CVA and The Mercuriades Competition

By Laurie Le Breton

For the last few years CVA has been associated to The Mercuriades Competition. This important event is hosted annually by the Federation of Quebec Chamber of Commerce. This federation is known as the most important business network of the province with the participation of 3000 companies and organizations. It also represents 170 local chambers of commerce.

The competition is intended to spotlight and highlight major successes among Quebec based firms, companies and organizations in the private sector. The culminating point takes place during a prestigious evening gala held generally in June of each year at the Montreal Convention Center. The finalists and winners in seven categories are then announced. (For more information: www.mercuriades.com)

Our contribution is related to the category Human Resources Management. It includes all component features of effective personnel management, including recruitment, personnel retention, skills development, career management, mobilization, productivity, ethics, working conditions and other activities aimed at improving job performance and contributing toward the attainment of business objectives. But this year the focus is particularly on training and competency based development in a perspective of getting ready for the future. Through a special committee CVA participates in the choice of evaluation criteria during the fall. Then in the next spring the same committee analyses the entries and recommends some finalists to the jury.

For the CVA this participation is an opportunity to provide an active leadership in the promotion of competency based education and training in the business community. We are also represented at the gala where we also gain visibility through the official documents.

Laurie Le Breton is a Human Resources Management specialist. He works for Desjardins, Quebec's largest financial institution. Laurie is presently the 2nd Vice-President of the CVA.