastructure, but also to the success of local businesses and municipalities.”

Finally, Marc-André Loiselle emphasized the importance of the Cégep to the development of the local business community.

“Through engineering programs, local businesses will have the opportunity to recruit highly qualified graduates who will be tomorrow's engine of growth. We're very confident that this campaign will be a success, and we hope that the entire business community will get involved and contribute, in its own way, to help propel the Cégep to higher levels,” he concludes.