Press release
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal launches its annual Operation Back to School : Almost 400 businesspeople speak to some 12,000 young people in Greater Montreal
Montreal, March 31, 2003 The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal launches the seventh edition of its annual Operation Back to School. This operation aims to help high school students understand the importance of staying in school and earning their diploma. This year, Operation Back to School will be held from March 24 to May 1.
The Board of Trade believes that, to create a prosperous and competitive metropolis, we must inspire students to strive for excellence by encouraging them to stay in school while helping young people to integrate the job market, explained Jacques Parisien, chairman of the Board of Trade. To this end, the Board of Trade has published a tool for young people, Keys to unlocking the job market , to help them assess their abilities and analyze their personality. This guide includes eight keys to finding a job in the field of their choice.
Almost 400 women and men from the business community will visit some sixty francophone and anglophone high schools in Greater Montreal to talk about their own experience and encourage Secondary 3, 4 and 5 students to stay in school. These meetings with successful businesspeople provide young people and their teachers with better information about the job market, their employment prospects, and the core competencies they must acquire to improve their employability.
In the coming weeks, visitors to high schools will include the following men and women: Mr. Jacques Parisien, chairman of the Board of Trade; Mr. Benoit Labonté, president of the Board of Trade; Ms. Dominique Anglade, president of the Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal and member of the Board of directors of the Board of Trade; Mr. Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montreal; Ms. Francine Sénécal, vice-president of the Executive committee, City of Montreal; Mr. James C. Cherry, president and chief executive officer, Aéroports de Montréal; Mr. Maurice Prud'homme, president and chief executive officer, Investissement Québec; Ms. Madeleine Careau, general manager, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal; and Mr. Louis-L. Roquet, president and chief executive officer, Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ).
Aware of the critical importance to the economic development of Montreal of stimulating a desire in young people to pursue their studies and earn their diploma, businesspeople have turned out in droves to support this initiative. Launched in 1997, it has grown steadily for the past several years. The Back to School project is the concrete expression of a strong faith in our young people, whom the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal considers to be essential partners in the economic future of Greater Montreal. This initiative is made possible thanks to financing from Fonds Ville-Marie.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has more than 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the leading group representing the interests of the Greater Montreal business community. Its objectives are to maintain, at all times, relevance to its membership, credibility towards the public and influence towards government and decision-makers.
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For information:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: (514) 871-4000, ext. 4015
spaquette@ccmm.qc.ca