Doing a fair amount of business

Considering today’s tough economic climate, the West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce’s second annual business and job fair is more pertinent than ever.

There are several aspects to the fair, some companies will offer employment opportunities, some will showcase services they can offer to other businesses, there will be networking and professional guidance aimed at small companies will be available, said organizer Eric Leouzon, of Maestro Communications, a Chamber board member.

Faced with an international recession that has also hit Quebec, Leouzon welcomes the opportunity for the Chamber to hold its second fair. “One new thing at the fair is the Business Consultation Centre,” he mentioned. “This is to help grow and create business. In the consultation room will be lawyers, the CLD, who will offer free business consultation for start-up companies.”

As well, job seekers or people considering a career move could have their CV evaluated and receive improvement tips.

Local public educational institutions, namely the Lester B. Pearson School Board and Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, will be promoting their varied vocational programs at the fair. “Some people may want to go back to school for added value,” Leouzon said.

Pearson chairman Marcus Tabachnick said the vocational programs stay up to date with trends in the actual job market. “There are a lot of skills that we train for,” he said, mentioning everything from interior design, dental assistant training to home care to telecommunications. “The whole focus of the vocational programs across the province is based on an ongoing study of needs, what technology and skills are needed.”

He added there is the equivalent of about 1,500 full-time students enrolled in Pearson’s vocational programs, though considering many are part-time, there are actually about 3,000 people being trained across the board annually.

Also with kiosks at the fair will be the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the National Defence’s Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Centre.

Leouzon said the fair is more than promoting jobs at existing companies; it’s also to promote opportunities for entrepreneurs. “You can start your own job, or franchise,” he said.

Networking and companies promoting their services is a major part of the fair. “There is a huge business to business aspect, people offering their services such human resources,” Leouzon said.

There will be about 40 exhibitors art the fair, from Bell Express Vu, Couche-Tard to Transcontinental Medias, owners of The Chronicle. There will be eight organizations, such as CLD West Island, Desjardins Financial Securities and the Dale Carnegie Group Business, that will be in the consultation room.

Chronicle publisher Denis Therrien is looking forward to the Chamber’s second-annual business and job fair after participating in last year’s edition as well.

The fair runs Thursday (from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) with a networking cocktail set from 5 to 7 p.m., and Friday (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) when there will be a luncheon with a guest speaker representing the provincial government, at the Holiday Inn Pointe Claire just off Highway 40 and St. John’s Boulevard.

For more information, check www.ccoim.ca. <@Cp>Chronicle, Jacques Pharand<@$p>