On Monday, August 21, Cégep de Valleyfield General Manager Marc Rémillard invited the local media to the back-to-school luncheon, an activity that began in 2019. Once again, Rémillard took stock of the past year's achievements, in addition to outlining the college's current and upcoming major projects.

"With the exception of the first year, when we held lunch, I think this is the most normal start to the school year we've had since the arrival of the pandemic. It must be said that our students wore masks in class until April 2022. It's therefore significant for us to welcome you on this official day of the new school year, despite the excitement on campus," he began.

Several milestone achievements in 2022-2023

The past year has been marked by a number of achievements at Cégep de Valleyfield. One of these was the completion and adoption of the 2023-2028 strategic plan. "In March 2020, work on designing the new plan was well underway, but the health crisis put everything on pause. At that point, our priority was to be able to offer quality distance learning to our students, and all our efforts were devoted to this goal. So we decided to opt for a two-year transition plan, from 2020 to 2022," he later recounted.

Then, in September 2022, work was relaunched. "We finally proceeded to adopt it last June after 18 months of work, during which staff members were consulted at an institutional day held in January 2023. We're very proud of the result," he added on the subject.

One of the objectives of the 2023-2028 strategic plan is to maximize students' educational success. "We also want to become a first-choice CEGEP in the region, both for future students and for workers interested in joining our staff."

On the environmental front, the Cégep's strategic plan also envisages the development of actions aimed at improving the public transport offer that serves it. There is also an objective in the document to put in place actions to maintain current partnerships with community organizations such as the CISSSMO, beyond the presence of senior management.

Updated common areas

The Cégep de Valleyfield will also be undergoing major renovations in 2022-2023.

The expansion of the residence, located at the corner of Saint-Thomas and Champlain streets, just a few steps from the Cégep, is well underway."The new section will welcome its first tenants in January 2024. We would have liked to open earlier, that's what was originally planned, but we had to revise the schedule due to delays with the ventilation system.The project is being completed by the same company that won the bid for phase 1, Construction Jacques Théorêt."

Phase 1 of the residence accommodates 69 residents. Phase 2 will accommodate the same number, for a total of 140 residents when completed. At the moment, the future occupants of phase 2 are living on the 3rd floor of the Cégep de Valleyfield's G wing. "Once they've moved out, there will be no occupants left on this floor, and the rooms will be converted into classrooms," shared Mr. Rémillard.

Other recent major projects include the modernization of the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield campus entrance hall and cafeteria. In both cases, students and staff were consulted on the new layout. The cafeteria features a number of wood panellings, offering a hushed ambience. "Respondents said they felt at home in this cocooning space."

The website, refurbished over the past year, is also among the 2023-2024 achievements. The project is the culmination of an 18-month project involving the Communications Department and the Information Technology Division.

" The old site dated back to 2013.It was important to redo it since it's the first showcase in our approaches to students and future workers. It was launched last April, but we're still fine-tuning it. It has been adapted to our new visual identity.The agency Les prétentieux helped us with this project " explains Geneviève Boileau, Director of Communications at Cégep de Valleyfield.

Another investment to be completed in 2023-2024 is the fitting-out of the Noir et Or soccer team's changing room at Cité-des-Arts et des Sports, at a cost of over $100,000.

" Previously, the locker room was located in the gymnasium area, but it was becoming less adapted to the team's needs.It can accommodate up to 70 players with all their equipment.We have a 10-year lease with the Cité-des-Arts et des Sports. A coaches' office and a video room will also eventually be fitted out for the team's needs " confided head coach Sébastien Archambault.

The Noir et Or's regular season kicks off on September 2, but the first home game will be played on September 9.