WELLINGTON – Oct. 5, 2015 – Several partners from the co-op, community and economic development sectors from the Summerside-Evangeline region have joined forces, again this year, to celebrate Co-op and Small Business Weeks Oct. 13-24.

« Together, we have organized a whole slate of events to entertain, train or inform people of the community – especially co-operators and entrepreneurs – or to celebrate anniversaries or special accomplishments, » says Raymond J. Arsenault, coordinator of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI.

« And several of our events are designed to help people who are less fortunate than we are, » adds Angèle Arsenault, president of the Conseil de développement coopératif (Co-op Development Council).

Here is a list of the eight events:

OCTOBER 13-24 – COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE: Everyone is invited to contribute non-perishable foods to a food drive organized to help fill the shelves of the Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank (which also serves the Evangeline area). You can drop off your contributions to the Wellington Co-op or the Evangeline-Central Credit Union anytime Oct. 13-21 or at the Chez-Nous the afternoon of Oct. 13. As well, on Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, everyone is invited to come to Wellington Co-op to try to stuff as much contributed food into a small Credit Union car as possible. Everyone who makes a contribution gets a ballot for a chance to win a $100 gift card from Wellington Co-op. A food drive is also being held at Evangeline School; the class bringing in the most food will win a $100 prize.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13 – SENIORS’ DAY AT LE CHEZ-NOUS: The Chez-Nous Co-operative is organizing an afternoon of activities for its residents and other seniors from the region. This open-house reception, which will run from 1:30-3:30 p.m., will include a “Co-op Bingo” featuring prizes representing the area’s co-ops. Cake and snacks will be served. Those who attend are urged to bring along non-perishable goods for the food drive for the Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14 – 10th ANNIVERSARY OF LE BEL ÂGE CO-OP: Le Bel Âge Residential Co-op in Wellington will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a lively party starting at 2 p.m. The celebration will start in the common room with brief speeches by special guests and a lunch. Next, everyone will move outside for the official opening of the new Laurinda Gallant Community Park and the unveiling of the new park sign. Everyone is welcomed!

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14-15 – WORKSHOPS ON PAINTING HALLOWEEN-THEMED WINDOWS: The Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline has retained the services of professional artist Lucie Bernadette Bellemare to give this free workshop Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 1:30-3:30 at Le Chez-Nous Co-op in Wellington for adults and Thursday, Oct. 15, from 3-5 p.m. at Evangeline School in Abram-Village for children. To register, please call (902) 854-2166.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 – CREDIT UNION DAY: Evangeline-Central Credit Union will celebrate this day at its three branches (Wellington, Tyne Valley and O’Leary), offering members the opportunity to win a variety of door prizes and to eat cake and snacks.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 – SHOPPING SPREE ON WELLINGTON CO-OP DAY: All members who shop at the Wellington Co-op Oct. 13-16 will receive a ballot to participate in a special draw on Friday at 6 p.m. The person must be present to win. (Names will be drawn until a winner is found.) The winner will get a two-minute shopping spree and will be able to buy products totalling up to $500! Everyone is invited to come and watch the race up and down the aisles and to encourage the winner to fill up his or her cart with lots of groceries!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 – FRANCOPHONE ENTREPRENEURS’ AND CO-OPERATORS’ MORNING CONFERENCE: Following a delicious, free breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside, renowned guest speaker-trainer Ron Robichaud from C&R Care and Consulting Ltd. in Nova Scotia, will present a free, three-hour conference (in French) on the theme “Maximizing the profit potential of your business”. The Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI will also launch its entrepreneurial awards competition during the breakfast. This conference, aimed at entrepreneurs and co-operators, is presented free of charge by Innovation PEI, the CBDC Central PEI, the Wellington Rural Action Centre, La Belle Alliance and the Acadian Chamber. This event is also part of the La Belle Alliance’s annual Pumpkin Festival. To participate, you must register by Friday, Oct. 16, by calling 902-854-3439, Ext. 228, or by sending an email to velma@rdeeipe.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 – CASINO NIGHT: This benefit night for the Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank will take place at the Wellington Royal Canadian Legion starting at 8 p.m. Participants will get to play a series of gambling games, hosted by Wellington firefighters. By the end of the evening, with the play money they’ve won, they’ll be able to participate in draws for a variety of prizes. A bar service will be provided so the evening is reserved for adults only. Admission price: a financial donation in the amount of your choice for the Food Bank.

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