In 2024, the Pays de Cocagne Sustainable Development Group (GDDPC) celebrates 25 years of community engagement. We celebrate the richness of biodiversity and abundance in Pays de Cocagne, where every individual action
contributes to a healthy environment in which people can thrive. Over the years, our community projects have cultivated values of self-sufficiency and ecological responsibility. Many volunteers are actively involved in the well-being of the region. Taking care of the environment means taking care of ourselves!
Start of Programs
- 1999 Creation of the Group and Water Quality
- 2000 Citizen Science for Biodiversity
- 2002 School Programs
- 2003 Wastewater Recovery Programs
- 2005 Climate Change Adaptation and Living Shorelines
- 2008 Food and Culture
25 years in numbers
- 10 000 kg Vegetables Harvested in the Community Garden
- 50 000 Hrs Volunteer Hours
- 8587 kg Waste Cleanup
- 3552 milkweeds distributed
- 187 500 People reached in 25 years
- 22 Million litres Collected Wastewater
- 38,6 km Coiled linen thread
- 10 705 Trees and other plants for restoration

Testimonials

Carole Bourgeois, teacher at École Notre-Dame


Léopold Bourgeois, Board member
Wishing Well Tree
A red oak tree planted in 2003 in the schoolyard of the Blanche-Bourgeois School has become the Wishing Well Tree
to mark the 25th anniversary of the GDDPC.
The GDDPC is proud of its achievements over the past 25 years. Its presence has raised awareness among residents in the watershed about environmental issues and encouraged their collective engagement.
The results of this commitment are visible everywhere: plants that continue to grow and attract pollinators, restored shores that reduce erosion, fish and other aquatic species living in clean water, youth and seniors eating good vegetables from the community garden, natural fibres and dyes in our clothing and objects, and many other things. Less visible but equally important are the feelings of belonging, the values of mutual aid and solidarity in Pays de Cocagne which improve the relationships between us and the Earth. Depending on the species, a tree can take up to 25 years to reach maturity. What is your wish for the GDDPC for the next 25 years? Share it with the Wishing Well Tree

History of GDDPC
Jocelyne Gauvin, former Director, in collaboration with Wiebke Tinney, current Director, has drawn up a document summarizing GDDPC's activities since 1999. It summarizes the group's strengths and informs you about its evolution. The history, which is available here (in French), contains a list of all completed projects, and on the last page you can see the following highlights:
Highlights :
- In operation for 25 years
- 53 Board members since inception and 115 members in total
- 250th Board meeting in January 2025
- 25 annual Expo-info meetings (total attendance of +/- 1400)
- Several sub-committees (Transition, Alternative Energies, Ecological Gardens, Green Cemeteries, Seeds for Life, Colors of Country...)
- + 200 talks, workshops, ménage ton rivage, harvests and hikes (participation + 31,500)
- 12,000 kg of vegetables harvested and distributed at the community garden
- 10,437 kg waste collected and diverted from waterways
- 22 million liters of wastewater collected thanks to repairs to faulty septic tanks
- 3,750 milkweeds distributed to protect the Monarch butterfly
- 12,205 trees and other plants for natural restoration
- 4 years of flax harvesting and + 50km of wound flax yarn
- 52,000 volunteer hours (equivalent of 35 full-time employees)
- Production +100 newsletters (total distribution 28,000)
- Responds to +/- 50 requests for information / year
- 50+ partners
Timeline (in French)

Commemorative video