Desjardins Group Launches an Alternative Transportation Program for its
Employees

The initiative is designed to encourage employees to travel to work by
public transportation, carpool or bike.

LÉVIS, QC, Sept. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Desjardins Group has adopted an alternative transportation program to encourage its employees to avoid traveling alone by car when commuting between work and home or for local or regional business travel. Through this initiative, Desjardins hopes to encourage the use of public transportation (train, bus, subway), carpooling, walking and biking. This spring, Desjardins hosted activities promoting the use of active forms of transportation, and activities for other types of alternative transportation are in the works.

This innovative initiative is being launched alongside the "In Town Without My Car!" event, which takes place in cities across Québec and Ontario during the week of September 20. The program is also tied to Desjardins Group's efforts as part of the "Change the World, One Step a Time" campaign, in partnership with Équiterre. As it is gradually implemented, the program will enable Desjardins to combine its objectives with respect to the health and well-being of its employees and reducing its impact on climate change through energy-efficiency initiatives.

"Desjardins is not only concerned about the quality of life of its employees, but also the well-being of the community, from both a social and environmental standpoint. This new program is a perfect match for these concerns," said Pauline D'Amboise, Secretary General and Vice-President of Cooperative Support at Desjardins Group. "By supporting the use of alternative transportation, we are giving our employees a practical way to express their desire to make a difference for themselves and for society."

The Desjardins Alternative Transportation Program was developed in partnership with Voyagez futé and MobiliT, with support from the Ministère des Transports du Québec. It was designed based on employee needs, taking into consideration specific issues within each of the targeted communities. Ten major centres, each with at least 100 employees, were selected from across the territory served by Desjardins: downtown Montréal, Anjou, L'Assomption, Gaspé, Québec City, Lévis, St-Romuald, Trois-Rivières, Mississauga and Toronto.

"Supporting alternative transportation is a decision that reflects Desjardins Group's commitment to sustainable development. It is a practical example of how we seek out solutions that give full consideration to social, economic and environmental issues," said D'Amboise.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest in the world, with assets of over $173 billion. Drawing on the strength of its caisse network in Québec and Ontario, and its subsidiaries across Canada, it offers a full range of financial products and services to its 5.8 million members and clients. Desjardins specializes in Wealth Management and Life and Health Insurance, in Property and Casualty insurance, in Personal Services, in Business and Institutional Services. As one of the largest employers in the country, Desjardins is supported by the skills of its 42,200 employees and the commitment of over 6,200 elected officers. For more information, visit www.desjardins.com.

For further information:

(for journalists only):
Francine BlackBurn
Advisor, Media Relations
Desjardins Group 
514-281-7000 or
1-866-866-7000, ext. 7544
[email protected]