Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, Montreal, Quebec – June 9, 2026 — West Island Community Shares (Partage-Action de l'Ouest-de-l'Île) is proud to announce a historic $1.525 million in funding to be distributed to over 40 local community organizations across Montreal's West Island for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

The announcement marks the largest annual distribution in the organization's nearly 30-year history.
The funding announcement was made at the Pierrefonds Cultural Centre during the organization's inaugural Célébration Partage-Action, which brought together community leaders, donors, corporate partners, volunteers, and representatives from funded organizations to celebrate the collective impact of a community united by generosity and collaboration.

Throughout the event, speakers reflected on the unique spirit of the West Island — a community often described as a village where neighbours, donors, businesses, and community organizations are deeply connected. As a trusted fundraising organization, West Island Community Shares serves as a bridge between those who want to help and the organizations delivering essential services on the front lines.

"This achievement belongs to our entire community," said Meagan Somerville, Executive Director of West Island Community Shares. "The needs facing our community continue to grow, while many organizations are being asked to do more with less. This historic investment is only possible because donors, businesses, foundations, and community partners continue to believe in the importance of supporting our neighbours and investing in a stronger, more resilient West Island."

The funding comes at a critical time. Throughout the year, West Island Community Shares and its Fund Distribution Committee witnessed increasing needs related to basic needs such as food security and housing as well as mental health, social isolation, and access to frontline services. Collectively, funded organizations supported more than 65,000 West Island residents over the past year.

The $1.525 million investment surpasses last year's record distribution of $1.44 million and reflects the growing commitment of donors and partners to strengthening the local community sector.
This milestone was made possible through the generosity of individual donors, private foundations, corporate partners, and the success of several fundraising initiatives, including:

West Island Community Shares signature events
·       Annual Community Breakfast, presented by TD
·       Cocktail en Blanc, presented by Revline Industries
·       The Red & White, presented by Pfizer, Broccolini, Revline Industries and ScotiaBank. Sold out 3 months in advance and achieved record-breaking fundraising results.

Third-party fundraising initiatives
·       The 5th edition of National Bank's Bikes for Youth
·       BMO's Sip, Savour and Support fundraising event

The organization also conducted three community-wide fundraising campaigns throughout the year, including its 65,000 West Islanders in Need campaign, the “Double the hope” holiday matching campaign supported by the Tenaquip Foundation, and the “2X More Impact” spring matching campaign supported by generous anonymous donors from Baie-D'Urfé.

West Island Community Shares also announced the addition of a new funded organization, Île des Amis, which provides long-term supportive housing and community-based mental health services for adults living with mental health challenges.
In another significant development, the organization increased its maximum annual grant allocation from $50,000 to $60,000, enabling greater support for organizations responding to increasingly complex and growing community needs.
The organization was also recently named a finalist in the West Island Chamber of Commerce's Accolades competition in the Non-Profit Organization category, recognizing its leadership and impact within the community. The winner will be announced at the Accolades Gala on June 18, 2026.

"For nearly 30 years, West Island Community Shares has connected donors with community organizations working every day to improve lives," said Xavier Lalonde, President of the Board of Directors. "This record investment reflects the strength of our network and our collective commitment to ensuring that every neighbour has access to the support they need to thrive."

​As community needs continue to evolve, West Island Community Shares remains committed to providing stable, predictable, and sustainable funding to the organizations working on the front lines every day. Together, these organizations are building a stronger, healthier, and more inclusive West Island for everyone.

​Photo Credit: Joudi Moktar.
Photo caption: Members of the West Island Community Shares Board of Directors and staff gather at the inaugural Célébration Partage-Action at the Pierrefonds Cultural Centre on June 9, 2026. During the event, the organization announced a historic $1.525 million investment in over 40 local community organizations serving more than 65,000 West Island residents.
Front row, left to right: Elias Bakakis (Board Member), Racha Aoude (Events Director), André Kayal (Board Member), Samia Medelci (Board Member), Vincent Lamoureux (Board Member), Chantal Carrier (Board Member and Fund Distribution Committee President), Meagan Somerville (Executive Director), Teresa Broccolini (Board Member), Xavier Lalonde (Board President), Claude Papasian (Board Member), Claude Gagné (Communications Coordinator), and Thalia Chronopoulos (Director of Donor Relations).


Not pictured – Board Members: Michel Béland, Nouha Fadlallah, Kamran Ghazian, Peter Giakoumatos, Me Jean-René Paquette, Anne-Marie St-Pierre, Eric Tadros, and Sara Lande.
Not pictured – Staff: Mélanie Groulx (Director of Community Impact) and Sara Sorial (Accounting).

The 6th edition of Bikes for Youth initiative builds 89 brand-new bikes for West Island children and raises an incredible $100,000 for the community. National Bank of Canada, in partnership with co-presidents Tootsi Impex (Yupik and Elan) and Structube, along with Gold partners Broccolini, Accent Fairchild and Revline Industries, help bring joy to local youth through a unique team-building experience supporting the community. 

Kirkland, Quebec — May 21st, 2026 — The Broccolini Corporate Center was filled with energy, teamwork and excitement as West Island Community Shares hosted the 6th edition of its Bikes for Youth event in partnership with National Bank of Canada. 
This year, 89 brand-new bikes were built and distributed to youth from five local community organizations serving vulnerable children and families across the West Island: Carrefour familial Cloverdale Multi-Ressources, Carrefour des 6-12 de Pierrefonds-Est, Maison des jeunes de Pierrefonds, Maison des jeunes À-Ma-Baie and Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island. Along with a brand-new bike, each child also received a helmet and a lock to ensure they could ride safely and confidently throughout the summer. 

The initiative brought together over 16 corporate teams for a meaningful hands-on team-building experience focused on giving back to the community. Since the launch of the initiative, almost 500 West Island children and youth have received bikes through the program. 

More than just bicycles, these gifts represent freedom, confidence, inclusion and joy for children who may otherwise not have access to one. For many recipients, this was their very first bike. 

“This year more than ever, families are struggling to cover basic needs such as rent and food. For many parents, buying a bike for their child is simply not a priority,” said Meagan Somerville, Executive Director of West Island Community Shares. “That’s why this initiative is so meaningful. It benefits both the children and their parents by creating moments of joy, inclusion and normalcy during incredibly difficult times. Seeing the excitement on the children’s faces reminds us why this initiative matters so much.” 

“National Bank is proud to continue supporting Bikes for Youth and the incredible impact it has on local families in need,” said Tony Aksa, Regional Vice-President, Commercial and Private Banking at National Bank of Canada. “This initiative perfectly reflects the power of community partnerships and employee engagement coming together to make a real difference in the lives of children.” 

Throughout the afternoon, volunteers worked side by side assembling bikes, sharing laughs and connecting around a common goal: making a direct impact in the lives of local youth. Once completed, the bikes were delivered to the five beneficiary community organizations who will distribute them directly to the children and families they support. 

In addition to creating memorable experiences for local youth, the 6th edition of Bikes for Youth marked a record-breaking year for the initiative, raising an impressive $100,000 in support of West Island Community Shares and its network of more than 40 community organizations. Funds raised will help support essential frontline services including food security, mental health support, youth programming, services for vulnerable populations and family assistance programs across the West Island. 

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of presenting partner National Bank of Canada, co-presidents Tootsie Impex (Yupik and Elan) and Structube, as well as gold partners Broccolini, Accent Fairchild and Revline Industries along with numerous other local corporate teams. 

Hosted at Broccolini’s Corporate Center, the event highlighted the strength of community collaboration and the growing commitment of local businesses to supporting vulnerable families across the West Island. 

West Island Community Shares is a trusted fundraising organization dedicated to raising essential funds and purposefully allocating them to more than 40 local community organizations that deliver frontline services to thousands of West Island residents in need. Since 1998, more than $25 million has been distributed thanks to the generosity of individual donors, businesses private foundations and community partners. 

​With a deep understanding of the evolving needs of the community sector, West Island Community Shares works closely with local organizations to help build a strong, inclusive and resilient West Island community. 
 
​

Photo credit: Philippe Ouellette 
From left to right: Meagan Somerville, Executive Director West Island Community Shares; Tony Aksa, Regional Vice President Commercial, Private Banking 1859; Eric Knafo, President Structube Canada; Ali Shayesteh, Owner Tootsi Impex Inc. (Yupik and Elan). 
-30- 
 
For more information:  
Meagan Somerville  
Executive Director  
West Island Community Shares / Partage-Action de l'Ouest-de-l'Île  
T: 514.695.8694  
C: 514.944-8209  
[email protected]  
partageaction.ca   
Facebook/WICSPartage  
LinkedIn/WestIslandCommunity  ​