Rendez-vous Acadie-Quebec 2009

(August 31, 2009) Campbellton, NB - The program for Rendez-vous Acadie Québec 2009 was officially released today.

Organized by the Enterprise Network in collaboration with the Réseau des SADC du Québec, the Association des centres locaux de développement du Québec (ACLDQ), and the Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick (CÉNB), the event will take place this coming September 24 and 25 at the Memorial Civic Centre in Campbellton in northern New Brunswick. More than 200 entrepreneurs and economic stakeholders will attend what promises to be an extremely empowering meeting.

"On September 24 and 25, the francophone business community will be meeting in Campbellton," declared Richard LeBlanc, president of the organizing committee and executive director of the Enterprise Network. "Rendez-vous Acadie-Québec 2009 provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the ties that already exist between the Acadian and Quebec business communities and to explore the numerous opportunities for economic development."

"Rendez-vous Acadie-Québec is a must-attend for the business communities on both sides of the border," agreed Suzie Loubier, general director of ACLDQ. "The program features discussions and ideas that can’t help but have a positive effect on the economic development of our respective communities."

Hélène Deslauriers, general director of the Réseau des SADC du Québec, added, "Besides that, the twinning of companies and visits to different firms, which is happening for the first time this year, will increase the possibilities for partnerships."

"There is a lot of potential for economic cooperation between the business communities of New Brunswick and Quebec," according to the president of the Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick, Louis-Philippe Gauthier. "A lot of businesspeople would like to intensify this collaboration, which would have a positive benefit for our economies."

The seminar, whose theme is Renforçons nos économies [Strengthening Our Economies], will present more than 20 speakers from New Brunswick and Quebec, among them:

Monique Colette, president, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; Jean-Claude Savoie, president, Groupe Savoie; Louis-Philippe Gauthier, entrepreneur and consultant in strategy and technology, Mnemonikos Inc.; Line Lagacé, director of development and training, PÔLE Québec Chaudière-Appalaches; Guy Pardiac, director of business development, Activa Environnement; Yara Bossé, R&D group leader, Atlantic division, KPMG; Claude Larouche, HR development officer, CBDC Restigouche; and Annie Girard, assistant general manager, National/International Agency of Manitoba.

More than a dozen visits to companies, presentations, a networking room, and an exhibition area are on the program for this seminar, which will make it possible to:

• get up to date on existing joint initiatives;
• encourage new partnerships and alliances of an economic nature; and
• share best practices.

Workshops on different subjects, such as the art of applied matching and testimonials, research and development tax credits, human resources tools, tools for enhancing distance partnerships, and the business potential of the economic space of Canadian francophones, are also on the agenda.

For more details on the Rendez-vous Acadie-Québec program and to register, visit the Internet site www.rendez-vous-acadie-quebec.org or call 1-800-680-1211. Registration costs $150 (HST included) per participant.

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For more information, please contact:

Nancy Godin
506-861-6340
nancy@landalinc.com