Young professionals discover the region

A group of eight young professional from Montreal and Quebec were able to discover the Haut-Saint-Laurent during the latest Discovery Day weekend activity hosted by Place aux Jeunes Haut-Saint-Laurent. Under the theme of education, several of the activities included in the week-end revolved around the recruitment of future teachers. The event took place in collaboration with the New Frontiers School Board. The visitors not only toured local educational establishments, but met with principals, teachers, staff and students from the Anglophone school board. The weekend also highlighted several local entrepreneurs and producers in an effort to showcase the diversity the region has to offer. Following a day touring the educational institutions, and a stop at the Vergers Frier in Franklin, the visitors were special guests at a 5 à 7, catered by Chef Annie, which brought together sever-al representatives from the local socio-economic and community organisations. On Saturday, the group stopped at the Jardins de la Résistance in Ormstown, Domaine Herdman in Hinchinbrooke, and Enter Pierre et Terre and the Vergers Ivanhoë Faille in Franklin. The after-noon included a workshop at Serenplicity and a delicious meal at the Tavern de la Ferme in Ormstown. On Sunday, the group toured the region by bus, with stops at the General Store in Athelstan, the Percy Covered Bridge, the L’Ourse qui Danse Alpaca Ranch in Godmanchester, and a delicious brunch at Citron and Basilic in Huntingdon. Before leaving the region, the group also visited the Vallée des Outardes housing development in Ormstown “The organization of such a weekend includes significant economic benefits for the Haut-Saint-Laurent, with just over $5,500 spent during the three days,” says Fabienne Le Gad, the Migration Agent for Place aux Jeunes Haut-Saint-Laurent. “Some of these individuals are in the process of looking for work and moving to the Haut-Saint-Laurent in the hope of starting a family,” she notes. The visitors were all impressed by the local entrepreneurs, their passion for their work and the warm welcome they received. The affordable housing and proximity to Montreal, ontario and the United States were equally impressive. The weekend was made possible in part due to financial contributions by local MP Anne Quach and the Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises, Regulatory Streamlining and Regional Eco-nomic Development, Mr. Stéphane Billette. Place aux Jeunes en Région facilitates the migration and retention of graduates between the ages of 18-35 in the regions. The organization is present in 15 regions across the province, and helps young professionals in their efforts to settle, work and thrive in their new environments. Plane aux Jeunes Haut-Saint-Laurent is supported locally through a collaboration between the CLD, the MRC and the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent.