Caisse Populaire (Mouvement Desjardins) National Historic Event

Lévis, Quebec
Alphonse et Dorimène Desjardins (© Canada Post Corporation | Société des postes canadienne [2000]. Reproduced with Permission | Reproduit avec permission.)
Cofounders of the caisse populaire
(© Canada Post Corporation | Société des postes canadienne [2000]. Reproduced with Permission | Reproduit avec permission.)
Address : 150 des Commandeurs Street, Lévis, Quebec

Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 1984-11-23

Event, Person, Organization:
  • Desjardins, Alphonse  (Person)
  • Desjardins, Dorimène  (Person)
Other Name(s):
  • Caisse Populaire (Mouvement Desjardins)  (Designation Name)
Research Report Number: 2009-CED-SDC-021, 2009-CED-SDC-019

Importance: Cooperative financial institution - began in Lévis, Québec in 1901

Plaque(s)


Existing plaque:  150 des Commandeurs Street, Lévis, Quebec

Founded in 1900 by Alphonse Desjardins and his wife Dorimène, caisses populaires provided access to saving and credit services for the less affluent, quickly growing as an alternative to banks. They influenced the development of provincial legislation for credit unions across Canada and gave rise to the Desjardins Movement, the largest cooperative movement in Quebec. Building on their success, caisses populaires have extended their services to a number of Francophone communities in North America and have served as a model for financial cooperatives elsewhere.