Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

In a powerful display of community commitment, Gilles Desjardins and his family have made a
record-breaking $1 million donation to Centraide Outaouais, the largest individual gift in the
organization’s 80-year history. Announced at a press conference in Gatineau, the contribution
arrives at a moment of growing need and stands as a milestone in the region’s philanthropic
tradition.

The Desjardins family—Gilles, along with his sons Jessy and Kevin—serve as co-chairs of this
year’s Centraide campaign, a role they embraced in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of
their family business, Brigil. The convergence of these milestones made the moment both
practical and profoundly personal. “Giving back is part of my story—one I inherited from my
father and now continue with my sons,” said Gilles Desjardins, founder and president of Brigil.
“This is our way, as a family, of saying thank you to a community we love deeply.”

The contribution will establish a trust fund to ensure the long-term sustainability of Centraide’s
work across the Outaouais. The organization supports 88 local agencies that tackle poverty and
social exclusion, offering essential services to vulnerable populations from Hull to the Pontiac.
Centraide’s 2025 campaign aims to raise $4.5 million. The Desjardins donation gives the effort a
major boost, both financially and symbolically, reinforcing the vital role of private residents in
community development. “This unprecedented donation arrives at a turning point,” said Cédric
Tessier, executive director of Centraide Outaouais. “It strengthens our ability to deliver real
support where it’s most needed and demonstrates an extraordinary level of commitment to
social solidarity.”

For the Desjardins sons, the experience of co-leading the campaign has been transformative.
Jessy, Brigil’s vice-president of development and design, emphasized the breadth of Centraide’s
reach: “I’ve been deeply moved by the work happening on the ground. It’s impossible not to be
impressed by how far Centraide extends across the region.” Kevin Desjardins, a community life
designer at the company, described witnessing firsthand the long-term impact of grassroots
organizations, recalling a visit to a local food-sharing initiative where former beneficiaries now
volunteer. “That kind of human return—seeing people come full circle—is incredibly powerful,”
he said.

As community organizations face growing demand and limited resources, the Desjardins
family’s leadership underscores the critical role of philanthropy in maintaining a social safety
net. Centraide Outaouais board chair Sébastien Fugère praised the family’s involvement, calling
it a defining moment for the campaign and a reflection of “a shared vision for a fairer, more
united society.”

For Noëlla Beausoleil, the organization’s director of philanthropic development, the donation
goes beyond numbers. “This campaign has been filled with genuine emotion and moments that ​
will stay with us forever,” she said. “The Desjardins family has set a benchmark in what it means
to give with both heart and purpose.”

“We are not just giving money—we’re investing in the future of our community,” said Gilles
Desjardins. “And there’s no better return on investment than that.”

Photo: Gilles Desjardins and his family have made a historic $1 million donation to Centraide
Outaouais, marking the largest individual gift in the organization’s history and reinforcing a
deep, ongoing commitment to community support in the region. (TF) Photo: courtesy of Brigil