Today, about 200 members have capital shares in the co-operative and a vested interest, not only financially, but in delivering quality personalized care and services to residents. Many of these members are also volunteers. The solidarity among members has created a prosperous organization with a strong sense of community.
The co-operative has numerous volunteers of all ages who support Le Chez-Nous in ensuring residents receive the best care possible while staying connected to their community. Volunteers assist with meal service and social activities such as bingos and card games, planting and taking care of the vegetable gardens, playing music and religious services. Volunteers make an enormous contribution towards improving the daily lives of residents and help bring community life and spirit inside Le Chez-Nous. Volunteers are regularly recognized, and Le Chez-Nous is confident that they will continue to play an important role in the quality of life of its residents.
Expansions were made to the building in 2009, 2013 and 2017, along with major renovations in 2021. Le Chez-Nous has 42 single rooms and 3 double rooms, accommodating a total of 48 residents. Twelve rooms are set up according to provincial standards to eventually house residents requiring personalized long-term care. The most recent expansion also includes the addition of a large room devoted to activities for residents and seniors of the community.
Providing a high quality of service to residents always remains a paramount consideration at Le Chez-Nous. The co-operative offers family members assurance that other interests will not override the interests of those receiving care. There is no incentive in the co-operative structure to shortchange service quality for considerations like profit maximization. Le Chez-Nous enjoys great financial stability because of this co-operative structure; it has a loyal following and deep roots in the community.
Since the center is a non-profit co-operative and registered charity, all earnings and donations are reinvested in the services provided to Le Chez-Nous’ residents. For Le Chez-Nous, reinvesting in the care of residents means having a well-trained, fully bilingual, well-paid and stable work force and the best services possible.
In 2018, the co-operative acquired the assets of La Coopérative d’hébergement Le Bel Âge, which include 14 apartments built in 2004 (six single units and eight double units). These apartments, for people aged 55 and over, are located practically across the street from Le Chez-Nous. This acquisition allows our co-operative to continue to expand services offered to seniors in the community, including housing at a reasonable cost. Currently, Le Chez-Nous invites seniors from the community to participate in some of its social activities.
The co-operative model used at Le Chez-Nous is seen as an exemplary management model by other organizations and communities within PEI and across Canada. Outside organizations have visited the facility and met with the management team to learn more about the co-operative model, and how it can be used to successfully manage a community care facility. In 2012, the co-operative was featured in a documentary called “Building a Better World: A Co-operative History of PEI”. This film was a produced collaboratively by the PEI Co-operative Council and the Conseil de développement coopératif de l’ÎPÉ; it talks about the Chez-Nous’ success story through photos and interviews. The book “Building A Community Controlled Economy: The Evangeline Co-operative Experience” by Paul Wilkinson and Jack Quarter from the University of Toronto also recognized the success of the Chez-Nous model.
The co-operative is recognized as an excellent home for seniors where they can continue to speak the language of their choice and continue to experience their Acadian culture and heritage while enjoying life in their community with families and friends close by.
Le Chez-Nous has received numerous awards over the years. In 2018, it received the national award Lauriers de la PME, Service Business Category, from RDÉE Canada. In 2017, it received the Social Economy Business of the Year Award from the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI. In 2015, the Chez-Nous management received special recognition as Diversity Champion from RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s LIENS project for the integration of workers from other provinces and countries.
