Bishop’s University celebrates success of Estrie-Preneur Program

Bishop’s University is pleased to highlight the end of the third year of the Estrie-Preneur program, which enjoys the partnership of Desjardins, the Williams School of Business of Bishop’s University and the Dobson-Lagassé Entrepreneurship Centre.

Estrie-Preneur was created in 2015 thanks to the $200,000 gift from Desjardins, which contributed an additional $50,000 for bursaries to the Leading the Way capital campaign. Every year, and until 2020, four businesses located in the Eastern Townships benefit, free of charge, from the work of two entrepreneurship students who work, during an 8-week internship, on a project submitted by the entrepreneurs.

Mr. Jessy Melançon, Manager, Commercial and Industrial Market Business Development of Desjardins Entreprises, emphasized that this was yet another example of the organization’s commitment to education and entrepreneurship. “Desjardins is very proud to be linked to Estrie-Preneur. Innovation and audacity are two qualities that entrepreneurs must show when creating a business, and those qualities are surely beneficial for the economic and social development of a society. We recognize that building the next generation of entrepreneurs is critical to the health of the economy.”

Agilean, Fondation du Cégep de Sherbrooke, Tecking and La Pinte were the chosen businesses to participate in this year’s program. Pascal Valade, co-owner of La Pinte, has nothing but praises for the program and the students he worked with. “Both students have showcased great leadership and professionalism.”

The students who participated in the program were helped and coached by Vincent Cloutier, a lecturer at the Williams School of Business and instructor and supervisor for the second year of the Estrie-Preneur program. “The students who participated in the program impressed me a great deal throughout their internship. They deserve much credit for the exemplary seriousness and rigour they showed. They also applied the knowledge they gained during their time in class,” said Vincent Cloutier.

(from left to right): Vincent Cloutier, Estrie-Preneur Supervisor and Contract Faculty at Bishop’s, Alexandra Guérin ’18, Pascal Valade, co-owner of La Pinte, Élisabeth Dupuis, student and Jessy Mélançon, Manager, Commercial and Industrial Market, Business Development at Desjardins Entreprises.

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For additional information:
Stéphanie Chicoine – Social Media Officer
schicoin@ubishops.ca
819-822-9600, ext. 2602