CHARLOTTETOWN – Jan. 19, 2017 – The Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI (CCAFLIPE) and the Wellington Rural Action Centre (RAC) are planning to organize at least 23 networking, learning and sharing events – including several extra special celebrations – throughout 2017.

Chamber spokesperson Martin Marcoux explained as he announced the organization’s calendar of events at the Members’ Luncheon, Thursday in Charlottetown, that a « Francophone Farmers’ Dinner » will be organized in November to recognize the contribution of farmers to the Island’s economy. « Last fall, we organized a special dinner for francophone pioneer fishermen. This year, we felt that it would be just as important to recognize the people involved in this other primary industry that is so important to our province. »

This year, the Evangeline Richelieu Club will celebrate its 25th anniversary. The Chamber will therefore join in with several other partners this fall to recognize the club’s contribution to the community. As well, this summer, the Chamber and the Rural Action Centre, with the Evangeline School-Community Centre, will jointly celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary and the National Acadian Holiday on Aug. 15.

And of course, the Chamber’s biggest celebration of the year will be staged March 18 when the Dragons’ Contest finals are held jointly with the 2017 Entrepreneurs’ Gala at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside.

NETWORKING

In regards to networking events, Marcoux noted the CCAFLIPE will participate in business mixers organized by the Greater Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce in April and the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce in May. The two Members’ Luncheons were also held in January.

Several lunch-and-learns, breakfast conferences and workshops will also be organized to support entrepreneurs and managers throughout the year: online training by eForcePEI in February, Futurpreneur programs and employee performance appraisals in March, Career Development Services in April, services provided by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in May, yoga exercises at work in September and mental health at work in November. In June, a special luncheon will be held with a renowned author as guest speaker as part of the Salon du livre de l’Î.-P.-É. (francophone book fair).

A few other such events will probably be added to the schedule over the coming months.

In October, the Chamber and the RAC will celebrate Co-op and Small Business Week along with several other co-operative partners and the CBDC Central PEI. Once again, the week will see a food drive, the Co-operators and Entrepreneurs’ Breakfast featuring a guest speaker, and a recreational evening of some type to raise funds for the Summerside Food Bank. (These last few years, the evening took the form of a casino; previously, it was a game show night. The organizing committee will later decide on the type of event.)

SOCIAL EVENTS

Among this year’s social and recreational events will be the French dinner-theatre at the Acadian Musical Village in Abram-Village in July, the Acadian Golf Tournament (in collaboration with the PEI Regional Committee of Les Jeux de l’Acadie) on Sept. 10 at Glasgow Hills and the Christmas party called La P’tite fête des Fêtes in early December.

The joint annual general meeting of the Chamber and RDÉE Prince Edward Island will be held in June.

More details can be found at www.rdeeipe.net/activites-a-venir/ a few weeks before each event.

Admission to several of these events is free. At most of the other events, Chamber members get a discount of $5 or more on admission prices.

These events are being organized thanks to partnerships and sponsorships from several organisations, departments and businesses.

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CUTLINE: Seen during the launch of the 2017 calendar of events of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI and the Wellington Rural Action Centre, Jan. 19 in Charlottetown, are, from left: Patrick Villeneuve, counsellor with the Chamber; Deb O’Hanley, launch participant who represented the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean; Velma Robichaud, client information officer with Wellington RAC; and Chamber spokesman Martin Marcoux.

 

For more information:
Raymond J. Arsenault
Coordinator
Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI
(902) 854-3439, Ext. 231
raymond@rdeeipe.org