About
INTRODUCTION
Route des Gerbes d'Angelica represents a vision, a collective effort, an exceptional journey, boundless commitment, humanitarian efforts, and constant growth.
It is a parent company overseeing three (3) distinct companies, including Angelica Route Gourmand, Auberge La Daïna, and Éditions Seminis.
History
HISTORICAL
In 2008, about fifteen longtime friends, at retirement age, decided to purchase 94 acres of land in Mirabel, Quebec. This land included a house, a barn, a greenhouse, small buildings, farmland, forestry, and several vegetable gardens. Retired and active professionals from various fields, they share a worldview focused on human conditions and the ecological and environmental fragility of the planet.
As part of their development strategy, they decided to rent part of the cultivated land from a local farmer and use seven and a half acres (7 ½ acres) of land to transform it into fourteen (14) thematic gardens, integrating music and high quality graphic, decorative and fun visual aspects.
For this project to come to fruition, the collaboration of the co-owners provides the foundation for the establishment and construction of the gardens. So, a few members decided by mutual agreement to live together in the big house and to adopt a way of life based on a charter of values designed around fairness, solidarity, sharing and respect for others. This challenge, this cohabitation, represents an innovative response to the business challenges and the social, economic and environmental objectives targeted by and for each of the members.res.
In the same year, in 2008, a non-profit organization (NPO) was created with the aim of constituting the structure of the organization which would be attached to the sectors of agri-food and agri-tourism, ensuring the incorporation of a new company under the governance of Route des Gerbes d'Angelica, named Angelica Route Gourmande. Both carry out their mission based on principles of sustainable development and also on the humanitarian and community aspect.
The services offered are aimed, among others, at :
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Local food assistance organizations
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Disadvantaged children in local and international schools
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Organizations supporting the status of women in all its forms
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Organizations helping youth in difficulty and young workers
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Organizations supporting young workers by offering internships supervides by RGA members
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Yound adults with disabilities by offering them work
The organization offers and implements several activities, such as NATURE DAYS for schoolchildren, whose objectives are to :
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Discover nature and create a new connection with their environment
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Reflect on the various impacts of humankind on nature
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Gain awareness of plants through botanical workshops
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Understand ecosystems
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Discover the forest
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Experience planting seeds in a portable mini garden
OPERATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - ANGELICA ROUTE GOURMANDE
In constant development, activities and operations have been added over the years :
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A food processing kitchen
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A four-season bistro/pavillon
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A local produce and gift shop
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Freeze-dryers for food production and preservation (to avoid food waste)
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The much-loved tourist attraction, the "Féérie de Noël" (Christmas Magic) with garden decorations adorned with 450, 000 lights
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A mobile food truck/kitchen
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An artisanal dairy
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A publishing house
RECOGNITION AWARD
RGA has also won numerous awards over the years, including :
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In 2023: Letter of recognition from the mayor of Mirabel, Mr. Patrick Charbonneau, for the financial support of local food banks by Route des Gerbes d’Angelica, and for its involvement in activities that have contributed to the influence of Mirabel.
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In 2023: Recognition of Thérèse Lavoie, president of Route des Gerbes d’Angelica, for her involvement for 15 years as president of the CDC (Mirabel Community Development Corporation), then as president of the Mirabel community organizations round table.
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In 2022: The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec’s Silver Medal, awarded to the President for her involvement in the community.
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In 2018: Honorable mention during a National Assembly of Quebec by Ms. Sylvie d’Amours, Minister of Indigenous Affairs in the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) party.
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In 2014 : Honorable mention at a National Assembly of Quebec by Ms. Denise Beaudoin, member of the Parti Québécois.
OTHER INVOLVEMENT
RGA also co-founded the Mirabel Tourism organization, as well as the Mirabel Summer and Christmas markets. The organization has also participated in numerous fundraising events in the same region throughout its years of operation.
AND IT DOESN'T STOP THERE!
2023
Acquisition
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
ACQUISITION OF AN HOSTEL
Mirabel in 2023 is becoming a thing of the past. However, nothing is over yet. RGA is looking to the future and taking a new direction to achieve other great challenges in the beautiful Charlevoix region, with the same enthusiasm as in the beginning and with its equally passionate and dedicated members. A project is being developed to manage an inn offering 11 rooms in an eclectic, warm and friendly decor, while maintaining in its organizational structure, the agri-food component with Angelica Route Gourmande (Bistro boutique and restaurant in the inn) and adding a publishing house for the production of various editable documents in addition to children's stories.
A wonderful adventure that continues for the happiness of our members and all those who collaborate with us to help communities, the most vulnerable people and our beautiful planet, while thinking of future generations.
The management
Our goal
SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS - RESPECT FOR NATURE
To become the benchmark (consulting service) for solutions related to food, food processing, food preservation (means, techniques, processes, etc.), food waste reduction and food safety. Encourage learning through the creation and promotion of structuring, attractive and profitable projects, based on respect for nature, the forest, the environment and the abundance of their resources, for communities and for future generations.
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Social economy - (Collective response to common challenges)
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Food security - Self-sufficiency - (Increased food self-sufficiency)
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Social services: Accompaniment - Learning (training) Agriculture - Agrifood - Horticulture (knowledge of edible plants) - Nature and forest resources - Food processing and preservation (New approach - methods and technologies)
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Environment (ecology, energy) and sustainable development
It's not just a question of giving, distributing and offering, but of involving children and adults in the various projects set up by RGA, for their well-being and autonomy; projects in which fundamental values such as benevolence, equality, solidarity, respect for others, unity with nature, sharing and involvement are at the heart of our deployment.
Our objectives
OUR OBJECTIVES ARE AS FOLLOWS :
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To put to good use the know-how, expertise and knowledge of our members, partners and collaborators to realize educational vegetable and horticultural gardens and to create lively, educational and profitable community projects for young people from kindergarten to high school, teenagers, young adults and dropouts in order to arouse their interest in:
a) gardening, by making room for them as volunteers in RGA's educational gardens
b) nature (the forest and its resources)
c) the environment
d) agriculture
e) horticulture (edible plants and flowers)
f) food (seeds, harvesting, processing)
g) preservation (freeze-drying)
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Use a variety of creative means to gradually bring families into contact with gardens, nature and forests;
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Work with people of modest means to help them achieve greater self-sufficiency in food and other forms of autonomy.
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Collaborate with our partners and collaborators to develop projects dedicated to reducing food waste, through our approach to recovering and reusing foodstuffs, i.e. the preservation method known as freeze-drying;
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With the help of the community, young and old, distribute healthy, organic and balanced foodstuffs in schools and provide food baskets to vulnerable, underprivileged and underprivileged people; foodstuffs from our freeze-drying production;
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Organize educational workshops and meetings with farmers, producers, specialists in agriculture and other related fields to pass on as much information as possible and ensure that the desire to learn becomes contagious;
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Contribute to the development of physical and nutritional energy in young and old alike;
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Bring together a variety of competent resources and the potential of each for the common good;
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Provide members and communities with information tools for discovering new farming methods (from seed to harvest, from processing to conservation and composting) and including renewable energy;
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To promote, encourage and enable exchanges between our organization, local organizations, local businesses, farmers and producers, to forge links and promote the exchange of goods and services, and to support each other in the development of business and the region;
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Promote our organization by implementing a communications strategy;
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Set up various special committees, including development committees;
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Obtain financing for development, expansion of processing facilities, addition of equipment, teaching and job creation (resources to be trained according to specificity);
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Fundraising campaigns, fundraising events, fundraising for programs and projects related to our cause and mission.
Particularities
Spreading a love
of nature
Promoting agriculture and horticulture in all its forms
Creating various training
programs aligned with
our mission and objectives
Raising awareness among oung people about the infinite resources of nature and the environment
Our values
Humanitarian
Community
Social
Educational
Respect for others
for differences
for nature and for the environment
Collaboration
Communication
Empathy
Mutual aid
Solidarity
Cooperation
Commitment
Sharing
Empowerment
Equity
Ethics
Justice