Desjardins Group Unveils Names of Finalists for the 2010 Desjardins
Entrepreneur Prizes

MONTREAL, June 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Desjardins Group is pleased to announce the finalists for the Desjardins Entrepreneur Prizes. These prestigious awards showcase the excellence of local businesses and their active contribution to regional economic development.

The award winners will be announced on October 5 at a gala hosted by Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

"A significant part of our economy derives from the creativity, efficiency and financial health of our local companies and we are proud to be there to support them. The goal of the Desjardins Entrepreneur Prizes is to pay tribute to the initiative and leadership of these entrepreneurs," said Stéphane Achard, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Business and Institutional Services, Desjardins Group.

    
    Finalists, Desjardins Young Entrepreneur Prizes, sponsored jointly with
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    the Québec Youth Secretariat
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The winners in this category will receive a $10,000 prize from the Fondation Desjardins, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

    
    Eastern Québec region:

      - Innvue Inc., Québec City - Louis-Philippe Noël, President
      - Piranha Agence Tactique, Québec City - Dominic Gagnon, President
      - Vigneault Chocolatier, Lanaudière - Josée Vigneault, President
      - Logitex Inc., St. Joseph - Yves Poulin, President

    Western Québec region:

      - Technologie Vorepass, Montréal - Louis Bail, President
      - Le Saint-Bock Microbrasserie Artisanale, Montréal - Martin Guimond,
        President
      - Legault-Dubois Inc., Laprairie - Pascal Dubois, President

    Central Québec region:

      - Imafix Communication Visuelle, Terrebonne - David Boutin, President
      - La Source Bains Nordiques, Rawdon - Manon Lalancette, President

    Finalists, Desjardins Agriculture Prize
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      - Ferme Coopérative Tourne-Sol, Les Cèdres - Frédéric Thériault, Reid
        Allaway, Renée Primeau, Emily Board and Daniel Brisebois, Co-owners
      - Fromagerie Au Gré des Champs, St. Jean sur Richelieu - Daniel
        Gosselin and Suzanne Dufresne, Co-owners
      - Ferme Porcine Marnie, St. Charles - Mélanie Chaîné and Martin Boutin,
        Co-owners

    Finalists, Desjardins International Commerce Prize, sponsored jointly
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    with Export Development Canada
    ------------------------------

      - Bois Le Roux, Weedon - Normand Leroux, President
      - Lepage Millwork, Rivière du Loup, Guy Bonneville, President
      - Stil Solution Boîtier, Québec City - Frédéric Lapointe, President

    Finalists, Desjardins Cooperative Prize, sponsored jointly with Capital
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    régional and coopératif Desjardins
    ----------------------------------

      - Coopérative des Paramédics du Témiscouata, Notre Dame du Lac, Jean-
        Pierre Paradis, Chairman
      - La Fromagerie coopérative de St-Albert, St. Albert - Stéphan Schwab,
        Secretary-Treasurer
      - Unicoop, coopérative agricole, Ste. Hénédine - Gaétan Roger, CEO

    Finalists, Desjardins Sustainable Development Prize, sponsored jointly
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    with Bell
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      - Auberge du Lac Sacacomie, St. Alexis des Monts - Joyce Plante,
        President
      - Parc Safari, Hemmingford - Jean-Pierre Ranger, President
      - Plan Nagua, Québec City - Guy Debailleul, President

    Finalists, Desjardins Business Ownership Transfer Prize, sponsored
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    jointly with Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche
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      - Fempro, Drummondville - Jean Fleury, Owner
      - Maçonnerie Rainville et frères, Chambly - Gino Ouellet, President
      - Marquis Imprimeur, Cap Saint-Ignace - Serge Loubier, Pierre Fréchette
        and Marc Delisle, Co-owners
    

In addition to the partners for each of the prize categories, Desjardins can also count on the collaboration of Les Affaires newspaper and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin.

Following a rigorous analysis process, the Desjardins Entrepreneur Prize winners will be selected by a jury of respected panellists: Diane G. Dubé, Vice-President, Québec Region of Export Development Canada; Francine Ferland, President, Fédération des coopératives de développement régional (CDR) and Director of Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins; Carmela Zampini, Vice-President of Bell Enterprise; Jean-Paul Gagné, Editor Emeritus, Les Affaires, Médias Transcontinental; Michel Landry, Associate, Financial Advisory Services, Samson Bélair Deloitte & Touche; Michel Magnan, Ph.D., FCA, Professor, Lawrence Bloomberg Endowed Chair in Accountancy, John Molson School of Business, Concordia University; Jean-Philippe Marois, Associate Secretary, Québec Youth Secretariat, and Marc Novello, Associate, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest in the world, with assets of more than $165 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, [phone], 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7275