Fonds de solidarité FTQ Offers Climate Change Workshop to Les Entreprises PEC Employees

New Richmond, January 30, 2024

Employees of Les Entreprises PEC in New Richmond recently took part in a workshop on climate change organized by the Centre de formation économique (CFE) of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. Some 30 workers from the Gaspésie-based company engaged in a concrete discussion with the CFE team on the principles of sustainable development, the origins and impact of climate change, and how each individual can contribute by adopting new habits. 

"The Fonds' mission calls for educating workers so as to increase their influence on Québec's socioeconomic development, by addressing a variety of important topics, including climate change. I was therefore happy to see Les Entreprises PEC partner with the Centre de formation économique to offer this workshop to its employees," said Isabelle Renaud, President and CEO of the CFE and Head of Retirement Savings Development at the Fonds. "This new initiative aims to democratize a complex subject. Each action amplifies our collective ability to mitigate climate change."  

"At PEC, we are aware of the impact of our business activities, which is why we have decided that to the extent possible, our development will take place by aligning financial performance, social responsibility and respect for the environment. We are committed to integrating sustainability into our day-to-day operations and strategic thinking. The CFE workshop fits in perfectly with our approach," said Guy Cayouette, President and CEO of Les Entreprises PEC. 

"At the start of the workshop, I wanted to see my colleagues get involved and truly believe that they could make a difference. By the end though, I realized that they were all motivated to take action and fight climate change," said PEC Director of Human Capital and Quality, Edith Guité. 

"More frequent extreme weather events. Shoreline erosion. Climate change is having a real impact on the Gaspé Peninsula.  We're happy to support SMEs like Les Entreprises PEC and their employees, who want to do their part to protect the environment in our beautiful region," said David Lord, Regional Vice-President, Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Bas-Saint-Laurent. 

As part of its strategic planning, the Fonds has adopted six societal returns to measure its performance in areas other than the financial. The just transition, one of the six societal returns, aims to combat climate change, protect and restore the environment, and ensure that workers and communities are not left behind, in other words, that they have opportunities to benefit from this transition. 

Raising awareness on topics associated with societal returns, including climate change, is one of the initiatives in our strategic plan.  

About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ 

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is a source of pride in Québec, fulfilling its mission through a unique business model created 40 years ago. Since then, the Fonds has rallied Québec into action thanks to the retirement savings of 769,459 shareholders. 

With net assets of $18.9 billion as at November 30, 2023, the Fonds supports more than 3,700 companies through venture and development capital investments based on the belief that impact is created as much by financial as social returns. For more information, visit fondsftq.com or our company page on LinkedIn.

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