TASHI FARMILO
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE
GATINEAU – Laiterie de l’Outaouais, a community-driven dairy company, is set to expand with $6.25 million in funding from the federal government to modernize its operations, automate production, and increase its capacity to serve the Outaouais and Ottawa regions.
Laiterie de l’Outaouais was revived in 2010 through a community-driven effort to preserve local dairy processing, protect regional expertise, and reduce the environmental impact of transporting milk long distances for processing. Operating as a unique hybrid structure, the company is owned by a worker co-operative of over 35 employees and a consumer co-operative of about 600 members.
As Quebec’s youngest micro-dairy, it sources milk locally and uses traditional pasteurization methods, ensuring its products remain widely available in grocery and convenience stores across the Outaouais and Ottawa regions.
The dairy will expand its facilities and develop new regionally-inspired products with the investment. “We’ve been planning this project for several years and as Quebec’s youngest dairy, we must innovate to stand out from large dairy companies,” said Yannick Bouchard, Laiterie president and CEO. “This project allows greater automation of our current production lines and investment in the development and commercialization of new products, which we look forward to unveiling soon.”
The financial support includes up to $4.75 million from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Supply Management Processing Investment Fund, launched in 2022 to help processors in supply-managed sectors remain competitive.
An additional $1.5 million repayable contribution from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) comes through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, which supports businesses investing in technology and expansion.
Local dairy farmers expressed enthusiasm for the expansion. Kristine Amyotte-Beck of Beck Family Farm in Clarendon highlighted the benefits of increased local processing. “Milk is marketed collectively, which means it’s sold to processors like Laiterie de l’Outaouais through our milk marketing board. Milk shipments are organized to be as efficient as possible from a transportation standpoint while meeting the needs of the processors who pasteurize and transform it. The expansion is great news because more local processing minimizes transportation, increases consumer demand for dairy, and benefits local farmers.”
Scott Judd, a dairy farmer from Clarendon and co-owner of Gladcrest Farms, also praised the expansion and its potential benefits for local milk producers. “If Laiterie de l’Outaouais can take more milk and increase its production capacity, our milk would go there all the time. Right now, some of our milk goes to Gatineau, but at other times it has to be transported to Montreal. Expanding their capacity means our milk stays local, which reduces transportation costs and has environmental benefits,” he explained.
“Additionally, Laiterie de l’Outaouais maintains excellent quality control. Their milk stays fresh longer in the fridge. I’ve heard chefs say it enhances the taste of cream-based sauces, for instance. Maybe it’s something special about the Pontiac cows!” concluded Judd.
Photo – Laiterie de l’Outaouais is expanding with $6.25 million in federal funding to modernize its operations, increase production, and develop new products. From left: Sophie Chatel, Pontiac MP; Yannick Bouchard, Laiterie president and CEO; Steven MacKinnon, Gatineau MP; Stéphane Lauzon, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation MP; Robert Bussière, Gatineau MNA; Guylaine Larose, Investissement Québec Outaouais Regional Director; and Bettyna Bélizaire, Gatineau councillor. (Jason Hanna)