Slated for Oct. 15-21, 2023

WELLINGTON – Sept. 27, 2023 – People of all ages, from preschoolers to seniors, along with businesspeople, co-operators and all other adults, will be able to take part in a host of activities and initiatives to celebrate 2023 Co-op and Small Business Week between Oct. 15-21.

Several economic, co-operative and community development partners have joined forces once again this year to organize these activities to highlight the importance and contribution of businesses and co-operatives to the local community, both in terms of job creation and service provision, and in support of various community initiatives. Organizers also want to take advantage of the week to help those most in need, more specifically through food drives for the community food bank and a contest to raise funds to help set up a children’s park.

Here’s a list of the week’s activities.

OCT. 1-16 – CHILDREN’S DRAWING CONTEST: Children from kindergarten through Grade 6 are invited to draw a picture to represent the theme “My Favorite Business or Co-op”. They can get an entry form from their teacher at Evangeline School, at the Wellington Co-op or at the Wellington Rural Action Centre, or they can download one from https://tinyurl.com/3smh7wr3. They must then submit their drawing to their teacher or in a box at the Co-op by the Oct. 16 deadline. The drawings will be posted on the walls of the Co-op until Oct. 20. There will then be random draws for a variety of prizes, including a beautiful red scooter!

OCT. 1-16 – SENIORS’ KNITTING CONTEST: All people aged 60 years and older from the Evangeline and surrounding areas, especially residents of Le Chez-Nous community care centre and Le Bel âge Complex, are invited to submit knitted items to a contest organized at Wellington Co-op by Oct. 16. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number on EACH ENTRY. Contributed pieces will be on display at the Co-op until Oct. 20; they will be sold through a silent auction. All revenues will be donated to the ABCD Park at Evangeline School. We will do random draws from all entries for great prizes, including a $100 gift card from the crafts supplies store Michael’s.

OCT. 1-20 – 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 and of the Evangeline branch of the Provincial Credit Union to accept your donations. The collection will then be donated to the Tyne Valley branch of the West Prince Caring Cupboard, the food bank that now serves the Evangeline area.

OCT. 10-20 – SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE: Students from all grades are invited to bring non-perishable food items to Evangeline School from Oct. 10-20. The class that brings in the most food per student will receive a $100 cash prize from the Evangeline branch of the Provincial Credit Union. The food will then be delivered to the Tyne Valley branch of the West Prince Caring Cupboard food bank.

TUESDAY, OCT. 17 – 2023 ENTREPRENEURS’ AND CO-OPERATORS’ BREAKFAST: All French-speaking entrepreneurs and co-operators are invited to attend the free Entrepreneurs and Co-operators’ Breakfast at 8 a.m. at La Trappe Restaurant in the Village musical acadien in Abram-Village. Following a full breakfast, RDÉE Prince Edward Island will launch its Francophone Ignition Contest and the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI will launch its annual Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards Competition. The morning’s motivational guest speaker, professional photographer Rémi Arsenault, will share how he overcame numerous challenges to transform his House of Common Studio in Ottawa into an entrepreneurial success story. The morning will wrap up with draws for door prizes. All interested individuals must register by Tuesday, Oct. 10, by contacting Josée Ouellette at josee@rdeeipe.org or (902) 854-3439. This event is jointly organized by RDÉE PEI, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, Wellington Rural Action Centre and CBDC Central PEI. (Event in French only.)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 – BUSINESS MIXER AT MILL RIVER: The Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI and the West Prince Chamber of Commerce are jointly organizing this business mixer from 4-6 p.m. at Mill River Resort in Woodstock. All businesspeople are invited to attend this free event to chat and mingle with other businesspeople, to enjoy some hors d’oeuvres and to take advantage of the cash bar service. RDÉE Prince Edward Island will give brief presentations on its PERCÉ internship program and on its Quebec sales mission, in the hope of convincing businesses to participate in both. Several door prizes will be presented.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 – CO-OP BINGO THE CHEZ-NOUS: Le Chez-Nous Co-op is inviting seniors from the area to join the community care centre’s residents for their annual Co-op Bingo Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. Since the number of spots is limited, those interested must reserve their place by calling Linda or Diane at 902-854-3426.

THURSDAY, OCT. 19 – 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. (We’ll be doing “Random Acts of Kindness” throughout the week.)

THURSDAY, OCT. 19 – CO-OP FORUM: All Evangeline area co-ops are invited to send two representatives to this private forum, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Village musical acadien in Abram-Village. The forum will begin with a complimentary supper and then the co-ops will be invited to take turns sharing their recent successes, challenges and future plans. This year’s forum is made possible thanks to a contribution from the Evangeline branch of the Provincial Credit Union.

FRIDAY, OCT. 21 – WELLINGTON CO-OP EVENT: Everyone is invited to the Wellington Co-op between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to celebrate National Food Co-op Day. Hamburger and hotdog barbecue, musical entertainment, games and prizes to be won.

Among the local organizers of the 2023 Co-op and Small Business Week are RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, Wellington Rural Action Centre, Provincial Credit Union (Evangeline branch), Wellington Co-op, the Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline and the Division of Rural Economic Development.

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For more information:
Raymond J. Arsenault
Manager
Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI
902-960-1285
raymond@rdeeipe.org