Press release
Small Business Week® 2011
Innovate to create your business success
Montréal, October 17, 2011 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and its team of experts in entrepreneurship, Info entrepreneurs, are pleased to announce the events taking place in Montréal, October 18 to 21, as part of Small Business Week 2011.
Intended for entrepreneurs, this year’s activities for Small Business Week, a registered trademark of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), have innovation as their theme. “Small businesses are central to our society’s vitality,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and Info entrepreneurs. “More than ever, we need the spirit of entrepreneurship to fuel our economy. In a context of strong local and international competition, innovation is essential to business success.”
To allow small businesses from the metropolitan area discover innovations that could increase their productivity and lead them to success, the Board of Trade offers activities during Small Business Week 2011 that respond to the needs and interests of all entrepreneurs.
The activities on October 18 will allow small businesses that are just starting up to meet one-on-one with some 15 financing organizations. Participants will also learn how they can innovate from the moment their business is created, through presentations by Louise Grenier of the BDC’s Entrepreneurship Centre, Michel Corbin from NeoSynergix and Marc A. Bovet from BONE Structure.
October 19 will be devoted to growing businesses. Participants will have the chance to talk to a variety of specialists, particularly in law and accounting, and discuss their business projects with financing organizations. They will also attend a luncheon panel where representatives from Lavery, Biron Health Group, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and FXinnovation will explain how companies can innovate, from production to commercialization. That same day, the link between the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the financial health of small businesses will be addressed. Plus the CEFRIO will unveil the results of the NetPME survey for 2011.
On October 20, small businesses are invited to attend the Entrepreneurship Rendez-vous. They will have the chance to meet innovative businesses that have created their success and attend a luncheon panel with Nancy Simoneau of the Groupe Simoneau, Alain Lemaire of Cascades and Jean-René Halde of the BDC illustrating how innovation is the winning strategy for entrepreneurs.
“The speakers for Small Business Week incarnate Quebec’s creativity,” Mr. Leblanc said. “Their achievements illustrate that innovation can lead local companies to success in a context of change and market globalization. I hope that many entrepreneurs will benefit from their vast experience.”
The week will conclude on October 21 with an open house at Info entrepreneurs’ offices at 380 Saint-Antoine St. West. Small businesses will find out how they can get timely advice on projects and be directed to the resources they need.
This Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal event is made possible through the support of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) in partnership with La Presse, Lavery and Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.
For program details, visit www.btmm.qc.ca/sbw.
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and 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 the leader in the delivery of high-quality, integrated information about government programs and services for business people. It is a privileged source of commercial information, contributing to the economic growth of small businesses. Info entrepreneurs is a Government of Canada service delivered by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. It is part of the Canada Business Network, which has thirteen main centres across the country.
About Small Business Week
In 1979, the business centres of BDC's Lower Fraser Valley pooled their resources to organize business management training sessions over a week called "Small Business Week".
Encouraged with the event's success, the business centres in the province renewed the experience the following year, tripling the number of activities offered. In 1981, BDC officially launched Small Business Week across Canada.
Every year, SBW takes place during the third full week of October.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca