MANAGEMENT OF THE FORT SAINT-JEAN FEDERAL MILITARY SITE WILL REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF A QUEBEC CIVIL ORGANIZATION
Located in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, the Fort Saint-Jean site is a major training centre for officers and non-commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces, and the only one in Quebec. It will continue to be managed by a Quebec non-profit civilian organisation, the Corporation du Fort St-Jean (CFSJ), for at least another two years. This guarantees not only that a French-speaking civilian presence will be maintained on this heritage site, but also that the public will continue to be welcomed there.
Christine Normandin, Member of Parliament for Saint-Jean and Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence, welcomed the federal government's decision. "By extending the contract with the Corporation, which provides a friendly, French-speaking presence at Fort Saint-Jean, the Department of National Defence (DND) is not only extending access for citizens, particularly those in our region and its garrison town, to an important part of our collective history, but it is also helping to provide military personnel with a healthy, quality environment during their studies.
The Corporation's President and CEO, Steve Hétu, is delighted with this news for his 250 employees. "With this decision, the highest civilian and military authorities in the country are recognising our efforts to meet the operational needs of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean) and the Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Profession of Arms Institute (Osside Institute), to contribute to the well-being and success of the officer cadets and warrant officers who are trained there, and to maintain the historic site", he says.
A unique management model, supported by a Quebec NP
The business model in place at Fort Saint-Jean is unique among Canada's military sites. The non-profit organisation that manages it, the CFSJ, is responsible for preserving the heritage value of the site, which was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1923. It also provides operational support to the RMC Saint-Jean and the Osside Institute. Among other things, its activities are aimed at ensuring the well-being, safety and success of military personnel undergoing training on the site. It also rents out sports and corporate facilities to the local community, for the benefit of DND. The funds raised, totalling nearly $13 million since 2009, are reinvested by DND to maintain the site, which is in an exceptional state of preservation and upkeep.
Working regularly with Quebec contractors on its activities and infrastructure projects, the CFSJ generates significant economic spin-offs for the region and the entire province. The mayor of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Andrée Bouchard, said she was "very pleased that the Corporation du Fort St-Jean, a socio-economic driving force that has embodied collaboration between civilians and the military for 29 years, is continuing to operate". She hopes that "this vote of confidence will generate other business opportunities".
Projects for the future
When asked about the projects he intends to carry out over the next 2 years, Mr Hétu spoke of his desire to see the renovation of the low wall supporting the banks of the Richelieu River, which runs alongside the site, come to fruition. Necessary for environmental and safety reasons, this major infrastructure project calls for the mobilisation and synchronisation of different levels of government. He also stated that he wanted to strengthen the strategic support that his organisation provides to RMC Saint-Jean, particularly in support of the cultural change initiated within the Canadian Armed Forces. He is also inviting the public to take part in the activities planned on the site in the summer of 2025 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Siege of Fort Saint-Jean, a significant episode in our history that had a major impact on the Canadian identity.
In addition, the Corporation's management intends to maximise the organisation's performance and competitiveness by building on its entrepreneurial culture. As part of the strategic planning process, new initiatives are planned in the areas of governance, internal processes and business development.
