More Than 80,000 Litres of Milk to Nourish Solidarity in the Outaouais
September 23, 2026
For more than 16 years, Laiterie de l’Outaouais and Moisson Outaouais have worked together to support people facing food insecurity. In 2026, this partnership will reach a new milestone: more than 80,000 litres of fresh milk, valued at nearly $200,000, will be donated to Moisson Outaouais thanks to the contribution of Laiterie de l’Outaouais and the support of Les Producteurs de lait du Québec.
Community involvement has been part of Laiterie de l’Outaouais’s story from the very beginning. Following the closure of Laiterie Château in Buckingham in 2006, residents, business leaders and regional development stakeholders came together to bring a dairy processing plant back to the region. Their collective efforts ultimately led to the opening of Laiterie de l’Outaouais in 2010.
For its General Manager, Yannick Bouchard, this strong connection to the community largely explains the company’s commitment to giving back to the region where it was born.
“We owe our existence and our growth to the people of this region, so giving back to the community is both a natural and fundamental part of who we are,” he explains.
Neighbours from the Very Beginning
The partnership with Moisson Outaouais has grown over the years, but it is also rooted in everyday proximity. The two organizations are quite literally neighbours: their facilities back onto one another, and they share the same truck manoeuvring area.
In 2011, Laiterie de l’Outaouais even transferred a portion of its property to make possible the construction of Moisson Outaouais’s head office.
“Beyond a shared mission, our history is built on a true relationship between neighbours,” says Yannick Bouchard. This proximity has naturally helped strengthen the bond between the two organizations.
Sixteen years later, the partnership continues to grow. In 2026, the contribution will exceed 80,000 litres of milk, representing a value of nearly $200,000. Yannick Bouchard also wishes to recognize the important role played by Les Producteurs de lait du Québec, whose participation makes a donation of this magnitude possible.
This contribution is all the more meaningful because it helps ensure a regular supply of fresh milk for the region’s food assistance network.
Fresh Milk for Local Families
Milk holds a special place among the food products distributed through food assistance programs. Fresh and versatile, it can be enjoyed on its own or used to prepare a wide variety of meals.
“Milk is our business, but above all, it is a nutritious, comforting staple that plays an important role in a healthy diet,” says Yannick Bouchard.
For Laiterie de l’Outaouais, making this product accessible to people going through difficult times is a very tangible way of putting its expertise at the service of the community.
“Providing people facing difficult circumstances with a fresh, local and high-quality product is a matter of dignity and solidarity.”
The milk donated to Moisson Outaouais can then be distributed through its 51 affiliated organizations, helping reach thousands of people across the region.
“Being able to rely on a regular supply of fresh milk means a great deal to our network. This partnership allows us to provide a highly sought-after food item to the organizations that support individuals and families across the Outaouais every day,” says Marie-Pier Chaput, Director of Communications at Moisson Outaouais.
This contribution also gives special meaning to the work of Laiterie de l’Outaouais’s 40 employees.
“The work they do every day takes on a whole new meaning when we see the direct impact it has on the tables of people right here in our community,” the General Manager continues. “We are only one link in a much larger chain of solidarity—a community choosing to come together to help our region move forward.”
A Partnership Built to Last
After all these years of collaboration, Yannick Bouchard is particularly proud of the partnership’s consistency. For him, it is not simply about making a one-time donation, but about helping ensure a reliable supply for the organizations responding to the community’s food needs.
“We are especially proud to have built a stable and meaningful supply model for food assistance,” he explains.
Looking ahead, the commitment is clear: to continue this collaboration and adapt the support provided as needs evolve on the ground.
Behind the 80,000 litres announced this year, it is ultimately the people who will receive the milk who give this partnership its true meaning.
“Knowing that our product is feeding a neighbour, one of our children’s classmates or a family in our community completely transforms the significance of what we do,” says Yannick Bouchard. “The impact is not abstract—it is immediate, local and deeply human.”
Everyone Can Contribute in Their Own Way
The General Manager also has a message for other businesses in the Outaouais: making a difference does not require considerable resources. A financial donation is one option, but it is far from the only one. Donating products, organizing a volunteer activity with employees or sharing professional expertise can also help meet very real needs.
“Every organization can make a difference, regardless of its size. Helping others isn’t only about writing cheques,” Yannick Bouchard points out.
His invitation to businesses across the region is simple: “Put your unique strengths to work for the community, and the entire region will be stronger for it.”
After more than 16 years of collaboration, the close relationship between Laiterie de l’Outaouais and Moisson Outaouais remains at the heart of their partnership. Two neighbouring organizations, deeply rooted in their region, joining forces to respond to a very real need.
And behind the thousands of litres of milk distributed each year is, above all, a simple gesture: taking care of the people in our community.
