SNC officials savour big cheese contribution
Posted Nov 6, 2009 By John Nelson
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Tweet ThisEMC News A $5,000 donation to the South Nation Conservation (SNC) Clean Water Program could have a far greater impact than the actual dollar value, according to the conservation authority's clean water chairman.
"It's very significant," said Denis Perrault, chairman of the SNC's clean water committee, after receiving the donation from Denis Latour, president of the St. Albert Cheese Co-operative on Oct. 26. "That $5,000 will do the work of $75,000 to $100,000."
The Clean Water Program provides landowners with grants for water-quality improvement projects such as erosion control, manure storage, milk house waste water treatment and disposal and other projects.
"We do believe in helping," said Mr. Latour, who has been St. Albert president since March. "We use a lot of water."
He noted that the 37 members of the co-op were farmers and individual members could benefit directly from the donation through grants for projects on their lands.
Mr. Latour said that wasn't, however, the motivating factor behind the donation.
"We do believe in helping the community, too," he explained. "Making money is one thing but ... we're part of the community. We like to give back."
Mr. Latour added that in addition to the 37 members of the co-op, St. Albert's employs about 60 people, all from the area.
"We're very happy," Mr. Perrault said, pointing out that the cheese co-operative has been a supporter of the Clean Water Program for almost a decade.
He added that the South Nation River runs right through St. Albert and the area was a prime target for improvements, explaining that the large amount of dairy cattle in the area made it a good location for projects to restrict livestock access to the waterway.
Mr. Latour said the donation to South Nation Conservation is part of St. Albert's ongoing efforts to support local charities and non-profit organizations. He said the co-op gives out about $100,000 a year to support local groups and organizations, including the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, church groups and others.
While Mr. Latour was not sure that the local water helped St. Albert produce a world-famous cheese, he said, with a laugh, that cheese fans might find out soon enough as the co-op has recently purchased a new facility in St. Jerome, Que., near Montreal.
The Clean Water Program is the SNC's top priority and is seen as the best tool for quality improvements across the watershed.
Since 1993, the program has made more than 590 projects, valued at $8.8 million, possible by providing more than $1.9 million in funding.
The South Nation River flows northeast from Brockville for 175 kilometres and empties into the Ottawa River near Plantagenet. The watershed covers 3,900 square kilometres in 15 municipalities.
