QPMA to honor women in produce at its annual convention
QPMA to honor women in produce at its annual convention
LONGUEUIL, QC -- The Quebec Produce Marketing Association will pay tribute to women working in the produce industry at its 61st annual convention Aug. 14-16 at the Fairmount Le Manoir Richelieu in LaMalbaie, QC.
In addition to numerous networking and educational opportunities, convention attendees will be able to partake in many exciting outdoor activities that the venue, about two hours northeast of Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River, offers.
Sophie Perreault, the association's executive director, was looking forward to the upcoming convention. "We have a lot of families and people coming from outside the province to our convention this year," Ms. Perreault told The Produce News at the association's annual golf tournament on July 25. "They are coming to take vacations here as well because you can go hiking, kayaking and whale watching."
This year, Ms. Perreault said that the QPMA will pay "special tribute" to women in the produce industry. "We want to recognize the women in front and in the back, too -- the people behind the scenes who are working hard," she said, noting that the association's outgoing president, Bernadette Hamel, is the first woman to hold that position with the association. And this year's convention chairman is also a woman, Marie Gosselin. "We also want to remember the pioneers who opened the path for the new generation, and we are so thankful for them."
Ms. Perreault said that Ms. Hamel, who serves as Metro Inc.'s senior director for produce replenishment, merchandising and central procurement, was a good example for the industry. "She shows us that as a woman, if you work hard, you can accomplish a lot," she said.
The convention will kick off at 9 p.m. on Thursday with a Presidents' Reception.
On Friday, attendees will have a choice of three optional activities: a whale- watching cruise on the St. Lawrence River in the boat Explorathor or a Zodiac watercraft; a nature and landscape walk along the river with several stops including a "secret" pebble beach; or a round of golf at a course built from a design authored by renowned British architect Herbert Strong.
Later that evening, attendees will be transported back to the height of the "Roaring Twenties" at a dinner-dance where they will be "guests" of the Tozzi family in the era of Prohibition, complete with crooks, crime and corruption. Attendees are invited to wear their best gangster attire.
Saturday's events will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the QPMA's annual general meeting, which will be followed by two workshops.
The first, titled "Responsible & Sustainable Networking," will be presented by Lise Cardinal, author of two best-selling books and a third that has been lauded as "the businessperson's Bible." She will share her expertise on networking in business and how to develop a responsible and sustainable network of contacts.
The second, titled "La Face Cachee de la Pomme," will be presented by St?phanie Beaudoin and will detail the development and marketing of the fine products and the brand image of Quebec ice apple ciders.
The annual industry brunch will follow the workshops and will relive the highlights of the industry from 2007-08. It will pay tribute to the effect of women in the industry. A keynote address will be given by Sophie Thibault, one of the only solo female news anchors in North America for a major late- night network television news broadcast, who will detail her path to professional and personal success.
The winner of the "I Love" contest, which congratulates the QPMA members that have best utilized the association's popular "I Love 5 to 10 a Day" campaign logo and theme in their businesses, including packaging, bags or promotional materials, will also be announced at the brunch by campaign spokesperson Julie DesGroseilliers.
Martin Desrochers, president of HydroSerre Mirabel Inc., which is renowned for its hydroponic lettuce grown with floating-raft technology, and QPMA president in 2005, will be toasted at Saturday night's closing banquet, where he will receive the QPMA's Pillar of the Industry tribute for 2008.
Keeping with the theme of women in the industry, closing banquet attendees will be entertained by Girls Wanna Have Fun, a musical review of the greatest female entertainers of the 1970s, '80s and '90s featuring eight artists (five musicians and three singers).
Following the banquet, attendees can visit the President's Suite, where they can meet and congratulate outgoing President Bernadette Hamel and the QPMA's president-elect for 2008-09, Christian Chouinard of Provigo.
In addition to numerous networking and educational opportunities, convention attendees will be able to partake in many exciting outdoor activities that the venue, about two hours northeast of Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River, offers.
Sophie Perreault, the association's executive director, was looking forward to the upcoming convention. "We have a lot of families and people coming from outside the province to our convention this year," Ms. Perreault told The Produce News at the association's annual golf tournament on July 25. "They are coming to take vacations here as well because you can go hiking, kayaking and whale watching."
This year, Ms. Perreault said that the QPMA will pay "special tribute" to women in the produce industry. "We want to recognize the women in front and in the back, too -- the people behind the scenes who are working hard," she said, noting that the association's outgoing president, Bernadette Hamel, is the first woman to hold that position with the association. And this year's convention chairman is also a woman, Marie Gosselin. "We also want to remember the pioneers who opened the path for the new generation, and we are so thankful for them."
Ms. Perreault said that Ms. Hamel, who serves as Metro Inc.'s senior director for produce replenishment, merchandising and central procurement, was a good example for the industry. "She shows us that as a woman, if you work hard, you can accomplish a lot," she said.
The convention will kick off at 9 p.m. on Thursday with a Presidents' Reception.
On Friday, attendees will have a choice of three optional activities: a whale- watching cruise on the St. Lawrence River in the boat Explorathor or a Zodiac watercraft; a nature and landscape walk along the river with several stops including a "secret" pebble beach; or a round of golf at a course built from a design authored by renowned British architect Herbert Strong.
Later that evening, attendees will be transported back to the height of the "Roaring Twenties" at a dinner-dance where they will be "guests" of the Tozzi family in the era of Prohibition, complete with crooks, crime and corruption. Attendees are invited to wear their best gangster attire.
Saturday's events will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the QPMA's annual general meeting, which will be followed by two workshops.
The first, titled "Responsible & Sustainable Networking," will be presented by Lise Cardinal, author of two best-selling books and a third that has been lauded as "the businessperson's Bible." She will share her expertise on networking in business and how to develop a responsible and sustainable network of contacts.
The second, titled "La Face Cachee de la Pomme," will be presented by St?phanie Beaudoin and will detail the development and marketing of the fine products and the brand image of Quebec ice apple ciders.
The annual industry brunch will follow the workshops and will relive the highlights of the industry from 2007-08. It will pay tribute to the effect of women in the industry. A keynote address will be given by Sophie Thibault, one of the only solo female news anchors in North America for a major late- night network television news broadcast, who will detail her path to professional and personal success.
The winner of the "I Love" contest, which congratulates the QPMA members that have best utilized the association's popular "I Love 5 to 10 a Day" campaign logo and theme in their businesses, including packaging, bags or promotional materials, will also be announced at the brunch by campaign spokesperson Julie DesGroseilliers.
Martin Desrochers, president of HydroSerre Mirabel Inc., which is renowned for its hydroponic lettuce grown with floating-raft technology, and QPMA president in 2005, will be toasted at Saturday night's closing banquet, where he will receive the QPMA's Pillar of the Industry tribute for 2008.
Keeping with the theme of women in the industry, closing banquet attendees will be entertained by Girls Wanna Have Fun, a musical review of the greatest female entertainers of the 1970s, '80s and '90s featuring eight artists (five musicians and three singers).
Following the banquet, attendees can visit the President's Suite, where they can meet and congratulate outgoing President Bernadette Hamel and the QPMA's president-elect for 2008-09, Christian Chouinard of Provigo.
