WELLINGTON – Oct. 3, 2014 – Coop and Small Business Weeks, to be held Oct. 12-15, will offer social and recreational activities for francophone children, adults and seniors, as well as professional activities for French-speaking co-operators and entrepreneurs.
These joint weeks will provide an opportunity for people to celebration co-operation and entrepreneurship, two major forces in the Evangeline region’s economic development. People from neighbouring communities are welcomed to join in the festivities.
The main organizers of these events are the Conseil de développement coopératif, Evangeline-Central Credit Union, Wellington Co-op, The Co-operators, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, the Wellington Rural Action Centre and RDÉE Prince Edward Island. A variety of other partners will join in for specific events.
Here is a list of events:
Oct. 14-24 – Food drive for Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank. In exchange for donations of non-perishable food items dropped off at Wellington Co-op or Evangeline-Central Credit Union, donor will receive a ballot for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate at Wellington Co-op. Classes at Evangeline School are also being invited to organize their own food drives; the class that gathers the most food wins a $100 prize. Free paper bags provided by Farm Credit Canada can be used to bring in food donations.
Oct. 16 – International Credit Union Day – Everyone is invited to drop into Evangeline-Central Credit Union between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to enjoy some snacks and to enter their name in draws for a variety of prizes.
Oct. 17 – Cake-baking contest – On the occasion of Co-op Day, the Wellington Co-op is hosting a cake-baking contest. Contestants must bring their cake to the Co-op no later than 4 p.m. A panel of judges will award prizes of $100, $75 and $50 for the three best entries. In addition, everyone who shops at the Wellington Co-op that day will get a chance to win the value of their purchase in gift certificates. The draw will take place Saturday morning.
Oct. 18 – Art Richard Halloween Show – This family show will be presented free of charge at 10:30 a.m. at the Centre Expo-Festival in Abram-Village by the Evangeline School-Community Centre in collaboration with the Centre éducatif Pomme et Rinette. Partners of Co-op and Small Business Weeks will provide beverages for participants.
Oct. 20 – Open house at Evangeline Funeral Home – Evangeline Funeral Co-op in Urbainville will host an open house at its newly expanded funeral home starting at 7 p.m. Members and the public are invited to come and check out the 1,200-square-foot expansion, which includes a new visitation room and an expanded waiting room.
Oct. 22 – Entrepreneurs and Co-operators Luncheon – Guest speaker Bernard Belliveau, president of Apropos Marketing Communication and former president of Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce, will offer suggestions on how small businesses and co-operatives can better promote and position themselves as they compete against big box stores. The Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI will also launch its entrepreneurial awards competition during this free luncheon, to be held at Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside at 12 noon. This event is also part of the Centre Belle-Alliance’s annual Pumpkin Festival. Presented by the Wellington Rural Action Centre, CBDC Central PEI, the Acadian Chamber and the Centre Belle-Alliance, in partnership with the other partners of the Weeks. To register for free before Oct. 17, please contact Ève at (902) 854-3439, Ext. 228, or at eve@rdeeipe.org.
Oct. 23 – Seniors’ activities at the Chez-Nous – The public is invited to Le Chez-Nous Co-op’s community care centre in Wellington from 1:30-3:30 p.m. for a series of seniors’ activities organized with the elderly residents.
Oct. 25 – Benefit casino – This benefit casino for the Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank will be held at the Wellington Legion at 8:30 p.m. In exchange for a monetary donation, participants will receive a draw ticket as well as a packet of play money to spend at a series of gambling games. They will be able to buy more packets throughout the evening, as needed. At the end of the evening, guests will be able to use any play money they have left or that they won to purchase tickets for a variety of prizes. During the evening, the Conseil de développement coopératif will present its Co-op Order of Merit award to a deserving co-operator. Please note that a bar service will be available so the evening will be open to adults only.
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For more information:
Angèle Arsenault
President
Conseil de développement coopératif
(902) 854-2951
angelearsenault@hotmail.com
Raymond J. Arsenault
Coordinator
Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI
(902) 854-3439, Ext. 231
raymond@rdeeipe.org