Annual report of CÉCS for 2015-2016 financial year

1. ANNUAL REPORTANNUAL REPORT
2015-2016
VISION
The Conseil économique et
coopératif de la Saskatchewan
is the organization that speaks
for the economic development
of the Fransaskois community.
The vision motivating the
CÉCS is that the Fransaskois
community become a pillar of
the province’s economic growth.
MISSION
In its role as spokesperson,
the CÉCS hopes that its
actions will ensure that the
economic development of
the Fransaskois community
is viable, prosperous, and
innovative, by providing timely
and appropriate services and
programming.

2. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
It is with great pleasure I present you this annual report
demonstrating the strength of the Conseil économique et
coopératif de la Saskatchewan (CÉCS).
2015-2016 was a year marked by action and change, with
a new name, a new logo, and revisions to the organization’s
regulations and bylaws. Changes made in the economic
development, employability, and tourism sectors have
strengthened the mission of our organization and give
it an image fitting of its mandate. The CÉCS is pleased
to always be able to rely on the national network
(RDÉE Canada). A number of activities have been initiated
to create awareness to various government bodies of the
network’s mission and its impact.
The growing expertise of the CÉCS is well-known; demand
is on the rise for our programs and services, which are
constantly evolving to meet the needs of our entrepreneurs,
our communities and our members.
I would like to thank all my colleagues on the board of
directors, the management team, and the employees of the
CÉCS for their dedication and their excellent work.
Our sincere thanks to our funding agencies, Employment
and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Western Economic
Diversification (WD), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Canada (IRCC), and Canadian Heritage, who have allowed us
to implement our programs.
Amadou Djigo
Chair
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
What a year the CÉCS has had! A year of change, renewal,
engagement, and innovation.
Over the past year, Saskatchewan has done an excellent
job of overcoming the major economic challenges facing
the province. Not only have statistics continued to improve
but entrepreneurs in the province have gotten down to work
and have, in spite of everything, performed well.
The CÉCS had the support of a network that pulled together
and relied on collaboration to reiterate its mission and its
importance to the new government that came to power.
This positive annual report provides only a glimpse of the
initiatives and projects on which the CÉCS focused during the
year. None of these would ever have been possible without
the hard work of the employees, which I greatly appreciate.
In addition to the employees, I would like to thank the
members of the board, for their continued commitment
to our mission and our projects, and our members, whose
numbers continue to rise. Finally, a special thank-you to our
funding agencies, without whom our day-to-day work would
not be possible.
Thank you to everyone. Enjoy reading the annual report!
Robert Therrien
Executive Director

3. clients served
young entrepreneurs met
information services
for business
advisory services
for business
jobs created, maintained,
and improved
businesses created,
maintained, and improved
Two Saskatchewan business representatives
attended Naturallia
participants
businesses met
businesses wanting
to do business in
Saskatchewan
Pilot project launched in 2015,
first steps initiated this year
networking activities
were organized
entrepreneurs were contacted
and participated
regions were targeted:
Prince Albert and Saint-Denis
training sessions for business
artisanal
businesses were
contacted
artisanal
businesses
were visted
businesses were
pre-selected
businesses
are currently
undergoing
feasability studies
Networking workshops are organized in
communities to make people aware of
CÉCS programs and services and to provide
entrepreneurs with an opportunity to promote
their businesses
BUSINESS
SERVICES
NATURALLIA
ÉCONOMUSÉES®
NETWORKING
WORKSHOPS/ACTIVITIES
522
110
34
24
2
33 18 5 3
30
2
9
99
597
685
290
80

4. (Bravo Entreprises)
Bravo to the
Francophone
entrepreneurs!
banquet
participants
regions
represented
business
nominated
categories
(Rendez-vous économique)
The 2015 Economic Forum
focused on economic immigration
6CV and interview workshops were held
in Saskatoon. 1workshop in Regina.
508people assisted, including
142permanent residents.
BRAVOBUSINESSAWARD
JOB FAIRS
CV AND INTERVIEW
WORKSHOPS
MINI JOB FAIRS
ECONOMIC FORUM
ECONOMIC IMMIGRATION SERVICES
108
6
63
participants
Topics discussed:
- Opportunities for immigrants and
economic benefits
- Business opportunities
- Personal testimony of an
integrated immigrant
- Challenges and opportunities for employers
well-known speakers
in the field
- Matthieu Brennan
- Denis Prud’homme
- Ronald Ajavon
job fairs were organized
over the year
job fairs were held in Saskatoon
mini job fairs were
organized:
2 in Saskatoon and
1 in Moose Jaw
job seekers were served
With the collaboration of
Maple Leaf Consumer
Foods, Moose Jaw
Multicultural Council,
Walmart, Saskatoon
Co-op, Saskatoon
Manpower and Adecco
permanent residents
were served
job fairs were held in Regina
416participants in all, including
133permanent residents
Partners: SODS – Saskatoon Open Door Society,
NIC – Newcomer Information Centre of Saskatoon,
GGP – the Global Gathering Place, IWS – International
Women of Saskatoon, RIWC – Regina Immigrant Women
Centre, ACF – Assemblée Communautaire Fransaskoise,
Patrners in employment, YWCA, Multicouncil of Prince
Albert Multicouncil of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
polytechnique, Cité Universitaire de Regina,
Conseil des écoles fransaskoises
45
4
2
2
3
3
103
45

5. COMMUNITY
SERVICES
YOUNG CANADA
WORKSTOURISM
YOUTH
ECONOMY
GEOCACHING
BIENVENUE
SIGNAGE
GOLF
TOURNAMENT
bilingual geocaches were created
and activated (100% increase)
regions are involved in the program
participating
businesses
businesses/
organizations were
added this year
visitors over the year, including
124 during the summer season
(259% increase)
people in
attendance
visitors to
the CÉCS booth
positions in
Saskatchewan
positions in
Manitoba
positions in
Nunavut
positions in
Northwest
Territories
positions
served the
Francophone
community
directly
visitors signed up
to receive new
tourist information
from the CÉCS
Salon Chasse, pêche et camping de
Montréal (Montreal Hunting,
Fishing and Camping Expo)
Program whose purpose is to
identify businesses providing service
in French through the
display of “Bienvenue” decals
YOUNG
ENTREPRENEURS
Workshop aimed at
developing student
awareness of business
development and
responsibility
43participants
SOCIAL STUDIES DAY
Presentation to
students on various
topics associated with
entrepreneurship
25participants
1st
annual
fundraising golf
tournament for
the Fondation
fransaskoise
participants
received in
sponsorships
raised and
donated to
the Fondation
10
3
130
25
$5000
$4350
40
251
41,146 440 25 32
33
3
3
48

6. AT THE CÉCS COMMUNICATIONS
NUMBER OF NEW MEMBERS
23 new CÉCS members (9% increase)
CHANGE OF NAME AND LOGO
The organization changed its name to better
reflect its mandate and its mission.
A new name necessarily means a new logo. We
selected a more structured and more timeless
logo. The change in colours represents the Green
Economy sector.
NEW BRAVO LOGO
We took advantage of our new branding to rework
the Bravo logo. We chose something that is unique
but that also relates to the CÉCS image. Smaller
versions were created for use in limited space.
NEW WEBSITE
- 17,4% increase in traffic
- 4138 sessions and over
10,270 pages viewed
in 5 months
- 69% new visitors, on average
FACEBOOK
- 93 new “Likes”
(17% increase)
- total of 223 “Likes”
(to March 31, 2016)
- 132 publications
TWITTER
- 249 subscribers
(70% increase)
- 738 tweets
NEWSLETTER
- sent out 6 times a year
- 9,8% increase in subscribers
(18 new)
PHOTO CONTEST
- 3 different photo contests
- 64 photos submitted
- 91 photos identified with the
hashtag #capturezlask
- total of 12 winners

7. 1- Head office
1440 9th
Avenue North,
suite 205
Regina, SK S4R 8B1
Phone: 306 566-6000
1 800 670-0879
2- Prince Albert
425 13th
Street East
Prince Albert, SK
S6V 1E2
Phone: 1 800 670-0879
Fax: 306 764-3749
3- Saskatoon
308 4th
Avenue North
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 2L7
Phone: 1 800 670-0879
Fax: 306 244-4917
4- Moose Jaw
88 Saskatchewan St. E.
Moose Jaw, SK
S6H 0V4
Phone: 306 513-7767
5- Zenon Park
755 Main Street
P.O. Box 173
Zenon Park, SK
S0E 1W0
Phone: 306 767-2201
©2016 design @ the yellow studio – le studio jaune
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