Press release
15th edition of Operation Back to School:
a record number of school visits
Montreal, May 16, 2011 – With the closing of the 15th edition of Operation Back to School, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is proud to announce record results. From March 1 to April 30, 2011, 315 speakers¯businesspeople representing every sector of activity¯made more than 350 presentations to groups of students in grades 9, 10 and 11.
“Once again this year, businesspeople responded in great numbers to the Board of Trade’s call,” said Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “Many met with students, while others offered stay-in-school scholarships on behalf of their organization. The importance of young people staying in school for the future prosperity of Quebec is one of the top concerns of the business world. Recent events in support of this cause, including the Journées de la Persévérance Scolaire held in February, are testimony to this.”
“The interest schools showed in the program was also impressive,” Mr. Leblanc said. “We are pleased to announce that we had a strong presence on the eastern part of the island, an area very much concerned about motivating kids to stay in school.”
“The Board of Trade is proud of the level of involvement of businesspeople, who made inspirational speeches about how they got to where they are today and about the importance of motivation, showing students that the essential ingredients of success are work, perseverance and determination,” Mr. Leblanc said. “In particular we would like to thank Sylvain Vincent, chairman of the board of the Board of Trade and patron of Operation Back to School 2011, for his active participation in the program and its promotion.”
The Board of Trade would also like to thank the following Back to School ambassadors, who offer stay-in-school scholarships to participating students: ArcelorMittal, the Comptables Agréés de Montréal, Ernst & Young, FCT, Qualité Habitation, BMO Financial Group, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Ubisoft. Operation Back to School is made possible through the financial support of MR3 Montréal Relève, in partnership with Youth Fusion and Montreal Hooked on School.
Speakers who participated in Operation Back to School and the entire business community are encouraged to take the collaboration further by offering a one-week exploratory career internship this summer to help a young person choose a career. For more information about MR3 Montréal Relève’s Student Business program, please contact Maude Lajeunesse at mlajeunesse@projetclassesaffaires.ca or 514 270-3300, ext. 4.
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.
-30-
Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca