Community, Commitment, Cooperation - Moving Forward Together

MONTREAL, June 14 /CNW Telbec/ - The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), which gathered in Quebec City this past weekend, honoured the founding fathers of the organization, Hugh Maynard and Martin Murphy, and elected its first woman president, literary festival organizer Linda Leith, founder of Blue Metropolis Foundation (details here (http://www.qcgn.com/page.asp?intNodeID=42527)). Dr. Victor Goldbloom was also on hand for the official launch of the call for nominations for the 2010 Sheila and Victor Goldbloom Distinguished Community Service Award (See details here (http://www.qcgn.com/files/QCGN/aGoldbloom_Awards_WEB_bilingual_2010.pdf)).

The get-together, which crowned the organization's 15th anniversary, included a panel discussion during which Network leaders talked about where Quebec's English-speaking community sees itself 15 years from now. The discussion launched a wider consultation process which will culminate in a community conference in the fall of 2011 that will help our Network set a clear path forward towards ensuring the continued vitality of English-speaking Quebec.

"At the end of our first 15 years, we are about to start a new chapter in the history of the QCGN and of the history of the English-speaking community of Quebec," said Leith, who is a writer. "I look forward to working on this new chapter together with you. What we're working on is not a novel. It's a work of creative non-fiction, grounded in reality, fired by the imagination. The collective imagination, as is appropriate for a collaborative work. It will take a lot of brainstorming, a lot of work, and a lot of input from all of you. "

The Quebec Community Groups Network (www.qcgn.ca) is a not-for-profit organization bringing together 36 English-language community organizations across Quebec. Its mission is to identify, explore and address strategic issues affecting the development and vitality of English-speaking Quebec and to encourage dialogue and collaboration among its member organizations, individuals, community groups, institutions and leaders.

To read the full press release, please follow this link: http://www.qcgn.ca/files/QCGN/aAGM_wrap_uprelease.pdf

For further information: Rita Legault, Director of Communications, Telephone: [phone], ext. 223, cellular: 514-912-6555, [email protected]