Moving Forward

The GMCDI now has its own blog. Come check it out here and take part in the Montreal English-speaking community.

Now in Phase III, the Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative (GMCDI) has grown considerably since it was first formulated as a part of the QCGN Strategic Plan. The ideas, challenges, and questions raised during the course of work so far have helped contribute to the renewed sense of awareness we are experiencing in the English-speaking community of Montreal, and indeed throughout Quebec. The GMCDI is flourishing: leaders in our community are working together to develop solutions and to shape policy, and there is a renewed energy to this project.

From the community forums held throughout the Greater Montreal area in March of 2007, to the release of the final report in September of last year, the GMCDI has evolved, and is now moving in a very exciting direction. We are now moving forward to developing concrete solutions to the challenges identified during the previous phases of the project. We are proud to announce that Michelle Dupuis has joined our team as GMCDI Project Director. Michelle holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from McGill University, and has diverse experience in community development initiatives and policy work. Under Michelle’s leadership and with the support of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) there is definitely a strong sense optimism around the GMCDI.

As recommended in the final report, Task Forces on Health and Social Services, Arts, Culture and Heritage, and Education and Employability have been formed to review some of the pressing areas of concern for Montreal’s English-speaking community identified during Phase II of the project. A working conference is planned for April of this year to bring together members of all three task forces to share their findings, and to look for additional input before they propose concrete solutions and policies that will directly impact the lives of members of our community. We are looking forward to hearing the ideas and proposals generated using this form of cross-sectoral approach in our work.