Various Workstations

Birdhouse Project 

Pleins Rayons developed a birdhouse-making and installing project aiming at attracting insectivorous birds, like bluebird and tree swallow, to naturally and ecologically control crop pests. The apprentices of Pleins Rayons are responsible for building and installing the birdhouses and collecting the data which are then passed on to the farmers and growers. 
To date, more than 650 birdhouses have been made and installed in the Brome-Missisquoi region. We also provided birdhouses to municipalities and individuals from all over Québec. This project has positive environmental impacts as well, since it allows farmers, growers and municipalities to reduce their use of insecticides. To give just one example, the vineyard L’Orpailleur reduced by at least 70 % the quantity of insecticides used thanks to our birdhouses. 
Our apprentices also made Bat Houses to provide these birds safe shelters, vital to their survival. Bats are excellent neighbours, because they help to control insects in the spring and summer. Pleins Rayons’ apprentices also made kestrels houses, a small falcon whose population has declined due to urbanisation and intensification of cultivation. 
If you wish to do your part in the safeguard of endangered species by purchasing birdhouses, please call us at 450-263-5300! 

• $30 = Birdhouse 

• $60 = Kestrels House 

• $120 = Bat House

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Throughout the year, other woodworking projects are initiated such as the fabrication of cutting boards, oven rack push sticks, serving trays, candlesticks, etc. There is no shortage of ideas!

Pleins Rayons teaches bike mechanics to its apprentices. There are 4 bike build stations and one deconstruction station. They repair the used bikes we collect and, when they are too damaged, the good parts are reused and what remains is sent to a metal recovery site. The repaired bikes are given back to the community for free or at reasonable price. To this day, more than 700 bikes have been given to children in need, newcomers or primary and secondary schools to encourage activity among young people. Pleins Rayons’ apprentices participate to the delivery of the bikes and give to the kids who are more than happy to receive them. Thus, they show their know-how and interpersonal skills in the community, which raises awareness among the population of their potential. See in the image a delivery to the Clé-des-Champs primary school.

The repaired bicycles are then distributed in the community for free or at a low cost. Moreover, one of the projects took place in conjunction with two James Bay communities, the Waswanapi and Chisasibi, where a hundred bicycles were delivered.

At Pleins Rayons, we are putting the 3R in practice: 

• Reduce 
• Reuse 
• Recycle

The local community contributed greatly to the creation of the sewing space through donations of sewing machines, fabrics and sewing accessories. Apprentices learn to sew by hand and machine to create different projects such kitchen aprons, reusable bags, pouches, etc. They also  learn to embroider, thus working on their fine motor skills – and their patience! And for some, it’s an opportunity to give free rein to their creativity! Apprentices do all of these tasks: taking creative decisions, tracing the pattern on the fabric, measuring, sewing by machine, serger or by hand, using the iron, inspecting the final product, threading the machines, threading the beads and tie knots. Here are the projects that are in progress: 

* Repair sleeping bags (repair holes) by installing patches either by hand or by machine more than hundred

* Manufacture in collaboration with the cabinetmaking station of more than 2000 medals as well as several bracelets for the Bromont Ultra.

* Made in collaboration with the vinyl station Pleins Rayons reusable bag made from recycled materials as well as recycled bicycled bicycle tube.

* Making Christmas products stockings, reusable advent calendar, scent pouch, fabric flat cover.

* Team making of tho common quilts to make a draw with the aim of raising funds.

Pleins Rayons’ apprentices have the opportunity to work in companies to gain work experiences, and thus, identify their areas of interest. The skills they acquire can be transferred to a new job. 
Through contracts given to Pleins Rayons by companies that believe in our mission, the apprentices also learn to accomplish specific and various tasks. Some of these tasks give the apprentices the occasion to experience what it is like to work on an assembly line. 
Under the supervision of a special care counsellor, the apprentices develop their social and professional skills and learn the basic rules that any worker must follow in a workplace. 
We favour activities that have an environmental or communal significance, like the recycling of sugar bush tubing.

Pleins Rayons initiated an indoor horticulture project. Throughout, the year, the apprentices grow vegetables, fruits and herbs. In Summer 2019, in collaboration with Brome-Missisquoi Campus and local growers, apprentices had the opportunity to work in the Campus kitchen to transform food. We then distributed the prepared meals in the community through le Frigo Vert, volunteer centres and schools, giving children and families access to healthy food. In Spring 2020, we sold about a hundred tomato, cucumber and pepper plants. As this project was very successful, we intend to widen our product offer for next year! Furthermore, thanks to a donation from Les Chevaliers de Colomb, we bought two greenhouse lights. In spring, stay tuned! We will offer you a beautiful variety of vegetable and herb plants for your vegetable garden! A field was offered to Pleins Rayons, which is located near the beekeeping project, with the two bee colonies. Two apprentices take care of it to collect the honey sold in pots and the wax which is used to isolated the cutting boards. The field allows us to grow garlic, pumpkins and medicinal plants.

Photo credit: Mika Theimer

The Brome-Missiquoi Campus welcomes cohorts of 4 apprentices. The training is useful for catering and cooking, lasts for 3 to 4 weeks, and is given by a teacher with expertise in catering. The objective is to offer good service in the room with customers, develop real skills and raise public awareness of inclusive hiring. Even people in the school community are also aware. The apprentices will carry out all these tasks: setting up the tables, washing dishes, serving the tables, monitoring, cleaning the tables and the room. The key to learning is adaptation so that they can do the tasks 90 to 100%. This is one of the stations that allows you to explore a profession. 

In partnership with Excavation Désourdy, in a huge 5,000 square foot premises, 1 educator with 4 to 6 apprentices restore construction equipment to good condition. Then, the products are classified in the different recovery bins or kept for collection. The center has been open for 2 years, to be ready for 2025 with the revaluation of construction materials for houses. In partnership with the CNESST, Pleins Rayons helps develop knowledge of workplace safety standards.