Graduating from high school and heading into the next stage of your life can be difficult but helping students adjust to life after high school is just what this non-profit organization is doing.

Carrefour jeunesse-emploi du Pontiac, which has been around for over . . .

20 years, offers a myriad of services to help students find success after high school, college or while living on their own. In the fall of 2017, the organization launched a new model under the name La Défriche, which aims to equip young people, both in terms of academic perseverance, and personal autonomy. Learning entrepreneurship, and becoming involved in decision-making tables in their community.

Their goal is to help youth make their own way, according to Youth Project Manager, Lisa Boisvert.

On March 8, Carrefour Jeunesse-emploi du Pontiac invited Yannick LaSalle, a local chef, to teach the grade 11 students of Ecole secondaire Sieur de Coulonge (ESSC) a lesson in cooking on a budget. He taught the kids how to prepare a meal, how to debone a chicken and how to clean it.

An alumni from ESSC, and Bryson native, LaSalle has worked in Europe, California, and New York at some of the top restaurants. “It means a lot to me because I grew up in Pontiac, it’s always nice to give back to the community,” he said. Since the event took place at his old school he said it was great seeing familiar faces such as his teachers.

He added that he enjoyed sharing his passion with the next generation.

The aim of the class was also to teach the students how to cook on a budget, pointed out Boisvert. “We wanted them to know that you cannot eat McDonald’s every day, so he showed them how to reduce the sauce, how to use the entire chicken after it’s been deboned to make broth, soup and gravy. So it was very very educational,” said Boisvert. The set dish that was prepared was a roasted chicken with oranges and fennel.

The event was held at Knights of Columbus Hall in Fort Coulonge with around 40 students present. LaSalle pointed out he loved seeing all the students sitting around the table enjoying trying something new, as some of them had never tried fennel or cooked oranges.

“I cook because I like to see people around the table, socialize around a good bite, see smiles, and see happiness,” he said.

When asked what is the best advice he can give students, he said “where i am now, It took a lot of work and dedication and that whatever they do in life, just to follow their passion and give it their all, good opportunities will come.”

Being around for so long, Boisvert reiterated that they have so many services to offer the youth of The Pontiac. Their website has job postings, and they also offer to help students put together resumes. “That’s the whole point of us,” said Boisvert.

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