EcoCharge – Invest in a green energy project » EcoCharge » Programs » Every Day » Earth Day Canada

Invest in an innovative and responsible project

EcoCharge is a network of 100 fast-charging stations adapted to the electric vehicles of today and tomorrow. Deployed throughout Quebec and New Brunswick, it facilitates everyday life by allowing you to charge your vehicle while grocery shopping at one of the 50 IGA partner sites.
Providing 62.5 kW of power, the Fonds Éco IGA powered charging stations make it the fastest multi-vehicle charging network in Canada.

The first evse network owned by an environmental charity organization

Earth Day Canada, an environmental organization operating for more than 25 years, believes in the development of electric vehicles to mitigate the environmental impact of transportation. That's why the organization launched the EcoCharge project in November 2020 with the objective of installing 100 charging stations in 50 IGA parking lots.

An environmental and social project for the future

Over the 10 years of expected operation of EcoCharge, 102,650 tons of GHGs will be avoided (for example, a combustion vehicle emits 50 tons of GHGs over 10 years).
Funding for charging will benefit engaged communities, while simultaneously increasing the resiliency of our road network to accommodate the addition of more than 10,000 electric vehicles while minimizing pollution.
On the 22nd of each month, the entire amount of the day's refills will be donated to a local charity.
Charging stations compatible with all-electric vehicles, including Tesla models (adapter available at the service desk of the partner store).
Always installed in pairs on the sites, the charging stations can be coupled to provide a power of 125 kW and are therefore suitable for the next generation of electric vehicles.

Contribute to this project

Earth Day is offering you the opportunity to invest in a responsible project through community bonds for a total amount of $2,000,000 with two commitment options until April 22, 2022.

Two investment options

Option A

7-year commitment

4% Interest

Minimum investment of $1,000

Option B

5-year commitment

3.5% Interest

Minimum investment of $1,000

	at $1,000, the investor will receive a gift card for 1 hour of free charging
	at $10,000, the investor will receive a gift card for 10 hours of free charging
	at $25,000, the investor's name will appear on the Ecotank green windshield washer dispenser
	for investments of $250,000 or more, additional visibility benefits will be discussed

The EcoCharge Team

Pierre Lussier
President

Bérangère Ferrand
Ecocharge Project Manager

Julien Kuzdzal
Ecocharge Project Manager

Myriam Charconnet
Communication Officer

April Scholz
Development Officer

Frequently asked questions

What is a community bond?

A financing option that allows organizations like ours to borrow money from the community and pay it back with interest after a certain period of time;
A community bond is similar to a Canada Savings Bond but issued in the name of an organization. The money invested supports a community project rather than the government or an institution;
Successfully used by non-profits, charities and cooperatives;
Generally used in conjunction with other forms of financing such as mortgages and lines of credit.

Who else is funding the project?

The EcoCharge project is financed by the Department of Natural Resources Canada, Fondaction, Investissement Québec, and the Fonds Éco IGA. The community bonds allow us to get the last part of the financing through a proven and inclusive social finance tool that meets the values of the EcoCharge program.

What are the benefits?

Earth Day Canada is able to set the terms of the bond based on our financial structure and ability to repay investors;
It creates a strong sense of community ownership and involvement in our project;
Investors can see exactly how their investment benefits them and the community;
Allows Earth Day Canada to accept investments from individuals and institutions (our supporters, board members, institutions, private and family foundations).

How will the bonds be paid out?

Earth Day Canada has done extensive financial planning to ensure that the interest on the bonds can be issued and the principal can be paid out to investors in a timely manner based on our revenues over the next few years. The Offering Statement, which includes the Business Plan with all these details, is available for download.

Who else has used community bonds?

Many other organizations and charities across Canada have successfully used crowdfunding and community bonds, including the Centre for Social Innovation, SolarShare, Artscape, Argonauts Rowing Club and YWCA Toronto. Tapestry Community Capital, our community bond partner, has helped numerous organizations raise over $70 million from thousands of investors.

Will I receive financial statements if I invest?

Yes, on an annual basis or upon written request.

What happens if I have an emergency and need my money back before the end of the term?

Bondholders may request payout of the principal amount of the Bonds in the event of hardship, subject to the availability of replacement principal and/or funds within Earth Day Canada and at the discretion of the Earth Day Canada Board of Directors.

How are community bonds taxed?

Interest earned on a community bond is taxed as ordinary Canadian-source investment income. Consult a tax accountant for your particular situation.
Tapestry Community Capital will support Earth Day Canada in the preparation, filing and issuance of T5 investment income returns that will be securely emailed to all investors.

Can I buy a bond in another person's name or as a gift?

You can purchase a bond on behalf of a minor or as a gift by completing a subscription agreement and paying for the investment. Contact us at investissement@jourdelaterre.org for more details.

How do I know my information is safe after it has been collected?

Tapestry's subscription agreement and investment management platform is a closed, encrypted system. All traffic between the client and the server is encrypted using SSL with a signed certificate issued by a third-party certificate authority (COMODO RSA Domain Validation Secure Server CA). All database files on the server are encrypted at rest.
The server is hosted in a secure data centre in Canada. All data changes are recorded in audit trail and only key Tapestry personnel have access to this data.
For more information on Tapestry's Privacy Code, please visit: tapestrycapital.ca.