A pilot project initiated by Place aux jeunes en région in the Haut-Saint-Laurent welcomed a small group of young professionals with a specific interest in a career related to agriculture, agri-food and agri-tourism to the Haut-Saint-Laurent on November 16 and 17.
Within the framework of an exploratory visit, the participants were able to discover the full potential of the MRC, which pulled out all the stops in an effort to win over the five participants.
On the first day, participants were able to learn about local services and possible career opportunities while growing their network of connections during the 2nd Journée Découvertes conference, which was organized by the Beauharnois-Valleyfield-Haut-Saint-Laurent Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Huntingdon County Farmer’s Market and the Haut-Saint-Laurent Community Development Corporation. The conference was followed by a networking supper where participants were introduced to several young representatives from the Haut-Saint-Laurent MRC, the local UPA syndicate, municipalities and local agricultural enterprises. The second day included guided tours of four local farms, including an alpaca ranch, an orchard and two organic farms operating at different scales.
During our exploratory visit in Haut-Saint-Laurent, I was seduced by the activity, the richness and the attitude of the local entrepreneurs, » said Geoffroy Ryelandt, who is native to Belgium now living in Montreal. “You can sense it is a good place to live where everyone is following their passion,” he added.
“The introduction of a themed exploratory visit allows us to introduce young people interested in agriculture to this incredible region. They can meet with producers and potential employers while experiencing firsthand what it is to live in the Haut-Saint-Laurent,” said Sarah Rennie, the Migration Agent for the Haut-Saint-Laurent.
“We returned home with a clear understanding of the region and the opportunities for employment and entrepreneurs,” said Gaëlle Smets, who was also visiting from Montreal. “The accounts from everyone we met during our stay have inspired us and will help us to build our future.”
Place aux jeunes en région encourages the migration, establishment and retention of educated youth aged 18-35 in the regions. For more information, contact Sarah Rennie, by visiting the website at www.placeauxjeunes.qc.ca/mrc -690.
