Mont Orford sets up a project with the Christian Vachon Foundation
SUPPORTING PERSEVERANCE AND COUNTER SCHOOL DROPOUTS THROUGH SKIING!
AN INITIATIVE OF THE CORPORATION SKI & GOLF MONT-ORFORD AND THE CHRISTIAN VACHON FOUNDATION
Orford, January 15, 2018 – The Corporation Ski & Golf Mont-Orford is more than proud to announce a brand new initiative set up in collaboration with the Christian Vachon Foundation, which will enable 21 children from families in more vulnerable environments in the region to take part this year for 9 weeks of the Mont Orford Sliding School and thus taste the pleasures of sliding sports absolutely free!
It was therefore last Sunday that the 21 children, aged 5 to 16 , set off for their first time on the slopes of Mont Orford accompanied by their instructor. In addition to the free lessons, each child was given complete equipment for their lessons, a lift ticket and appropriate clothing for skiing. Each child from the MRC Memphrémagog is sponsored by the Christian Vachon Foundation.
It is thanks to six friendly races in association with the store Le Pied Sportif that the funds are raised for this project. In addition, the Corporation and the Foundation are doubling the total amount of funds raised in order to offer this program free of charge to more young people and fulfill the mission of the Christian Vachon Foundation. “It is completely natural for Mont Orford to get involved with its community. The Christian Vachon Foundation with its mission to support perseverance and educational success by giving equal opportunity to all children was a natural association! We hope that this project will be promising and that it will be able to grow even more,” said Jacques Demers, President of the Corporation Ski & Golf Mont-Orford.
The idea was to offer not only a day of skiing, but rather a regular program for optimal learning of the sport and for the children to develop a taste for skiing, the outdoors and mountain life. “It is very important for us to offer these young people the same experience as any other child enrolled in the 9-week course. This offers a global learning that is definitely geared towards success,” says Étienne Meunier, director of the Mont Orford Snow School. "For these children, the fact of committing to participate in an activity that will take place over several weeks allows them to put into practice values in terms of educational success such as commitment and perseverance", adds Christian Vachon, president of the Foundation. By making these classes a weekly activity, the correlation with school perseverance is much more noticeable!
The Christian Vachon Foundation always wants to go further in the support it provides for children and in their development. “Having them live new experiences, successes and even discover a passion is something incredible for them! But what makes me most proud of a program like this is to see all the partners who want to take part in this project which is taking place today! concluded Christian Vachon.
This year, three Le Pied Sportif races bringing together more than 200 participants will take place on January 28 , the February 18 and the event Le Coq d'Or will close this series on March 25 ! The objective of this year is that the funds raised allow 30 children to take part in the 9-week courses for the 2018-2019 season. Young and old alike are invited to take part in these friendly and festive races and thus make a difference in the daily life of a child in the region! Full event details: orford.com/ski/evenements/
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About the Mont Orford ski center:
In the heart of the national park, Mont Orford unfolds on 4 slopes and 3 mountains in a natural panorama. 4th highest ski area in Quebec and 1st in the Eastern Townships. Every winter, skiers and snowboarders hurtle down its 61 trails, its 17 glades and take advantage of its 5 ski lifts, its 3 snow parks, including a learning park. Alpine hiking trails created through collaboration with the national park directly at the ski resort. Warm up in the chalet and discover one of the three restaurants where local products are featured. At the foot of the mountain, access the national park trails for cross-country skiing, fatbike, snowshoeing or hiking. Five minutes from Magog, Mont Orford allows you to enjoy the gourmet and cultural attractions of the region and to access accommodation on the outskirts of the mountain.
About the Christian Vachon Foundation:
Very often, we hear, everywhere, in the media, among office colleagues, family, people say how important it is to take care of our young people. But, how do we move from words to deeds? The Christian Vachon Foundation has succeeded in meeting this challenge, helping more than 600 students each year to achieve better success, to have an equal chance of success. For 11 years, more than 75 schools spread across four school boards in the Eastern Townships have received assistance from the Christian Vachon Foundation. More than $2.5 million was used to clothe, feed, entertain, care for and provide school supplies to these students from more vulnerable families.