Press release
BDC Small Business WeekTM: For entrepreneurs, building the future means developing a vision and investing in growth
Montréal, October 16, 2012 – During the business luncheon organized by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal for BDC Small Business Week™, the Vice President, Research, and Chief Economist of the Business Development Bank of Canada, Pierre Cléroux, underlined the importance for Canadian businesses of investing in their growth.
“It has always been important to encourage business creation in Quebec and Canada,” says Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “New businesses generate economic activity and create jobs. This year, we chose to emphasize the need to grow small businesses, an objective that rests upon the ability of entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses.”
“Whether it’s to modernize equipment, increase or diversify production by hiring new resources or conquer new markets internationally, there are many reasons to invest in growth,” Mr. Leblanc says. “Above all, we need to remember that stagnation is not an option when competitors can sneak up and erode our market share. The increased competitiveness of businesses in emerging countries only serves to accentuate this risk.”
“Our economic environment is changing fast,” Pierre Cléroux says. “The aging population, the accelerated use of the Internet and the emergence of a new middle class in Asia are challenges, but also opportunities, for businesses. One thing is sure: businesses need to adopt a new way of thinking. They also need to invest more in their prosperity.”
Mr. Cléroux’s presentation was followed by a round table featuring three metropolitan entrepreneurs who have successfully invested in their business’s growth. Patrick Galamé (Integrim), Stéphanie Kennan (Bang Marketing) and Gilles Gaudreault (Viascan Group) have all allowed their businesses to reach new heights.
“Viascan is a manufacturer,” says Gilles Gaudreault, Chief Financial Officer for Viascan Group Inc. “For us, growth must occur through the modernization of our wireless data capture and transfer devices, an area where our competitiveness depends upon our ability to offer our clients a complete range of solutions that use the most advanced technologies. With the BDC’s support, we were able to invest in this upgrade so essential to our future.”
“We salute the vision of these three entrepreneurs,” Michel Leblanc says. “Each in their own way, they have demonstrated that investing in the growth of a business is both necessary and profitable. By supporting the competitiveness of their businesses, they are contributing to the competitiveness of Montréal.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal The Board of Trade of Metropolitan
Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
About Info entrepreneurs
Info entrepreneurs is a leader in the delivery of quality strategic information on government programs and services directed to the business community. It constitutes a privileged source of commercial information, thus contributing to the economic growth of SMEs. Info entrepreneurs is a service of the Government of Canada delivered by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. Info entrepreneurs is part of the Canada Business Network which comprises 13 major centres across Canada.
About BDC Small Business WeekTM
The 2012 edition of BDC Small Business WeekTM in Montréal is presented by the Business Development Bank of Canada in cooperation with Investissement Québec.
In 1979, BDC business centres in British Columbia’s Lower Fraser Valley pooled their resources to organize a week of management training sessions called “Small Business Week.”
Encouraged by the event’s success, the province’s business centres repeated the experience the following year, tripling the number of activities. In 1981, BDC officially launched Small Business Week nationwide.
Every year, BDC Small Business WeekTM takes place during the third full week of October.
TMBDC Small Business Week is a trademark of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: 514 871-4000, extension 4015
spaquette@ccmm.qc.ca
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