Social enterprises

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

After eleven years at the helm of the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, director Rémi Pelletier is moving on from the post he has held for over a decade.

“It has been such an enjoyable adventure. It wasn’t always easy … there were challenges, but also so much joy with our partners and the people I have met,” he says, while acknowledging he is moving on to new personal and professional challenges outside the region.

Having grown up nearby in Beauharnois, Pelletier was working for the CDC de Beauharnois-Salaberry when the job opened in the Haut-Saint-Laurent. “I was familiar with the rural environment, but I didn’t know the people very well. I was more on the outskirts, but I knew a little about the ecosystem and the organizations. I had my networks, and people had told me about the warmth and closeness of the community,” he said. “I had heard that there was a desire to collaborate. Knowing that resources were really limited, people wanted to work together. When I arrived, this was very evident. It is truly one of the great strengths of the Haut-Saint-Laurent,” he explained.

Pelletier set to work building on this foundation and further strengthening ties within the community sector. He says the dissolution of the Conférence Régionale des Élus de la Vallée-de-la-Châteauguay in 2015, and the transfer of several responsibilities to the MRC, significantly changed the organization at the level of its regional and municipal partners, as well as the culture of collaboration and transparency that previously existed.

Pelletier says that issues related to affordable housing, viable income, and lower average wages, as well as the resulting inequality, are among some of the challenges he has encountered. “I think we’ve worked to embrace difference and to see that people who are less fortunate have their place in the community. They have value, they have the potential to contribute something, but there is still work to be done,” he admits.

On the other hand, Pelletier says there are many examples of successful actions that have taken place during his tenure. He points to the creation of the Biennale du Financement des OBNL, which was a large-scale series of workshops, training sessions, and conferences for non-profit organizations that attracted people from across the country, as a pivotal moment in helping local organizations to think big.

Pelletier says the ability to collaborate with partners has been key within the community sector, with local businesses, and different levels of government. “We have adopted an advocacy approach to effectively get our messages across in a clear but innovative and creative manner.” He highlights the use of actual wrestlers to illustrate the Table Nationale des Corporations de Dévelopement Communautaire’s “KO to OK” campaign, or the most recent partnership with the organization Faire Danser un Village – which saw members of different community organizations come together to dance and celebrate the resilient spirit and solidarity within the community – as examples of the CDC’s unique approach to challenging issues.

“My greatest pride, despite all of the obstacles that won’t be solved overnight, is we are still working together to take positive action. It is a great achievement to be able to rally around this positivity!” he exclaims.

Pelletier says the decision to leave was not easy, and he admits the importance of finding a replacement who would continue to move things forward and push for change weighed heavily on his mind. His worries disappeared once he convinced Saint-Anicet resident Marie Rachel Charlebois to apply for the job.

The pair had previously worked together on the CDC’s award-winning AgiRH program, and Charlebois says that despite having some very large shoes to fill, they felt like the right fit. “I have a strong attachment to the region. It was clear that I wanted to put my skills, abilities, and qualities into something that would benefit citizens and the community,” she explains, noting that while she plans to continue the spate of important work being done at the CDC, she is looking forward to adding her own colour to the palette.

“I’m really proud and happy,” she says, noting that while Pelletier’s departure was greeted with sadness, she has been very warmly received by the CDC staff, members, and partners.