Trails conditions

Hiking Fatbike Ondago application

About us

The Cooperative

Photo: Philippe Jobin

Photo: Philippe Jobin

Our DNA

In the spirit of cooperativeA sustainable and harmonious recreational and tourism development that enhances the Bras-du-Nord valley and the Saint-Raymond region.

Our cooperative is a tangible, living and inspiring model of sustainable development. It's a park where outdoor enthusiasts, tourists, residents, farmers, cottagers, forestry workers, tourism businesses and local organizations live together. This cohabitation fosters genuine, ongoing dialogue and consultation to reconcile the economic, social and environmental requirements of Vallée Bras-du-Nord.

Photo: Frederic Plumey

Our values

Passion

The desire for sound management and quality development to enhance this superb valley.

Harmony

The particularities of the territory, made up of private and public land, encourage the cooperative to favor a development orientation that integrates local communities and users.

Excellence

Over the past 20 years, the Vallée Bras-du-Nord cooperative has demonstrated its ability to innovate and successfully achieve its objectives.

A little history

the fruit of local consultation between all these stakeholders

In the spring of 2002, a need emerged within the locality for an entity that would enable the harmonious development of ecotourism in Vallée Bras-du-Nord.

Riparian property owners, businesses offering recreation and tourism services, recreation and forestry workers, and local tourism stakeholders all wanted to see sound management and quality development that would enhance this superb valley.

Photo: Gabriel Gakwaya

Photo: Gabriel Gakwaya

A model of sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism development meets the current needs of tourists and host regions, while protecting and enhancing prospects for the future.

For over 10 years, the Vallée Bras-du-Nord cooperative has demonstrated its ability to innovate and successfully achieve the goals it sets itself. This astonishing success, particularly in sustainable tourism, is a source of great curiosity. The directors are regularly invited to share their experiences.

Projet "En Marche"

An out-of-the-ordinary approach

Every year since 2002, the Vallée Bras-du-Nord cooperative has hired around ten young people from the Portneuf region who are going through various life problems.
For a few months, we offer them the chance to attend forest school. They work to build and maintain our network of trails. This unusual approach forces them to confront a seemingly hostile environment, and teaches them patience, tolerance, rigor, teamwork, determination and perseverance.

Our other community initiatives

Louis-Jobin outdoor program

École secondaire Louis-Jobin in Saint-Raymond has developed a program of study with an outdoor focus that takes advantage of the richness of the Saint-Raymond region and surrounding area. The Cooperative and the school offer this program to students in Secondary 4 and 5.

Our successes

Portneuf Chambers of Commerce

2013 - Alcoa Coup de Coeur
2009 - Regional development
2007 - Portneuf Company of the Year
2007 - Tourism and culture
2005 - Tourism and culture

Adventure Ecotourism Quebec

2013 - Best environmental practices par excellence
2010 - Best environmental practices par excellence

Best Business Practices Fair, Quebec Quality Movement

2011 - Jury's Favourite

Quebec tourism awards, Quebec region

2009 - Relève touristique (General Manager, Frédéric Asselin)
2007 - Outdoor and leisure activities

2009 - Tourist Succession (General Manager, Frédéric Asselin) 2007 - Outdoor activities and recreation

2007 - Business and development organization

Quebec Walking Federation

2006 - Quebec Trail Award

Regional development cooperative

2006 - Innovation and cooperative
2005 - Cooperative recognition

Members, Board of Directors
and team

Vallée Bras-du-Nord is a solidarity cooperative based on an innovative cooperative management model.

The cooperative brings together employees, producers of tourist services and landowners offering rights of way. Its Board of Directors is made up of 11 members in all three categories.

All share a common concern for sound management and quality development. The result is greater control of the Valley's tourism development, and a stronger sense of belonging among employees, partners and the community at large.

Conferences

A model that is spreading throughout Quebec and beyond

Invited on several occasions to share its experience in setting up and developing the cooperative, the Vallée Bras-du-Nord team has developed a range of services to meet growing demand.
Whether we're talking about our social economy business model, our strategic positioning as a major ecotourism destination, or our achievements in social and professional integration, the cooperative is proud to share its experience.

Contact

Our team

Do you have any questions about our solidarity cooperative, our community initiatives or our conference program? Our team will be happy to provide you with further information!