BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE
OTTER LAKE – The Pontiac Community Futures Development Corporation (SADC) held their annual general meeting, June 5, at the Otter Lake RA Hall. The evening began with a taco bar supper catered by Rumours Resto-Café paired with lemonade from Monsieur Limonade of Luskville.
The SADC team presented the Annual Report. First, Business Advisor and Marketing and Communications representative, Brittany Morin, highlighted the two local businesses featured in the French and English versions of the report: Rafting Momentum Inc. of Bryson and Café Downtown of Fort-Coulonge. Both features describe the entrepreneurs’ vision and support received from the SADC.
Next, Board Chair Ellen Boucher announced the renewal of the five-year agreement between SADC Pontiac and Canada Economic Development. She said the new agreement will enable the organization to continue to provide essential services and to further advance community development. Boucher thanked the SADC team and board for their exceptional work throughout the year.
DG Rhonda Perry spoke next, highlighting the organization’s achievements over the past year and plans for the year ahead. She described how the SADC has supported entrepreneurs and said the training programs and workshops offered throughout the year received excellent feedback.
Entering 2024, Perry said the SADC will work with team, board and community members, clients, and partners to develop and launch a strategic plan that will guide the organization for the next five years, aligning programs and services with the evolving needs of clients and the community.
The financial report was presented by Business Advisor and Client Relations Representative, Sarah Graveline. She said the SADC’s $6.5 million in assets belong to Pontiac businesses. Loans ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 are available to entrepreneurs seeking to create, purchase, expand, or modernize their business.
In 2023/2024, six loans totaling $361,500 were given to businesses and $260,000 in additional loans have been approved, but not yet disbursed.
The report also highlights Youth Strategy Loans, which are personal loans up to $25,000 given to young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 years. In 2023/2024, seven of these loans totalling $160,780 were distributed.
Business Advisor Amy Taylor presented the support program for self employed workers (STA). Although the official program was paused by Services QC in April, the SADC continues to provide coaching, mentorship, and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs develop their business plan during the early phases. Of the eight clients who requested assistance with their business plan and start-up in 2023/2024, five are now working as self-employed entrepreneurs.
Taylor also talked about the SADC’s work in supporting youth rural agricultural entrepreneurship and described how the organization had worked with the local 4-H club to teach members how to prepare to market their animals at the Shawville Fair.
Elections were held for four open seats with the following results: Entrepreneur Pontiac Centre – Terry Lafleur, Entrepreneur Pontiac Municipality – Trefor Munn-Venne, Social Economy – Ellen Boucher, and Women – Leanne Smart.
The evening concluded with a business panel discussion featuring Dr. Isabelle Gagnon of Clinique Chiropratique du Pontiac, Caroline Desrosiers of La Vallée des Rosiers & Escapades Huskimo, and Dan Duggan of Pontiac Home Bakery.
Amy Taylor led the discussion asking a series of six questions about successes, challenges, teamwork, signature products and services, and initiatives and partnerships.
Speaking about challenges, Desrosiers discussed the difficulty of being a unilingual francophone working in tourism in a bilingual region. Gagnon said that she struggled to be taken seriously when she first opened her practise as a young doctor because having grown up in the region, everyone remembered her as a child.
Talking about successes, Duggan said winning the title of Sweetest Bakery in both Eastern Canada and Quebec, and placing second in Canada, was his greatest achievement. Gagnon said that her excellent reputation in the community and patient referrals were her biggest successes. Desrosiers said putting the Pontiac on the map internationally with a 33% international clientele was her most important win.
Photo – In a special moment, DG Rhonda Perry honoured Randy Labadie, who was retiring from the Board after 11 years. Perry spoke warmly about Labadie’s participation, support, and humour. L/R: Chair Ellen Boucher, former board member Randy Labadie, and DG Rhonda Perry. (BJ)