On September 11 and 12, 2025, Denison and Rose had the opportunity to visit Montreal and Quebec City both in Quebec province. In both these two cities the social solidarity economy (SSE) movement is very active.
In Montreal we visited Chantie, a network of networks of SSE organisations and a prime mover of the social economy movement. Here we met Joelle, Felix and Tam. Later we met Nancy Neamtan the founder of Chantier and a former coordinator of RIPESS inter-continental organisation.
In Quebec City we met Yvon, another RIPESS global leader as well as Isabelle of CDEC is a community economic development nonprofit organisation.
It is significant to learn that in Quebec province, there are over 11,300 SSE organisations which are organisations not for personal profit but for community with a social and environmental objective.
We were told that French speaking communities had little access to business, financial and educational opportunities. They therefore looked to community and mutual support organisations for socio economic development. SSE is popular and a vehicle for social mobility. They have the legislation, some funding for the provisional government and there is a massive peoples movement taking control to change their economic and social standing for the better in society.
The Chantier, a French word which means a space to work out details or a place for construction became a space for conversation and working out solutions. Chantier is an SSE organisation providing training and consultancy. Receives funding from the government as well as private foundation. The CDEC likewise is an organisation giving support to SSE organisations in the Quebec City area.
Both Nancy and Yvon who are senior SSE leaders continue to have passion and play a major role in grooming younger leaders. Both are retired from former employment now service in a voluntary role. We had a good conversation with them.
Both Chartier and CDEC are good examples for APPGM SDG as we too play a facilitating role in Malaysia via consultancy, capacity training and mentoring grassroots movements to develop alternative economic innovations which are more inclusive and economic sharing for collective benefit.
Joelle prepared a set of slides which provides a comprehensive information of SSE in Quebec. This is enclosed for your reading and study.
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