Over the next few weeks, the non-profit organization Transition Québec will be launching the Transition Village project, a first in Canada, in Gatineau, Outaouais. Among the project's partners is Conteneurs Experts, a company that has been well-established in Vaudreuil-Soulanges for 22 years. 

At a time when the scourge of homelessness is increasingly present in Quebec due to the rising cost of living and the inflation rate, it is important to find concrete solutions to alleviate this major problem. That's what Village Transition is all about. 

What does it involve? It's a transitional and temporary housing project for people who are currently homeless. To realize its vision, which will cost between $4 and $5 million to build, Transition Québec has teamed up with real estate developer Devcore. 

The project's objectives are to provide a humane and sustainable solution to the problem of homelessness, encourage the social reintegration of tenants, create a supportive community and empower residents. 

The human aspect of the project is what particularly appeals to Pierjean Savard, president and owner of Conteneurs Experts.  

 “We are in the process of converting 100 20-foot containers in our Rigaud and Vaudreuil-Dorion plants into residences for people who are homeless and will be staying there for a certain period of time. It's a wonderful initiative on a human scale, and I'm very touched by it. This project will help save lives. I really hope it will inspire other municipalities to do the same.”

More broadly, the village will be made up of shared spaces designed to break down isolation and strengthen the sense of belonging of the people who live there. There will be a dog park, a community garden and greenhouse, a bicycle repair workshop, an arts and culture space, storage areas, an intervention center with psychosocial support and sanitary facilities (toilets, showers and laundry) and two large communal kitchens for cooking alone or in groups. 

For individual housing units, two alternatives will be offered to tenants. The first individual unit is 100 square feet and includes a single bed, sink and toilet, counter space, mini-fridge and toaster oven, storage space, heating and air conditioning, and high-speed Internet.  

The second is 150 square feet, with a double bed, full kitchen, full bathroom, terrace, heating and air conditioning, and high-speed Internet access. 

“Residents will be required to abide by a code of living, and staff will be on hand to supervise the project. The people who stay there will do so on a temporary basis to get used to living in a community and respecting the rules. They will then be able to make the transition to another type of housing. We've started work on the units at our Rigaud plant. We should be able to deliver around 70 before the holiday season,” he estimates. 

If Conteneurs Experts is able to take part in this major project, it's thanks to the expertise it has acquired over the years. “It takes a skilled and certified workforce to be able to transform containers into mini-homes. By acquiring Conterm, we have access to more container models and ways of modifying them. It's a real win-win for both our companies. Conterm continues to operate, and CEO Franco De Ciccio can leave with peace of mind knowing that the company will be in good hands, while we continue to expand. We've kept the company's website and logo for the sake of continuity,” he shares.

Once the Village Transition project is in place, Conteneurs Experts will open a first service point in the Outaouais region in 2025. 

“We are going to finish the village project and I am sure that this project will make children everywhere in the country. The new branch will offer container leasing and purchase of processed containers. An exhibition room will be built to accommodate interested customers. 2025 is a promising year,” he concludes.