CHARLOTTETOWN – Oct. 19, 2018 – Fifteen years, 287 postsecondary interns and a retention and repatriation rate of over 80 per cent! RDÉE Prince Edward Island therefore has all kinds of reasons to celebrate the anniversary of its extremely popular PERCÉ internship program.

“Who would have thought, 15 years ago, that the little internship program that we had just established would eventually help hundreds of PEI postsecondary students rediscover their province of origin and return here to start a career and make a life for themselves, thereby contributing enormously to the provincial economy,” says RDÉE executive director Bonnie Gallant.

The RDÉE (the provincial francophone economic development council) is launching a call to former program interns and employers to attend a special celebration for PERCÉ’s 15th anniversary. This party, which will take on the form of a wine-and-cheese reception, will take place Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in The Bayou at in the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean at 5 Acadian Dr., Charlottetown.

“In addition to offering you hors d’oeuvres, we will give you an opportunity to renew your ties with other former participants and employers. You’ll also have an opportunity to see a little overview of the program over the years, thanks to a slide presentation and a video about PERCÉ,” says Gallant.

She is especially looking forward to the portion of the evening when former interns will give testimonials about their career journey, while highlighting how PERCÉ played a role in their professional and personal life.

A few special guests will extend greetings. All participants at the party will receive an anniversary souvenir gift. Musical entertainment will be provided by Jonathan Arsenault, Louise Arsenault and Helen Bergeron.

Since the PERCÉ program has earned a great reputation among the RDÉEs of the country, RDÉE Canada’s national committee of youth economic development officers decided to hold its annual gathering on PEI so that the officers could participate in the celebration. RDÉE Canada is in fact one of the reception sponsors.

All those wishing to attend the reception must confirm their participation by Nov. 13 by contacting Simone Gallant at 902-854-3439, Ext. 228, or at simone@rdeeipe.org. Registrants simply have to provide their name, phone number and email. The reception hall can only accommodate a limited number of people, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

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CUTLINE: Carol Richard, left, former coordinator of the PERCÉ program, and Bonnie Gallant, executive director of RDÉE PEI, invite former PERCÉ interns and employers to sign up for the program’s 15th anniversary celebration, taking place Nov. 20 in Charlottetown.

 

 

For more information:
Stéphane Blanchard
Youth Economic Development Officer
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
(902) 370-7333, Ext. 402
stephane@rdeeipe.org