Desjardins and ACEM want to encourage successful socio-economic integration of immigrants into Quebec society
LÉVIS, QC, Nov. 15, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Internationally trained workers who are looking to have their credentials recognized and gain the equivalence they need to work in Quebec are now eligible for financial support from Desjardins. In partnership with the Association communautaire d'emprunt de Montréal (ACEM), Desjardins Group has announced an agreement to launch an innovative pilot loan project that will assist professional immigrants in their employment integration efforts.
"Desjardins strives to improve the economic and social well-being of people and communities, which is why we did not hesitate for a moment when ACEM asked us to be part of this project. We are proud to be able to give a boost to people who need to have their foreign credentials recognized and help them integrate into the community," stated Pierre-Franck Honorin, Investment and Financing Manager at Carrefour Desjardins.
This financing program designed to help internationally trained workers resulted from a partnership between the federal government and ACEM, which was mandated to find a financial partner to manage foreign credential recognition loans.
"ACEM has been fighting poverty and exclusion for more than 22 years. Community credit is a means of education and socio-economic integration that has proven itself to be effective. We believe in it. When we started looking for a partner to manage loans for immigrants seeking recognition for their foreign credentials, we immediately thought of Desjardins, with which we share many values," said Anne Kettenbeil, Executive Director of ACEM.
To ensure the success of this partnership, ACEM will select the individuals eligible for the pilot project, who can choose to obtain a loan from Carrefour Desjardins in downtown Montreal.
About Desjardins Group
Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada with assets of nearly $200 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 5.6 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. "Best Corporate Citizen in Canada" for 2012 and among Canada's Top 100 Employers, Desjardins is supported by the skills of its 44,645 employees and the commitment of nearly 5,400 elected officers. A new education and cooperation program is now available to Desjardins members and the general public. For more information, visit www.desjardins.com/co-opme.
About the Association communautaire d'emprunt de Montréal
ACEM was founded in 1990 with $500,000 in loan capital from ethical investments financed by the community and private sector businesses. ACEM's objective is to provide credit to low-income persons, and to those who wish to start up a business but are excluded from the traditional financial system. It also finances community organizations. The 300 businesses, cooperatives and community organizations supported by ACEM's capital and personalized support services have generated in excess of $20 million in economic activity and favoured the creation and maintenance of nearly 1,400 jobs on Montreal Island. For more information, go to www.acemcreditcommunautaire.qc.ca.
SOURCE: DESJARDINS GROUP
Information (for journalists only):
Caroline Phémius
Media Relations
Desjardins Group
514-281-7000 or 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7646
[email protected]
Indu Krishnamurthy
FCR Project Coordinator, ACEM
514-843-7296
[email protected]
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