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Montreal, September 7, 2011 - Equiterre and the Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins are pleased to launch the 4th edition of the Laure Waridel bursary, which aims to help Quebec students involved in research on environmental and social action. This year, the bursary is worth $10,000.
"I’m delighted with this new edition. Since its creation in 2008, this bursary has given impetus to groundbreaking research projects that have exceeded traditional academic boundaries," says Laure Waridel, cofounder of Equiterre.
Students in a BA or MA program at a Quebec university (and 2011 graduates) have until the end of the day, November 15, 2011, to present their research project on commerce, food, agriculture, responsible consumption, transportation, energy, sustainable building or climate change. Consult the admission requirements to submit a project for consideration.
Winds of change
"This bursary is part of an inevitable progression in the 21st century," explains Gérald Larose, chair of the Caisse d'économie solidaire Desjardins. He goes on to salute past winners, Marie-Ève Arbour, Vincent Galarneau and Julie Guicheteau, for their projects on the social economy. "These projects are of great value, and of a very high quality. They are at the heart of the change we need to see in the way we do business."
Inspiring projects
"Since 2008, the bursary has supported a variety of projects on such topics as sustainable mobility, ecological and community-minded agriculture, and alternatives to environmental and social management in the areas of housing, agriculture and citizen action. This award enables the winner to undertake concrete actions related to their projects and to advance research through the dissemination of their work. Equiterre is proud to support them in this way," says Isabelle Saint-Germain, deputy executive director of Equiterre.
Marie-Ève Arbour, the winner of the 2010 edition, is currently touring Quebec, as part of her project, VISAGES régionaux du Québec, to create a map of the most inspiring environmental and social initiatives. "Without this bursary, we simply would not have been able to implement the project as we’d hoped. The Laure Waridel bursary is one of the most interesting funding opportunities for students and recent graduates. And the fact that Equiterre and the Caisse d'économie solidaire Desjardins are behind this award, which is given to us in the utmost confidence, gives us the feeling that these organizations are behind us and that they support our goals."
A description of Marie-Ève Arbour’s winning project is available at the Equiterre website.
Laure Waridel
Laure Waridel is a sociologist specializing in international development and the environment. Considered one of the pioneers of fair trade and responsible consumption in Quebec, she is the author of L’Envers de l’assiette (The other side of the plate) and Acheter c’est voter, le cas du café (Buying is voting: the case of coffee). She has been recognized for her commitment to social and environmental causes, by Quebec’s Cercle des Phénix, an honorary society for environmentalists, as well as with a Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Pléiade from the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, an association of parliaments from French-speaking countries. In June 2011, Earth Day Canada gave her the "Outstanding Commitment to the Environment Award." In 1993, Ms. Waridel cofounded Equiterre, where she has since worked as a volunteer, employee, speaker, spokesperson and chair of the Board of Directors. Still a member of the organization, she is pursuing doctoral studies in Geneva on the emergence of a new, just, ecological economy.
Equiterre
Equiterre helps build a social movement by encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to make ecological and equitable choices, in a spirit of solidarity.
Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins
The Caisse d’économie solidaire develops collective entrepreneurship, particularly within four areas: unions, community or voluntary, co-operatives and culture. It advises citizens on how to manage their personal finances in a way that is both financially and socially responsible.
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Source :
Éveline Trudel-Fugère
Equiterre
etfugere@equiterre.org
514-605-2000
Marie-Reine Roy
Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins
marie-reine.roy@desjardins.com
514-598-1666, 127
