For our sales conference activity this afternoon, we went to Lévis. We were given a tour of Maison Alphonse Desjardins. We were split up onto two groups, English and French.
Back in 1900, Alphonse and Dorimène Desjardins founded the Caisses Populaires Desjardins (today Desjardins Group), a forerunner of North American credit unions and community bank. They started the Caisse in their house, which is now a museum.
The upstairs where the bedrooms were is now used as office and conference room space (so we couldn't go up there).
As you leave, you are welcome to take a souvenir.
Notre-Dame-de-Lévis is kitty corner to the museum. Built in 1850, it was extended in 1854 and became the second largest church of its time in America.
More than 110 years later, the Desjardins Group, with about 40,000 employees across Canada, is the largest association of credit unions in North America. I bet Alphonse and Dorimène would be proud! read more