Full slate of events to celebrate Co-op and Small Business Week 2022

WELLINGTON – September 23, 2022 – Several community organizations and private businesses have joined forces to present a series of activities, contests and collections, in an atmosphere of mutual aid, to celebrate Co-op and Small Business Week (Oct. 16-22) in the Evangeline region and the provincial Francophone community. There are educational activities promoting entrepreneurship and sustainable development as well as some promoting social equity. Here is the overall program. (Some of the activities are covered in separate articles).

OCTOBER 1-16 – CHILDREN’S DRAWING CONTEST: Children from kindergarten through Grade 6 are invited to draw a picture of a co-operative or business from the Evangeline or surrounding area. Children can get an entry form from their teacher at Evangeline School or at the Wellington Co-op or they can download one from https://bit.ly/3QWpnA9. They must then submit it to their teacher or in a box at the Co-op by the October 16 deadline. The drawings will be posted on the walls of the Co-op until October 21. There will then be a draw for great cash and merchandise prizes!

OCTOBER 1-16 – SENIORS’ KNITTING CONTEST: All seniors from the Evangeline area and surrounding areas, especially residents of the Chez-Nous and Le Bel âge Complex, are invited to knit and submit children’s items (such as socks, mittens, toques, slippers, etc.) for a contest organized through the Wellington Co-op by October 16. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. The pieces will be on display at the Co-op until October 21. We will draw from all those who contributed knitted items for a variety of great cash or merchandise prizes. Afterwards, these creations will be donated to the Summerside Salvation Army to distribute to children from needy families at Christmas.

OCTOBER 1-21 – COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE: Everyone who contributes non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to our community food drive will receive a ballot for a draw for a $100 Wellington Co-op gift card. Boxes will be set up near the entrance of the Co-op to accept your donations. The collection will then be donated to the Salvation Army Food Bank in Summerside.

OCTOBER 17-20 – SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE: Students from all grades are invited to bring non-perishable food items to Evangeline School from Oct. 17-20. The class that brings in the most food per student will receive a $100 cash prize from the Provincial Credit Union. The food will then be delivered by the high school sociology class to the Tyne Valley Branch of the West Prince Caring Cupboard Food Bank.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 – SPEED NETWORKING AND PRESENTATIONS IN KENSINGTON: All entrepreneurs and businesspeople are invited to attend a free entrepreneurial speed networking event called “Making Business Connections”, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Hello Kitchen Restaurant at 88 Victoria St., Kensington. RDÉE Prince Edward Island will be giving presentations on its PERCÉ internship program and its sales missions to Quebec. Door prizes and small gifts. Organized jointly by the Kensington and Area Chamber of Commerce and CBDC Central PEI, in collaboration with RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI and the Wellington Rural Action Centre. Registration: kensingtonandareachamber@gmail.com. (Event in English only.)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 – ENTREPRENEURS’ AND CO-OPERATORS’ MORNING CONFERENCE IN SUMMERSIDE: All French-speaking entrepreneurs and co-operators are invited to attend the free Entrepreneurs and Cooperators’ Morning Conference at 8 a.m. at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside. Following a full breakfast, RDÉE PEI’s Ignition Francophone Contest and the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI’s Entrepreneurial Awards Competition will be launched. Guest speaker Israël Poulin will discuss the theme: The « Profits, People and Planet » Concepts of Sustainable Development – How to Take Full Advantage of Them. The morning will end with draws for door prizes. All interested individuals must register by Tuesday, Oct. 11, by contacting Josée Ouellette at josee@rdeeipe.org or (902) 854-3439. Jointly organized by RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, Wellington Rural Action Centre and CBDC Central PEI. (Event in French only.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19 – BINGO AND ICE CREAM FOR RESIDENTS OF LE CHEZ-NOUS: Le Chez-Nous Co-op’s community care centre will again be hosting a Co-op Bingo and serving ice cream on the afternoon of October 19 in celebration of Co-op Week. Only residents will be able to participate (due to pandemic restrictions).

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20 – CREDIT UNION DAY: Come and visit one of the 10 Provincial Credit Union branches to help us celebrate this beautiful day. Bring along a non-perishable food item to donate to the food bank.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20 – CO-OP FORUM: All Evangeline area co-ops are invited to send two representatives to this forum, which will take place at 6 p.m. at the Centre Goéland in Cape Egmont. The forum will begin with a complimentary supper and then co-ops will be invited to take turns sharing their recent successes, challenges and future plans. Speaker Bruce Joshua will address the theme « The Value of Inclusivity in Ensuring the Success of Today’s Co-ops« . (By invitation only.) This year’s event is made possible by the Wellington Rural Action Centre, the Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline, the Bienvenue Évangéline Project and federal funder Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 – WELLINGTON CO-OP EVENT: Everyone is invited to the Wellington Co-op during the day to celebrate National Food Co-op Day. Barbecue, contests and prizes to be won.