Tremblant Forum(R) speakers address employee engagement, the cornerstone of
sustainability

    
    Jeffrey Hollender from Seventh Generation, a global leader in sustainable
    development, launches his latest book
    
</pre>
<p/>
<p><location>MONTREAL</location>, <chron>Sept. 23</chron> /CNW Telbec/ - Local and international leaders from private corporations, non-profit organizations and research chairs convened today at Mont-Tremblant for the sixth annual Tremblant Forum on corporate responsibility and sustainability. This year's Forum explored the latest issues, drivers and trends in human capital and corporate responsibility, with the theme Leadership through Engagement.</p>
<p>The event kicked off with the launch of the latest book by the keynote speaker, <person>Jeffrey Hollender</person>, chief inspired protagonist, executive chair and co-founder of Seventh Generation, a leader in the area of natural products for the home that will soon be entering the Canadian market. He believes companies must establish a culture that fosters employee engagement so they feel involved as real agents of change. "As company managers, we must do a greater job in taking care of our employees", said <person>Jeffrey Hollender</person> to a capacity crowd. "We cannot claim to be a sustainable company nor can we grow without growing the people who work with us by helping them becoming more conscious, learning to think more systemically and by making them owners of the company." This is the fundamental idea behind his latest book, entitled In Our Every Deliberation, Seventh Generation's Journey toward Corporate Consciousness, launched at the Forum.</p>
<p/>
<p>Speakers and participants engage in fruitful dialogue</p>
<p/>
<p>Hosted by well-known journalists and experts, the 2009 Tremblant Forum workshops are aimed at sharing best practices in mobilizing and engaging employees. In response to the convergence of economic challenges, social inequality and environmental deterioration, a growing number of companies are reviewing their overall production and management processes. "It is becoming ever more obvious that the most adaptable, innovative and successful enterprises are those that attract, motivate, engage and retain the best employees", said <person>Rick Petersen</person>, partner and head of national Corporate Responsibility Practice at NATIONAL Public Relations.</p>
<p>The first workshop of the morning, Leading a values-based organization, explored the role employees play in establishing truly sustainable companies and the factors that make it possible to instill ethical behaviours, accountable practices and transparent communications. Discussing VIA Rail <location>Canada</location>, president and CEO Paul Côté, explained that: "The values that guide our conduct and that of our employees are fundamental to reaching our goals. Our value system and guiding principles allow us to recruit and motivate employees who, in turn, thrive within the company". Added Ugo Dionne, co-founder, Business Volunteers, President and Founder, Synesis-Versalys : "While research and theory is important, it is essential to actually become engaged and to take actions that encompass the values of engagement and sharing. This is how we have a real impact in the field."</p>
<p>The next workshop, The power of engagement, analyzed ways of going beyond responsible corporate culture to create a genuine social movement. In light of the various controversies that have tarnished corporate reputations, the afternoon workshop, Human capital and shared interest, will examine the ties between corporate principles and personal behaviours and the importance of allowing younger employees to express their full potential. Wrapping up the discussions at this year's Tremblant Forum is The Future Café, an interactive session where speakers, participants and sponsors can share ideas and experiences.</p>
<p/>
<pre>
    
    The 2009 Tremblant Forum brings together speakers from a wide variety of
    backgrounds:

    - Jeffrey Hollender, chief inspired protagonist, executive chair and co-
      founder, Seventh Generation
    - Dr. Paul Shrivastava, distinguished professor and director, David
      O'Brien Center for Sustainable Enterprise
    - Pierre A. Raymond, partner, Stikeman Elliott
    - Paul Côté, president and CEO, VIA Rail Canada
    - Bruce MacDonald, president and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
    - Ugo Dionne, president, Synesis-Versalys, and co-founder, Business
      Volunteers
    - Carole Beaulieu, editor-in-chief, L'actualité
    - Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, president and CEO, Centraide of Greater
      Montreal
    - Alain Michaud, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers
    - Dr. Gilles Julien, founder, Fondation pour la promotion de la pédiatrie
      sociale
    - Thierry C. Pauchant, chairman, chair in ethical management, HEC
      Montréal
    - Andrew Potter, journalist, Maclean's
    - John Coyne, vice-president, legal and general affairs, Unilever Canada
    - Karel Mayrand, director general for Quebec, David Suzuki Foundation
    - Doreen Hackey, vice-president, human resources and organizational
      development, Molson Coors
    - David Robitaille, manager, corporate citizenship and corporate affairs,
      IBM Canada.
    
</pre>
<p/>
<p>The Tremblant Forum (<a href="http://www.tremblantforum.org">www.tremblantforum.org</a>) is made possible by the support of many partners, including AstraZeneca, Bell, Cascades, Loto-Québec, Molson Coors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Tremblant and VIA Rail, along with media partners La Presse, The Gazette, L'actualité and Vision Durable. For the first time this year, the Tremblant Forum is hosting the Korn/Ferry - L'actualité - NATIONAL Prize of Excellence in Corporate Citizenship.</p>
<p/>
<p>About NATIONAL</p>
<p/>
<p>NATIONAL, Canada's largest public relations firm, was named one of the top 10 public relations firms worldwide for corporate responsibility. NATIONAL was also named Canada's public relations firm of the year by The Holmes Report, a highly reputed publication in the public relations sector. NATIONAL has offices in Victoria, <location>Vancouver</location>, <location>Calgary</location>, <location>Toronto</location>, <location>Ottawa</location>, <location>Montreal</location>, <location>Quebec</location> City, New York and <location>London</location>, and owns an interest in MT&L/NATIONAL in <location>Halifax</location> and Saint John.</p>
<p>The Firm provides a complete range of communications services to large corporations, organizations and governments. Its areas of expertise include corporate communications, investor relations, public affairs, employee engagement and communications in support of marketing, technology and healthcare, as well as digital communications services. Internationally, it is affiliated with Burson-Marsteller.</p>
<p>NATIONAL is a subsidiary of RES PUBLICA Consulting Group of <location>Montreal</location>, which also owns another Canadian public relations leader, Cohn & Wolfe / <location>Canada</location>, with offices in <location>Toronto</location>, <location>Montreal</location> and <location>Calgary</location>, and an affiliation with the Cohn & Wolfe global network.</p>
<p/>
<pre>
    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Attachments:    PHOTO and caption, Tremblant Forum Program
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Media access:   ftp://ftp.national.ca/medias/tremblant/23092009/
                    username: presse
                    password: media
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

For further information: Roch Landriault, NATIONAL, [phone]; Carol Sharpe, NATIONAL, [phone]