Community Challenges

The C26 cohort set itself a challenge that matched its ambition. By choosing to support the Intermède Respite Home, it devoted all its energy to this cause, which addresses pressing needs. Every member of the cohort was deeply committed, and it was through their hard work that the project took shape and expanded far beyond initial expectations.

The fundraising campaign quickly gained significant momentum. Thanks to relentless efforts, countless hours of work, and the outpouring of solidarity it sparked, the campaign raised an impressive total of $354,801. Beyond its monetary value, this figure represents a collective effort and provides new momentum for services that are essential to the community.

Thanks to this extraordinary effort, the benefits will be numerous and very real. Families will receive increased support and much-needed respite. The Intermède Respite Home will be able to serve communities in need more effectively and will have a solid foundation on which to plan future projects and expand its scope of work.

A community challenge that turned out to be a true team effort! Autisme Laurentides is proud to have received support from C25 to advance its mission. More than 370 families are already benefiting from Autisme Laurentides’ services, which range from day and night respite care to workplace support and awareness-raising activities. Thanks to your collective efforts, you have funded a mobile intervention unit that is unique in Quebec. Together, you exceeded the initial goal of $200,000 to reach a total of $279,000.

You can be proud of having brought this ambitious project to fruition and seeing it through to completion. This unit will provide personalized, immediate, and long-term support, while inspiring other regions across the province. Staffed by a special education teacher and a social worker, the unit will visit families and schools directly to provide rapid support as soon as an autism diagnosis is confirmed.

As part of their community challenge, the entrepreneur-athletes of the 24th ÉLITE cohort decided to support the organization Oasis Inter-Action, located in New Richmond in the Gaspé Peninsula.

Oasis Inter-Action is an organization that provides mental health services. It plays a vital role in its community by offering a safe and welcoming space to local residents who are facing mental health challenges.

The goal of the community challenge is to improve the quality of life for residents of L’Oasis by place physical spaces designed to promote their well-being and personal growth. This includes converting the garage into a multipurpose room, renovating the two bathrooms, installing a new shed, replacing doors and windows, refurbishing the kitchen and basement floor, building an outdoor sports area, and many other projects designed to enhance their living environment, such as: landscaping the grounds, purchasing outdoor furniture, and building a space for an outdoor fireplace. To complete these renovation projects, the contractors raised over $270,000. This amount was collected through a charity raffle and solicited donations.

On September 21, 2024, the contractors attended the inauguration of their various renovation projects alongside Executive Director Catherine Bujold. All residents and close associates of L’Oasis were deeply moved by this wonderful display of generosity from the contractors. Through this community challenge, all members of the cohort experienced moments of sharing and selflessness unlike any before. Congratulations to all the entrepreneurs of C24!

For their community challenge, the23rd Élite cohort Élite to support the Laval Youth Fondation .

The Fondation to assist vulnerable youth in Laval who are currently receiving or have previously received services under the Loi sur la protection de la jeunesse and/or the Loi sur le système de justice pénale pour les adolescents. In particular, the Fondation action regarding the

academic perseverance and success, supports families, and works to prevent children from being placed in foster care in order to promote the overall development of young people.

With the goal of creating an attractive, vibrant, and peaceful living environment, the cohort set out to build a garden for the Laval Youth Centre. To bring this project to life, the entrepreneur-athletes raised an impressive $300,000 through various fundraising activities. They put their creativity to work during this fundraising campaign, notably by planning a tuna fishing event and organizing not a benefit dinner, but a benefit party. Numerous fundraising activities took place in an atmosphere of great fun. Indeed, we will long remember the fundraisers led by Yannick with the help of Martin and Marc-Antoine.

With construction still underway as they approach graduation, the athletes will attend the garden’s dedication ceremony in June 2024.

The word "challenge" truly came to life in this project. As is often the case when people find themselves in situations that aren't necessarily comfortable, they learned a lot about themselves as leaders. They emerged from the experience stronger and more united than ever. Congratulations to everyone on completing your project, which will have a lasting impact on young people.

Together, we contribute to the well-being of the children and caregivers at the Centre Normand-Léveillé

As part of their community challenge, the entrepreneur-athletes of the^22nd Élite cohort Élite decided to support the Centre Normand-Léveillé in Drummondville.

The Centre Normand-Léveillé offers respite care and summer camps for people with special needs. It welcomes individuals living with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other types of disabilities. These services are provided in a natural setting on a large, secure site with the goal of maximizing participants’ potential and boosting their self-esteem, thereby creating a SPACE FOR VICTORIES.

The contractors raised funds with the goal of completing renovation work. The access ramp to the main building was redesigned to reduce the slope, making it easier for people with limited mobility to enter the building and minimizing the risk of falls. A roof was also added over the ramp to make it safer in winter and to provide better access to the gym and the activity hall in case of rain.

On November 27, 2023, the contractors attended the dedication ceremony for the access ramp.

The founder of the Centre Normand-Léveillé and its executive director, Kim Martineau, were deeply moved by this wonderful outpouring of generosity from the entrepreneurs of the C22, who hail from all over Quebec.

Through this community challenge, all members of the cohort experienced unprecedented moments of sharing and selflessness. Congratulations to all the C22 entrepreneurs on your project choices, which will have a positive impact on people for years to come.

United Against Poverty 

The entrepreneur-athletes of the 21st Élite cohort decided to support the Centre d'organisation mauricien de services et d'éducation populaire (COMSEP), a community organization bringing together people and families living in poverty who are organizing to improve their living conditions. They renovated a living environment from A to Z where children can thrive and learn in an inspiring, functional and modern setting, which will have a significant impact on the course of many lives.

Touched, even overwhelmed, by the dedication of the COMSEP team and the encounters they had, the cohort gave itself a second mandate: to make the dreams of children requiring COMSEP services come true.

Building for the Youth

The entrepreneur-athletes of Cohort 20 decided to support the Fondation Centre Jeunesse de Québec. Their project involved creating two spaces for young people aged 12 to 18 who are living in a rehabilitation center, where they can thrive in a warm and safe environment.

Support for young people

The C19 entrepreneur-athletes decided to help Espace HOPE. If offers a living environment in the middle of nature, favouring an open, human-focused approach to differences, with the mission of developing each person's full potential by enabling them simply to be. People are at the heart of our concerns. 

The goal is to provide time, expertise, funding, support, and marketing assistance to help develop this project.

Feeding children from 0 to 5 years old with the Banque Alimentaire de Memphrémagog (BAM) - $120,000

The project consists of raising funds to keep the food bank's shelves stocked and ready to meet the needs of its growing clientele, especially children aged 0-5 years. The funds will also be used to improve the BAM's facilities in order to optimize their operations, allowing them to reach more clients, further and more adequately.

We have observed that families with children between the ages of 0 and 5 are less well supported in terms of their nutritional needs. In fact, children entering school have access to certain services, but those who are not yet in school do not have this access and yet need it to help them in their development. We then looked for ways to reach these families who are sometimes far away or without resources to give them access to this food bank.

Renovation of the maison Parenfants in Mascouche - $250,000

On the morning of September 3, renovation work finally began on the premises of Parenfants de Mascouche. The work represents an investment of $250,000 for the organization. The project was made possible thanks to the 17th cohort of the Programme Élite at the École d'Entrepreneurship de Beauce.

Support and funding forSchool (Lévis) – $150,000

The Élite C16 cohort got involved with Notre-Dame Elementary School in Lévis to offer students and the community an educational, inclusive and entertaining outdoor living environment. Close to $150,000 was raised through a fundraising campaign. The entrepreneurs held an individual collection, a benefit show in January 2020, with Gregory Charles as guest of honor, and a silent auction.

Les Fantastiques de Magog - $250,000

The members of C15 chose to help Les Fantastiques de Magog, a center for adults living with intellectual disabilities. The centerpiece of this project is a large covered terrace. C15 also created a second plateau at ground level, providing easier access for all to the various play areas. Adjacent to this plateau, under the terrace, a shed will be built to store the games, and an adapted bathroom will eventually be installed there. Lastly, paths will be laid out in the wooded areas to make the most of the area's natural beauty.

Laura Lémerveil Centre - $75,000

The 24 entrepreneurs of the Élite C14 cohort chose to help the Laura Lémerveil organization in Quebec City as part of their community challenge. The organization's mission is to help disabled children blossom and achieve their full potential.

C14 Élite cohort set a goal of raising $65,000 through a capital campaign that began in May 2018. During late 2018 and early 2019, several tenant improvements were made at Laura Lémerveil, such as the installation of a portable lift.

Center d'Entraide L'Horizon de Rivière-du-Loup - $250,000

The C13 cohort chose to renovate the premises of the Centre d'Entraide l'Horizon de Rivière-du-Loup. This organization helps the adult population living in difficult situations related to mental health.

On The Tip of the Toes - $178,000

C12 chose to help Fondation On The Tip of the Toes. The aim of this organization is to help young cancer sufferers across Quebec regain their well-being by taking on the challenge of an exceptional therapeutic adventure expedition. Supervised by medical and outdoor experts, the expeditions also aim to change the image of the disease among participants and the general public alike.

Major fundraising campaign for the services of the Deuil Jeunesse organization + Fundraising for an additional permanent resource - $51,000

The mission of Deuil Jeunesse is to help youth and adults who are experiencing the serious illness or death of a loved one or losses through parental separation, abandonment or adoption. The organization was founded in 2011 and is supported by its founder and president, Josée Masson.

Several services are offered by the organization: awareness, support, information and intervention with its clients. Deuil Jeunesse also offers its expertise to professional organizations and stakeholders, both in Quebec and internationally. The Élite C11 cohort has committed to organizing a major fundraising campaign over a period of more than 10 months to help Deuil Jeunesse. A portion of the funds raised will be applied to the addition of an additional resource to the permanent staff to help meet the needs and growth of the organization.

Expand and renovate the Grandi-Ose house - $200,000

The Centre de Loisirs Adaptés La Maison Grandi-Ose offers a respite service as well as recreational activities for children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, autism or similar limitations.

Offering a variety of services, this center ensures adequate support through special arrangements such as respite weekends, day camps, adapted workshops and other supplementary activities.

The Lafontaine Association – $163,000

The C9 entrepreneur-athletes decided to help the Association d'Entraide Communautaire La Fontaine.This Sainte-Marie-based organization provides services to individuals and families of people with intellectual or physical disabilities, or autism spectrum disorders.

The cohort built a functional customer parking lot, landscaped the backyard and installed streetlights, in addition to a new kitchen.

Participatory financing platform La Ruche

With their business experience and the knowledge they acquired during their two years of training at EEB, the entrepreneurs in the Élite C8 cohort contributed to the interregional expansion of La Ruche.

As part of their community challenge to complete their program at course, the members of cohort 8 have chosen to develop the La Ruche Québec project by exporting it to the whole of Quebec. Each regional Ruche will retain the characteristics of the community-based participatory financing system created by its founders: the obligation for each project to generate regional spin-offs, start-up support from prominent, recognized personalities acting as angel advisors, and a non-profit structure.

Generous Hunters

Generous Hunters is a game meat donation program for people in need in most regions of Quebec, made possible by the harvest and generosity of hunters and the involvement of butchers. Inspired by a project that initially started in the Bas St-Laurent, the C7 entrepreneurs have invested in making it possible to deploy it throughout the province. By working together with the FédéCP and the Réseau BAQ, they were able to multiply the benefits throughout Quebec and help people in need. The most important thing for them was to ensure that the program was implemented on a solid foundation so that the partners could make it a recurring program over the years.

After the first year of Generous Hunters, hunter donations exceeded 1.6 tons of venison. This represents nearly 16,000 portions of premium meat, which were distributed by organizations helping people in need throughout Quebec. And the objectives for the next hunting seasons are even higher now that the program is deployed all around Quebec!

New building for the Leucan-CSN Summer Camp - $300,000

The Élite C6 cohort completed the Nishk project, a new building at the Leucan-CSN Summer Camp, which welcomes children with cancer and their families. Thanks to them, more families who are in great need of respite will have the chance to attend the camp.

The Coeur d'Entreprendre project

The Élite C5 cohort launched the Cœur d'entreprendre movement with the goal of helping young people who need a second chance, a fresh start and a mentor. They want to help young adults get involved and create a stronger Quebec.

Cœur d'entreprendre provides mentoring and personal support to make a significant difference in the lives of these young people. All C5 cohort members want to share their experiences, values and belief in a promising future with their mentees in order to positively influence them.

The HOME project - A new home for twelve Lac-Mégantic families - $1.8 million

Greatly affected by the tragedy of the people of Lac-Mégantic, a town located less than 100 km from our School, you, the C4 entrepreneurs-athletes, have given yourselves a community challenge on a very large scale: to build a 12-unit building reserved for the victims of Lac-Mégantic

An ambitious project. A project requiring the mobilization of all. Hundreds of hours of volunteer work. A lot of adaptation. But also a project filled with beautiful human encounters and the satisfaction of being able to tell you that you persisted despite all the pitfalls.

Suicide prevention can be a corporate responsibility too - $50,000

The entrepreneur-athletes of the Élite C3 cohort looked for a cause that would rally them all... A cause that would not sell itself and that would be useful in all regions of Quebec where they live. A cause that would make a difference in their business and in their community. Their choice was suicide prevention.

An online platform to feed more people faster - $100,000

As part of its community challenge, C2 is partnering with the Quebec Food Banks to create an online platform that allows for faster processing of perishable food donations and thus recuperate a larger portion of them.

Indeed, thanks to its ability to manage stocks in real time and to share this information with all users, this web platform allows the various "Moissons" spread throughout Quebec to avoid food losses and to ensure that all available products are known and offered according to the stocks and needs of each of its local operations. 

Les Petits Castors schoolyard revitalization - $50,000

Cohort 1 revitalized the playground atSchool Les Petits Castors School in Saint-Georges.

The project included : 

• Adding cedar chips to the playground
• New sand in the sandbox
• Lawn areas near the school
• Flower bed near the concrete wall
• Drainage under the swings
• Painting cement walls
• Installation of a gazebo
• Installation of picnic tables and DIY projects