This year, the president and treasurer of the Côte-des-Neiges business association invited the CDN/NDG CDEC and the 3 Monts local development centre to join the organizing committee, entrusting them with the organization of workshops on local hiring and purchasing. The one on local hiring brought together most of the members of the CDN/NDG employability roundtable (TCOE), representatives from 16 public institutions in both districts, and five representatives of for- and non-profit businesses.

The local purchasing workshop was attended by about 70 stakeholders from the above-mentioned institutions and a number of Côte-des-Neiges and Outremont businesses. The business people had the opportunity to offer their services to the representatives of the institutions for purchases of $25,000 and less. The two workshops used a “speed dating” formula and, according to comments from participants, the two networking activities were greatly appreciated. On October 19, the CDEC and the CLD will suggest follow-up mechanisms to the organizing committee so that this initiative does not remain a one-time event.