A year marked by growth for SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest: over $2M invested and renewed services

A year marked by growth for SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest: over $2M invested and renewed services

Roberval, June 17, 2026 – Yesterday marked the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Société d’aide au développement des collectivités Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest held at the Georges-Henri-Lévesque Library in Roberval. In front of members and partners in attendance, the SADC team presented the organization’s results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

A tangible impact on local economic vitality

During the 2025–2026 year, SADC invested a total of $2,059,450.20 across 39 business projects. These strategic financial interventions helped create and maintain more than 341 jobs and generated total investments of over $15.5 million across the MRC du Domaine-du-Roy and Mashteuiatsh territory.

As of March 31, 2026, the organization’s active portfolio shows 40% growth, totaling $4,487,426 across 128 active loans. SADC still has more than $6.4 million available to support future business projects in the region.

Beyond financing, personalized support remains at the core of SADC’s mission. More than 100 businesses benefited from the team’s expertise this year. In addition, $27,500 was invested in professional fees to provide entrepreneurs with access to external advisory services.

Collective projects to energize the region

Among these initiatives, SADC also supported and participated in over 50 projects and committees through its Local Economic Development (LED) and Local Intervention Measure (LIM) programs, investing more than $104,000 to support initiatives that are structuring for the region. These actions took the form of events, training sessions, webinars, and activities on a range of topics such as workplace well-being, entrepreneurship, governance, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, the labor market, and employability.

SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest focuses on proximity

The 2025–2026 year also stood out with major initiatives aimed at improving service accessibility:

  • New space in Roberval: relocation to the ground floor at 915 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, offering a collaborative workspace, a private office, and a conference room made available free of charge to local organizations.
  • New service point in Saint-Félicien: opening of an office at City Hall to ensure close-to-home support.

A mobilized community and an anniversary year

In total, the organization’s events and committees brought together more than 450 participants, in close collaboration with key partners such as the MRC du Domaine-du-Roy, Services Québec, the Saint-Félicien Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Santé mentale Québec–Lac-Saint-Jean.

“This year was clearly marked by growth,” said Chairman Luc Chiasson. “In 2026–2027, we will have the opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest. I invite the community to save the date of September 24, 2026, to celebrate four decades of outstanding achievements together.”

The Board of Directors and General Management wish to warmly thank Canada Economic Development, their local financial partners, as well as the permanent team for their dedication to regional economic development.

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For information:
Marc Tremblay
General Manager
SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest
418-637-0328
marctremblay@sadclsjo.com

Information:
Consult the 2025–2026 Annual Report to discover all achievements and impacts: https://sadclsjo.com/en/about-us/

The Table de concertation en employabilité du Domaine-du-Roy launches its winter programming!

After a fall marked by many activities and training sessions, the Table de concertation en employabilité unveils its winter program.

It’s the perfect opportunity to strengthen your skills, find innovative solutions and collaborate with other key players in the Domaine-du-Roy region.

Programming :

Conference – What if governance was the key to your entrepreneurial challenges?

This session is dedicated to owners, co-owners and shareholders of small and medium-sized businesses, CEOs, self-employed workers, and all those who support leaders in their entrepreneurial challenges.

Learn from Marco Baron, governance expert and SME enthusiast, how to tackle the key issues facing SMEs:

  • Retaining talent and growing your team
  • Optimize your resources in the face of inflation
  • Easier access to financing
  • Integrating innovation to stay competitive
  • Increase your customer base and strengthen your reputation

When: January 21, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Where : Hôtel Château Roberval

Price : Free

To register

Luncheon conference – Act to modernize the occupational health and safety system (AOHSRS): What are my obligations?

The permanent LMRSST regime will come into force by the end of 2025. It will be accompanied by changes in occupational health and safety, including psychosocial risks. As employers, what are your legal obligations regarding care in the workplace?

Audrey Mailloux, CNESST prevention advisor, and Nicolas Marquis, CNESST psychological health advisor, will answer this question at this luncheon conference.

When: January 23, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Where : Hôtel Château Roberval

Price : Free

To register

Training – Become a mobilizing leader!
Are you a leader, manager or supervisor? Adopt an approach that inspires autonomy, participation and commitment in your teams, thanks to this training.

Module 1: Roles and responsibilities and the mobilizing leader approach

  • Discover the challenges and benefits of mobilizing leadership.
  • Identify your strengths and levers of influence
  • Analyze your management habits and explore practical tools for effective supervision.

Module 2: Managerial courage and decision-making

  • Navigate through tough decisions with courage and confidence.
  • Analyze the impact of your choices on your team and your organization.
  • Explore concrete strategies for overcoming personal and professional management obstacles.

When : February 4 and 18, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where : Hôtel Château Roberval

Price : 20 $

To register

2nd edition of the “Grand Rendez-vous du bonheur au travail

In a context where labour shortages and mental health are in the spotlight, this second edition of the Grand Rendez-vous du bonheur au travail (Happiness at Work Rendezvous) comes at just the right time, inviting all interested parties to a large gathering on the theme of happiness at work, on the occasion of National Day for the Promotion of Positive Mental Health.

When : March 13, 2025

Where : Hôtel du Jardin, Saint-Félicien

Price : $90 pre-sale (plus fees and taxes) – $120 after January 15 (plus fees and taxes)

Find out more.

To register

Workforce Solutions Day

When : March 27, 2025

Information to come

These activities are made possible thanks to the financial participation of the Quebec government.

Financial support for SMEs in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region: nearly $3 million to boost business transfers and their green and digital transition.

Roberval, December 05, 2024 – The five Sociétés d’Aide au Développement des Collectivités (SADCs) in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region are launching three new funds, with investments totalling close to $3 million, to meet the needs of entrepreneurs in the region. They are offering new financial products in the form of loans to support business transfers and accelerate their green and digital transition.

Entrepreneurs will benefit from loans of up to $50,000 on advantageous terms – including a two-year interest-free period. Beyond financing, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean’s SADCs also offer personalized support, training and tools, and open the door for SMEs to a vast network of expertise and partners. SADC advisors have the advantage of being familiar with the economic challenges in their area, and of having a board of directors made up of local leaders. These are key factors in the success of regional businesses.

More resources to support the future of SMEs

These new funds are part of new measures made possible by the recent renewal of our agreements with Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED). These agreements ensure the continuation and sustainability of CFDC and BDC activities throughout Quebec.

About new funds

The three new funds offer advantageous terms and conditions that may vary slightly from one CFDC or BDC to another. Overall, loans of up to $50,000 include a two-year interest vacation, as well as a moratorium on principal for the first three months, which can be extended for up to two years.

Financing Transfer strategy

To facilitate the transfer of businesses in the region, both for internal and family succession and for business acquisitions.

Green strategy financing

To accelerate the greening of small businesses in the regions of Quebec by facilitating the adoption of eco-responsible practices or the implementation of clean technologies within companies, such as optimizing the energy or waste efficiency of SMEs or reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

Financing Digital strategy

To accelerate the digital transition of small businesses, such as the implementation of management systems (CRM, ERP), process automation, robotics, home automation or even the optimization of IT security.

Canada Economic Development supports CFDCs financially

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Information
Jean-François Laliberté, General Manager SADC Maria-Chapdelaine
lalibertejf@sadcmaria.qc.ca
418 276-0405 poste 202

For :
SADC du Fjord
SADC du Haut-Saguenay
SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Est
SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest
SADC Maria-Chapdelaine

The Table de concertation en employabilité du Domaine-du-Roy launches its fall programming!

After last spring’s resounding success, the Table de concertation en employabilité du Domaine-du-Roy is back in full force with new activities specially designed for employers and managers in our territory.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to take part in events that will help you meet your human resources management and professional development challenges.

Once again, we look forward to seeing you there!

Programming :

Lunch conference – The job market in Domaine-du-Roy: Trends, employment prospects and possible solutions

At this conference, the director and business advisor of Services Québec de Roberval will share an in-depth analysis of labor market trends, prepared by economists in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, based on the reality of our territory.

When: October 31, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Where : Hôtel Château Roberval

Price : Free

To register

  • Training – Costing and simplified profitability

Would you like to gain a better understanding of costing concepts and their importance for effective financial management in your company? We’ve got a course for you!

Content expert Dany Boivin offers a program that will give you a basic understanding of essential costing concepts.

When: November 5, November 19 and December 3, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where : Hôtel du Jardin à Saint-Félicien

price : 40 $

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a manager, this training course will give you the tools you need to improve your company’s financial performance!

To register

  • Virtual conference – AI will revolutionize employer branding, but how?

Predicting what the job market will be like in 6 months’ time, personalizing the employee experience, generating marketing content to promote the employer brand – does this sound familiar? This is just a brief glimpse of what AI has the power to achieve. Join us to understand how this technology will shake up your business model, but more importantly, how you can take advantage of it to propel your employer brand to new heights.

Trainer: Hugues Foltz, co-owner and executive vice-president of Vooban, a firm renowned for its expertise in artificial intelligence and the development of customized software solutions. Mr. Foltz has been helping companies develop and execute their digital transformation for over 20 years.

When: December 10, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: Virtual conference

Price : Free

To register

These activities are made possible thanks to the financial participation of the Quebec government.

2023-2024 results for Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean CFDCs

Saguenay, July 8, 2024 – Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean’s five SADCs join forces to share investments in the region for 2023-2024. The Community Futures Development Corporations cover the entire region, excluding the boroughs of Jonquière and Chicoutimi. They have been investing expertise, time and money in local economic development and in our region’s SMEs for almost 40 years.
This year alone, the five teams assisted nearly 200 entrepreneurs by providing support in various areas of management, either directly by existing employees or with the help of external consultants, for a total investment of 862 hours and $183,502.
A total of $1,151,700 was invested in regular financing for 26 companies, whether at the acquisition, start-up, expansion or modernization stage. For entrepreneurs under the age of 40, the Youth Strategy program supported 23 young entrepreneurs and invested $345,062 in their projects. The Green Shift program deployed by the CFDCs, for its part, propelled 30 projects to an investment of $354,975 in corporate and community sustainable development initiatives.
Some of these projects were carried out in partnership between the five SADCs, which have not hesitated to pool their human and financial resources in order to benefit from the strength of their impact on priority issues in our region, such as the digital shift of businesses, the circular economy and other sustainable development initiatives.

Resources will soon be added to the CFDC service offering to support companies in the transfer process over the next few years. A new fund offering advantageous financing will be available in the coming weeks.
The CFDCs are NPOs, involving 42 volunteer directors serving their communities. This represents more than 545 volunteer hours offered for community development in 2023-2024!
CFDC activities are financially supported by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. A new agreement has just been announced for the next five years by the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED for the regions of Quebec, to ensure the continuation of CFDC and BDC activities throughout Quebec.

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Source : Christine Boily, directrice générale
SADC du Fjord
Christine.boily@sadcdufjord.qc.ca
418-544-2885 poste 3

For :
SADC du Fjord
SADC du Haut Saguenay
SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Est
SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest
SADC Maria-Chapdelaine

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024

The Société d’aide au développement des collectivités Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest inc. will hold its annual general meeting on June 18, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Chalets et Spa Lac Saint-Jean, Chambord.

At this meeting, 6 director positions will be elected. Eligible persons interested in becoming a director must submit their candidacy at least three days prior to the meeting by completing a form provided by the SADC.

This form is available by clicking here, or on request by calling 418 275-2531. Nominations will be accepted at this meeting only for positions for which no nominations have been received previously.

By order of the Board of Directors.

Roberval, April 16, 2024

Cathy Côté, Secretary-Treasurer

Launch of the second phase of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean circular economy project

Photo : courtoisie

ALMA – The second phase of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Circular Economy project is underway. The Centre québécois de développement durable (CQDD) and its partners, the SADC du Haut-Saguenay, Alliage 02 and Groupe Coderr, held a press conference this morning to mark the occasion. This second phase is made possible thanks to the financial support of Rio Tinto..

“With this second phase, our ambition is to multiply collaborations between businesses and organizations in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region to reduce waste and extend the life of products. To achieve this, we’re going to capitalize on the 1,000 or so offers and requests that have been collected over the past 30 months from 247 companies, so that one company’s waste becomes another’s raw material. In short, we’re going to create business opportunities in the circular economy that will reduce losses, supply costs and disposal costs, while having a positive impact on the environment,” points out Nicolas Gagnon, CQDD General Manager.

The aim of this vast operation is to continue the work undertaken to set up a regional industrial symbiosis, i.e. a network of organizations linked by exchanges of materials, water, energy or material and human resources. Over the past 30 months, the project’s instigators have supported more than 240 organizations in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. The project has reduced GHG emissions by 1,500 tonnes and diverted nearly 279 tonnes of materials from landfill.

“Thanks to this collaboration with our partners, innovation continues in a collaborative spirit to have a positive impact in our region and for our planet. The circular economy represents the future at Coderr, where waste reduction, resource reuse and environmental preservation are at the heart of our actions”, says Dave Gosselin, Assistant General Manager at Groupe Coderr.

One of the targets of this new phase is to document the needs and offers of over 135 organizations, with a view to creating over 30 synergies and collaborations between them. To achieve this, the region’s companies will be able to take part in networking workshops, which will help to clarify needs and offers.

“Because investing is only one of the levers of success, we believe that collaboration in such a project is essential. That’s why we believe it’s important to participate in creating this strong, solid ecosystem,” says André Boily, General Manager of SADC du Haut-Saguenay for the region’s five SADCs.

“For Alliage 02, the circular economy is like cement between bricks; it’s the link between development and the environment needed to ensure the prosperity of our businesses. This awareness is becoming increasingly integrated into business practices. Synergies have a positive and palpable influence on the ecosystem of our industrial parks, notably by becoming increasingly attractive living environments,” adds Nathalie Simard, General Manager of Alliage 02.

Source : Informe Affaires
By : Frédérica Fortin-Foster

150 people attend “From idea to action” sustainable development symposium

Mission accomplished for the first sustainable development symposium organized by four local economic development organizations. The event, which took place on Wednesday November 1 at the Hôtel du Jardin in Saint-Félicien, attracted 150 people.

The idea for this symposium came from a discussion held about a year ago. At that time, the organizers realized that each organization was proposing small activities.

“We said to ourselves, ‘Why don’t we get together and take things a step further? We have to admit that, with 150 participants, our proposal was well received. It exceeded our expectations, as we had set ourselves a target of 80 people. We’re really pleased with the response,” explains Marc Tremblay, DG at SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest.

The aim of the symposium was to give companies ideas for taking action. The aim was to support them in taking concrete steps towards sustainable development.

“The morning was lighter in terms of content, with exchanges between participants. In the afternoon, however, we went further into our topics.”

Speakers and workshops on a variety of themes ensured that participants returned home with a wealth of additional knowledge.

A second edition

In view of the success of this first edition, Marc Tremblay believes it is highly likely that there will be a second edition next year.

“We don’t know yet, at least for the moment, what the content of the next symposium will be. This type of activity fills a need for companies looking for support in dealing with all the regulations they have to deal with”.

For the organizers, SADC Lac-Saint-Jean Ouest, SADC Maria-Chapdelaine and the Domaine-du-Roy and Maria-Chapdelaine MRCs, it was important to hold this kind of exercise in Saint-Félicien rather than in Alma or Saguenay, as is often the case.

Source : Le Nouvelles Hebdo
By : Jean Tremblay

A new general manager at SADC Lac-St-Jean Ouest

Marc Tremblay takes over as General Manager of SADC Lac-St-Jean Ouest. A native of Roberval, he succeeds Serge Desgagné, who is retiring after 23 years at the helm of the organization.

In a press release, SADC emphasized that Mr. Tremblay’s profile matched what the institution was looking for. A graduate of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) in business administration, Mr. Tremblay has 14 years’ experience with financial institutions in the Lac-Saint-Jean region.

“Mr. Tremblay’s qualifications for the position also fitted in very well with the change of direction we’ve embarked on in recent months, a direction in which we want to get closer to local businesses to better meet their needs,” says company president Charles Desbiens.

He adds that the new General Manager has developed a number of critical skills over the course of his career that will be put to good use in his new role. “His years of experience and knowledge of team management and business development will be particularly useful in a small organization like SADC.

For his part, Marc Tremblay is ready and excited to take on this new professional challenge with his new team, a challenge for which he says he is well equipped and supported. “I’m adapting very well to my new organization, even if there’s a lot of information and knowledge to transfer as part of this change of guard. The internal dynamic has been excellent since my arrival, and I have every confidence that this transition will go smoothly.”

Source :leQuotiden
By : Isabelle Tremblay

Creation of a Circle for women entrepreneurs in Domaine-du-Roy

On Wednesday, October 12, at the Hôtel du Jardin in Saint-Félicien, the Cercle pour les femmes entrepreneures du Domaine-du-Roy will be launched, a group of businesswomen looking to improve their networking and share their entrepreneurial experience.

The idea for the Cercle came from agents of the Société d’aide au développement des collectivités (SADC) Lac-St-Jean Ouest and Émilie Tremblay, a businesswoman specializing in bereavement intervention.

« Émilie had already taken part in exchange circles. These were beneficial experiences for her. In the course of our discussions, we decided last June to send out an in-house survey containing around ten questions. We wanted to validate the interest of women entrepreneurs in our region in creating an exchange circle. », explains Steeve Larouche, local development officer at SADC Lac-St-Jean Ouest.

A survey showed that there was a real interest in forming a group for women in business. The results were significant.

“Marlène Claveau, co-owner of Trium Médias, corroborated what the survey had shown. She confirmed that there was a real need for women entrepreneurs to get together. In particular, to break the isolation often experienced by women in business,” he adds.

The launch

After several meetings, the idea of creating a Cercle pour femmes entrepreneures du Domaine-du-Roy took shape.

For her part, Émilie Tremblay, who has established a number of business partnerships in Quebec, had been hoping for such a group for some time.

“With my company, I create business links. I found it unfortunate that we didn’t have an exchange group for women entrepreneurs in the Upper Lake region. On the other hand, they do exist elsewhere in the region,” she explains.

Initially, the founding meeting will not impose any formal structures. For the moment, there’s no question of forming an NPO with a Board of Directors. The primary aim of the meeting is to launch the association.

“All women in business are welcome, regardless of the size of the company or the field in which they operate,” says Marlène Claveau of Trium Médias.

“October 12 will mark the launch of this wonderful initiative, which will be held as part of a 5 à 7. Small bites will be served. Anyone interested can attend free of charge. On this occasion, we will form a small committee to plan future meetings,” concludes Steeve Larouche.

Émilie Tremblay, Marlène Claveau and Steeve Larouche have joined forces to form the first Cercle pour les femmes entrepreneures du Domaine-du-Roy.

Source :Letoiledulac
By : Jean Tremblay
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