Laval's Carrefour d’intercultures gets new computer training facility

The Carrefour d’intercultures de Laval, an integration centre for immigrants in Chomedey which provides services to persons newly arrived from many parts of the world, is now better positioned to prepare its clients for employment, thanks to a new computer skills training room paid for by the Caisse Desjardins de Chomedey.

On Oct. 17, leading officials from the Caisse, including its president Daniel Rousseau and executive-director Laurent Caron, joined Laval city councillor Alexandre Duplessis, Serge Tétreault of Immigration Quebec and the Carrefour d’intercultures’s president Danae Savides and director Denis Arvanitakis for the official opening of the new computer facility.

Support from Caisse
The Caisse, which is mandated by its community-based philosophy to make frequent donations to worthy and sustainable causes, footed the $23,550 bill for the new computer terminals, accessories and furniture that fill a room at the Carrefour d’intercultures on Curé Labelle Boulevard.
Since basic knowledge of personal computer operation has become a requisite skill for so many jobs these days, the facility, which can accommodate up to 17 students from 16 to 18 years of age, will be a valuable asset, increasing the chances, along with French language training, that newcomers find suitable work in Laval’s competitive job market.
“It’s important to give these youths adequate tools to get started in life,” said Rousseau. “It must not be forgotten that they will become the active and responsible adults of tomorrow. For the Caisse Desjardins de Chomedey, these challenges are not new. Support for life in the community has always been a part of the cooperative nature of Desjardins. Our caisse, the Caisse Desjardins de Chomedey, supports local initiatives and encourages creativity, which is why we support so many different sorts of causes.”

Carrefour praised
Duplessis, who was at the Carrefour d’intercultures just two weeks before for the signing of an immigration agreement between Laval and Quebec, said the Carrefour has played a valuable role in the 20 years of its existence, improving the lives of immigrants. Last year, the Carrefour served more than 1,600 clients and dealt with more than 5,000 interventions.
“The decision to immigration is always followed by a difficult phase,” Duplessis noted. “And even if it is often associated with great feelings of hope, there is also a certain stress. This stress is caused by a number of factors, including a lack of information, the new ways and customs in the receiving society, and of course the language differences. None of it is easy.”
Duplessis said that thanks to the Carrefour d’intercultures de Laval, immigrants who choose to settle here can benefit from help from the time of their arrival, “and this can only start manifesting itself in a positive way in their everyday lives and the lives of those close to them. You who work daily at the Carrefour can be proud of what you accomplish here day after day. You make a marked difference of these new Laval residents.”

CarrefourInterculture1: From the left, the Caisse Desjardins to Chomedey’s president Daniel Rousseau and Carrefour d’intercultures de Laval president Danae Savides cut a ceremonial ribbon, officially opening the Carrefour’s new computer training facility.
CarrefourInterculture2: From the left, Laval city councillor Alexandre Duplessis, Caisse de Chomedey president Daniel Rousseau, Carrefour president Danae Savides, Carrefour executive-director Denis Arvanitakis and Caisse de Chomedey executive director Laurent Caron are seen here with a cheque for $23,550 presented by the Caisse to the Carrefour for the new computer centre.