This is fortunate, because above and beyond the time and resources necessary to organize this networking activity, almost all the participants agreed that it was the best way to make contacts to meet their needs.

The forum’s objectives were to build synergy among local actors, by pooling skills, and to identify the means to improve the notions of efficiency and profitability for the betterment of our community. The proposal of the organizers is thus to go from a proximity of concern to a proximity of realization. A vast program! Let's just say it is still in the preliminary stage, but concrete action must be suggested over the coming months.

In the area of labour development, the CDEC is committed to working with the management of the Regroupement de l’ouest de Montréal and Emploi-Québec, to put at the disposal of institutions in Côte-des-Neiges and Outremont tools for forward-looking human resource management and to put more emphasis on some sections of Emploi Québec’s Online placement Internet site. Local purchasing will not be forgotten because the 3 Monts CLD and the CDN/NDG CDEC are committed to pooling their resources to offer a coaching service by next spring for the development of relations of sustainable business for institutions and businesses offering goods and services that correspond to $25,000 and less.

If the past is a portent of the future, I am convinced that the existing links between our organizations and these “givers of orders” will transform little by little into profound cooperation marked by mutual support and respect. As organizations responsible for coordinating entrepreneurship measures in Outremont and Côte-des-Neiges, we are confident that this project will bring hope for our communities. It is for our collective future and to paraphrase Outremont's MLA, Raymond Bachand, "it is up to us to create winning conditions to meet the challenge of employment in the community.”

Claude Lauzon