Press Release
For immediate release
Soirée des Mérites Classes Affaires Desjardins 2010
MR3 Montréal Relève rewards
805 high schools students who just completed their first
career internship!
Montréal, September 9, 2010 — With its Student Business career exploration program
entering its 10th year, MR3 Montréal Relève, an organization jointly established by the Board
of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal and the city of Montréal, rewarded 805 high school
students during their Soirée des Mérites Classes Affaires Desjardins 2010. The event, which
was held yesterday at the Palais des congrès de Montréal convention centre, and drew over
2.500 people, was aimed at recognizing the 14 to 17 year-olds who successfully completed
their 35-hour summer internships working at one of the program’s partner organizations.
These internships are invaluable and can help shape students’ futures at an age when high
schoolers typically start thinking about career choices.
Sixteen students and 16 participating mentors received a Méritas award. Every student who
participated in the program received a certificate acknowledging they successfully completed
the program and met its requirements. The Honourable Denis Coderre, Member of
Parliament for Bourassa, and Lise Thériault, Québec Minister of Labour and Member for
Anjou, both attended the award ceremony.
A program essential to the future of our young people and that of the city
An innovative program introduced in 2001, Student Business targets Secondary 3 and 4
students, promoting the importance of academic perseverance and securing a diploma. In
2009-2010, it enabled students from 16 Montréal public high schools to apply for and carry
out internships with one of the program’s 157 partner organizations, i.e. private firms,
schools, public/parapublic institutions, and non-profits active in 16 business and industry
sectors that reflect the socio-economic reality of the Greater Montréal Area – e.g. aerospace,
design, environment, engineering, healthcare and IT. The interns were chosen from among
the more than 2,000 applicants, following a rigorous preparation, selection and evaluation
process.
Bridging schools and the labour market
“Student Business provides a link between the academic and business worlds, and this link is
so crucial when you consider that high schoolers generally have a flawed view of the job
market and the careers they see themselves in. Internship spots are limited, which forces us
to refuse numerous young applicants. I therefore urge all Montréal organizations able to join
us in 2011 to do so and help us mark our 10th anniversary by making it possible to accept
even more applicants and thus fulfil our socio-economic mission even more effectively. With
the impending shortage of qualified labour, it is obvious that supporting the Student
Business program is in the interest of the city’s organizations,” emphasized Marie-Élaine
Normandeau, Executive Director of MR3 Montréal Relève, after congratulating the interns
and thanking the mentors who welcomed them into their organization.
Success worth repeating
Student Business began with 15 students from one high school, then 94 students the
following year. By the third year, the program was welcoming several hundred students.
Nearly 8,000 students have been through the program to date, in various sectors. The
number of applicants continues to grow, which is why it is important to continue to raise
awareness about the program and encourage more organizations to join a cause that
everyone stands to benefit from. "Motivating the next generation of workers to pursue
their education by actively showing them stimulating jobs that can inspire a promising
future is a win-win situation, on an individual level and for society as a whole. We all
know the pool of available labour will gradually shrink. Which is why we must start
preparing the labour force of tomorrow today, and above all, ensure it is a highly skilled
labour force. I am thrilled with the exceptional manner in which the business community
has responded to the MR3 Montréal Relève initiative,” declared Michel Leblanc,
President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal.
What students are saying...
“It’s definitely worth it, even if it’s during our summer holidays. This experience has made
me realize I need to work a lot harder at school, especially in math (...) and I also learned
things I didn’t know about physiotherapy (...) In short, it was a really enjoyable experience...”
— Odelaine Dumerlus, age 17, École secondaire Henri-Bourassa, Secondary 4.
Internship: Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, physiotherapy.
“... one of the best weeks of the summer. I had a lot of fun discovering a new environment
(...) Student Business is an excellent program. The internship also provided me with an
opportunity to learn how to communicate, share and interact with new people. These are
nice experiences when you’re trying to figure out what to do with your life.” — David
Guerra, age 16, École secondaire Antoine-de-St-Exupéry, Secondary 4. Internship:
École des métiers de l’aérospatiale de Montréal.
“Words can’t describe how thrilled I was at the prospect of interning at a law firm like
Heenan Blaikie (...) I was truly privileged because in addition to lawyers, I worked with
accountants as well as people from IT, HR, and other departments...” — Régine Myrthil,
age 15, École secondaire Jean-Grou, Secondary 4. Internship: Heenan Blaikie LLP.
“A lot more fun than I had imagined (...) This internship fired up my desire to go all the way
to university. I got a chance to handle things I never dreamed I would see or touch, like rare
books or mannequins used to simulate medical procedures...” — Tina Luong, age 15,
Académie De Roberval, Secondary 3. Internship: Université de Montréal - Projet
SEUR.
Méritas award criteria
Méritas award winners in the student category are selected on the basis of two evaluations,
that of the mentor and that of the MR3 Montréal Relève school supervisors, which primarily
focus on the quality of the student’s participation (dynamism, career-oriented interest,
punctuality, diligence, respect toward others and overall conduct, curiosity and desire to
learn, etc.). Award winners in the mentor category are determined based on the quality of the
activities performed, compliance with the program’s objectives, effectiveness of the
coaching, quality of the student experience and overall kindness. The list of the 2010 Méritas
student and mentor award winners is annexed herewith.
The 2009-2010 edition of the Student Business program was made possible thanks to the
support of the following organizations. Major Partners: Caisse Desjardins De Lorimier and
Caisse Desjardins Mercier-Rosemont. Gold Level Partners: Caisses Desjardins (De
Lorimier, Saint-Léonard, Mont-Rose–Saint-Michel, Saint-Michel, Villeray and MontréalNord); Cirque du Soleil; Ernst & Young; Sun Life Financial; Board of Trade of Metropolitan
Montréal; Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec; Rio Tinto Alcan; SAP Canada; STM
Montréal Transit Corporation. Silver Level Partners: CGI; Davies Ward Phillips &
Vineberg LLP. Bronze Level Partners: O’Sullivan College.
About MR3 Montréal Relève
The result of an agreement between the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal and the city Montréal,
MR3 Montréal Relève is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering academic perseverance and preparing
the next generation of workers. Nearly entirely funded by Stationnement de Montréal, it employs eight people,
including a team of four school supervisors who accompany students throughout the entire interning process.
- 30 Source:
Marie-Élaine Normandeau
Executive Director
MR3 Montréal Relève
For information:
Andrée Peltier
Relations publiques Andrée Peltier
514.846.0003 – Cell: 514.944.8689
ANNEXE 1
Prix Méritas (stagiaires)
Aérospatiale
Hajar Aragrag, 16 ans
École secondaire Joseph-François-Perrault
Milieu du stage : Parcours d’exploration des carrières de l’aérospatiale
Affaires, finances et administration
Pichrasmey Ngy, 16 ans
École secondaire Louis-Joseph-Papineau
Milieu du stage : Ville de Montréal - Service des finances
Alimentation
Angelica Bourgeault-Lunch, 16 ans
John F. Kennedy High School
Milieu du stage : Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ)
Arts, culture et communications
Ann-Clara Danane Isaac, 16 ans
École secondaire D’Anjou
Milieu du stage : Annie Fafard, photographe
Design
Kateryna Naumenko, 16 ans
École secondaire Saint-Luc
Milieu du stage : Université du Québec à Montréal, École de design
Domaine social et loisirs
Carolanne Leduc, 15 ans
École secondaire Calixa-Lavallée
Milieu du stage : Maison de la Famille Pierre Bienvenu Noailles
Droit
Régine Myrthil, 15 ans
École secondaire Jean-Grou
Milieu du stage : Heenan Blaikie s.e.n.c.r.l./LLP
Environnement, sciences pures et appliquées
Fatimah Ehyra Binaté, 16 ans
École secondaire Père-Marquette
Milieu du stage : Schering-Plough Canada inc.
Informatique et nouvelles technologies
Philippe Darveau, 16 ans
École secondaire Cavelier-de LaSalle
Milieu du stage : EMICA - École des métiers de l'informatique, du commerce et de l'administration
de Montréal
Ingénierie
Cristian Niculica, 17 ans
École secondaire Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry
Milieu du stage : MTS Allstream inc.
Métiers manuels
Alexandre Denis-Plante, 15 ans
Académie De Roberval
Milieu du stage : École des métiers de l'aérospatiale de Montréal
Multisectoriel
Gerardo Velonza, 16 ans
École secondaire Dalbé-Viau
Milieu du stage : Université de Montréal - Projet SEUR
Santé
Rachel Noël Jeune, 16 ans
École secondaire Henri-Bourassa
Milieu du stage : Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, CHUM
Santé animale
Mathilde Gaudreau, 16 ans
École secondaire Sophie-Barat
Milieu du stage : Clinique Vétérinaire Saint-Denis
Services aux citoyens
Ulda Joseph, 16 ans
École secondaire Georges-Vanier
Milieu du stage : Sûreté du Québec
Soins corporels
Monica Lam, 16 ans
École secondaire Lucien-Pagé
Milieu du stage : Centre de formation professionnelle d'électrolyse et d'esthétique
Prix Méritas (mentors)
Aérospatiale
Monsieur Guy Brazeau
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Affaires, finances et administration
Monsieur Michel Girard
Aeroplan
Alimentation
Monsieur Christophe Souedet
Première Moisson - Succursale Bernard
Arts, culture et communications
Monsieur André Bastien
Groupe Librex
Design
Monsieur Maurice Cloutier
Université du Québec à Montréal, École de design
Domaine social et loisirs
Madame Sophie-Anne Simon
Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille
Droit
Madame Debora De Thomasis
Debora De Thomasis, avocate
Environnement, sciences pures et appliquées
Madame Suzanne Paradis
IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail
Informatique et nouvelles technologies
Monsieur Claude Chamberland
Hydro-Québec
Ingénierie
Monsieur Tommy Huynh
MTS Allstream inc.
Métiers manuels
Monsieur Stéphane Bonin
École des métiers du Sud-Ouest de Montréal
Multisectoriel
Madame Noémie Albert
Université de Montréal - Projet SEUR
Santé
Madame Michelle Laganière
Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, CHUM
Santé animale
Monsieur Michel Gosselin
Hôpital Vétérinaire de Montréal
Services aux citoyens
Madame Jacynthe Crochetière
Ville de Montréal - Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal
Soins corporels
Madame Luce Guillemette
Centre de formation professionnelle d'électrolyse et d'esthétique
ANNEXE 2
Commanditaire des Prix Méritas (mentors)
Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain
Commanditaires des Prix Méritas (stagiaires)
Aérospatiale
MR3 Montréal Relève
Affaires, finances et administration
KPMG
Alimentation
Académie Culinaire
Arts, culture et communications
La Tohu
Design
Centre Canadien d’Architecture (CCA)
Domaine social et loisirs
Institut Kiné-Concept
Droit
Heenan Blaikie s.e.n.c.r.l./LLP
Environnement, sciences pures et appliquées
Société de transport de Montréal
Informatique et nouvelles technologies
Cyanide studio
Ingénierie
Société de transport de Montréal
Métiers manuels
Société de transport de Montréal
Multisectoriel
Société de transport de Montréal
Santé
Le Groupe Jean Coutu, pharmacie René Rivard
Santé animale
Clinique Vétérinaire Saint-Denis
Services aux citoyens
Sûreté du Québec
Soins corporels
Institut Kiné-Concept
ANNEXE 3
Liste des 16 écoles secondaires participantes
Commission scolaire de Montréal
Académie De Roberval
École secondaire Georges-Vanier
École secondaire Joseph-François-Perrault
École secondaire Louis-Joseph-Papineau
École secondaire Lucien-Pagé
École secondaire Père-Marquette
École secondaire Saint-Luc
École secondaire Sophie-Barat
Commission scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île
École secondaire Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry
École secondaire Calixa-Lavallée
École secondaire D’Anjou
École secondaire Henri-Bourassa
École secondaire Jean-Grou
Commission scolaire English-Montréal
John F. Kennedy High School
Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys
École secondaire Cavelier-de LaSalle
École secondaire Dalbé-Viau