The business community takes action on school retention: Operation Back to School kicks off!

MONTREAL, Feb. 22, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Against the backdrop of Hooked on School Days, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is pleased to launch the 2013 edition of Operation Back to School, running from March 1 to April 30. This 17^th edition will provide a framework for close to 300 presentations by business people to 10,000 students in high schools and organizations that work with young dropouts.

"The Board of Trade is delighted to be holding Operation Back to School for the 17^th consecutive year, because we believe that school retention is fundamental to fuelling the development of the city's knowledge economy," said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.

"The involvement of so many Board of Trade members shows not only the business community's interest in this issue, but also its desire to mobilize to encourage young people, our future," Michel Leblanc said. "The anticipated large turnout for the business luncheon on school retention, organized in partnership with Rio Tinto Alcan, and the growing number of speakers volunteering for Operation Back to School demonstrate how important this issue is to the business community.

During Operation Back to School, business people discuss their career paths, challenges they overcame and the determination they required. Students have a chance to explore prospects for employment. Additionally, with the help of Operation Back to School partners, over $15,000 in stay-in-school scholarships are awarded to students who attend a speaker's presentation and whose application is submitted by their teacher.

The business community is encouraged to volunteer once again for Operation Back to School to take concrete action on school retention. Details are available here: www.ccmm.qc.ca/Back_to_school

Operation Back to School is made possible through the support of MR³ Montréal Relève and the participation of Gold Ambassador ArcelorMittal, as well as Silver Ambassadors Bureau en gros/Staples, the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec, Ernst & Young, L'Oréal Canada and Ubisoft. The Board of Trade would also like to thank its association partners Youth Fusion, Montreal Hooked on School and Universitas.

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local 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.

SOURCE: Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: [phone], extension 4015
[email protected]

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