PROJECT SUMMARY OBJECTIVES EXPECTED RESULTS EVENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS

FaunENord and the city of Chapais aim to deliver a conference which will act as a discussion and exchange forum and networking activity. The conference subject addresses entrepreneurial issues faced in agroforestry and bio-foods for the economic diversification in Northern Québec.

This event represents concrete action for Northern Québec residents to take in order to expand their region's economic foundation. In addition, this event will increase their capacities to take advantage of the economic opportunities presented and improve coordination between partners and programs which foster economic development in the North.

This interregional conference includes all Plan Nord regions, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, in order to promote business partnerships and the sharing of experience and expertise.

Northern Québec possesses strong potential for development. It is already a platform for several projects along these lines of development. In order to create strategic partnership and a framework for new projects within these sectors, regional cooperation and knowledge transfer must first be implemented. Knowledge and recognition of the potential for development must be disseminated throughout the different communities in order to stimulate interest and the emergence of enterprises.

The objective of this event is to ensure that conference participants—current and future entrepreneurs— leave better informed and equipped to face the challenges presented by the reality of Nordic entrepreneurship.

• Prepare the participants, current and future entrepreneurs, to meet the key entrepreneurial challenges associated with a Nordic environment;


• Foster partnership and networking among regional stakeholders, both public and private, in order to promote the development of these regions and target international markets;


• Generate the creation of regional businesses and jobs in agroforestry and bio-food sectors;


• Stimulate local economy;


• Foster the development of regional niche products, building brand identity and a sense of belonging for each region;


• Create a regional cooperation table to support entrepreneurship initiatives;


• Create a web site which will foster partnership and networking among stakeholders, promoters, and existing businesses.

EXPECTED RESULTS

• The creation of a network for all stakeholders from the various Plan Nord administrative regions resulting in optimized information dissemination and improved cohesion for the various initiatives related to the valorization and marketing of NTFPs and bio-foods.


• Implementation of an interregional committee which will provide assistance to entrepreneurs currently involved in or interested in becoming involved in the NTFP or bio-food sectors and, in turn, foster cohesion for the various initiatives in those sectors.


• More extensive and detailed knowledge among participants of the social-economic, cultural, and environmental benefits of agroforestry and bio-foods in resource regions, as well as the abundance and diversity of such resources in Northern Québec.


• Communities take control and take charge of their land and territory in order to innovate and enable new avenues of sustainable economic development.


• The economic spin-offs generated by the conference provide measurable results in matters of entrepreneurship and job creation:


• The creation of a minimum of two businesses in the NTFP and bio-food sectors in Northern Québec within 12 months after the conference.


• The creation of a minimum of 20 seasonal jobs (six months) in these sectors.


• The creation of partnerships among existing and emerging businesses.

The results may be measured quantitatively due to the web site which will provide a forum for information exchange and sharing, the advertisement of business opportunities, employment/service search and offers, the advertisement of new business or partnerships, etc.

EVENT

The conference will be held over a two-day period, on September 16 and 17, 2010. The workshops will be thematic and offered in French and English, accommodating all participating Northern Québec communities on subject interest and language.

The event will open with a general conference introducing Plan Nord's overall approach and end with a networking activity, providing and inciting the possibility of direct exchange among participants and speakers.

Numerous exhibition kiosks will be available to participants at all times during the conference. Exhibitors will present their products and/or services.

There will be a thematic Discover the Flavours of the Boreal Forest cocktails and banquet evening reception.

Please take note that we want this conference to be an ECO-FRIENDLY event. Specific initiatives will be taken in order to achieve our CARBON NEUTRAL goal.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES PROVIDED

• A conference web site will be implemented. In addition to providing information for the population on the event program and the invited entrepreneurs and stakeholders, the site will offer easy and uncomplicated participant registration for the different activities. Stakeholder contact information and the workforce needs of partner entrepreneurs present at the conference will also be posted on the site.


• Simultaneous French to English and English to French translation services will be provided at all times during the two-day event.


• Proceedings will be recorded and prepared by FaunENord, providing an online Work Document of the conference available on the conference web site.

PROJECT MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS PLAN