The Montreal Business Community Honours Mohammed Hage of Lufa Farms with the National Bank Montreal Inc. Next Generation Award

MONTREAL, Dec. 7, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - Some 450 prominent people from the Montreal business community gathered on November 29 at Bonsecours Market for the Mayor's Ball, an annual event for the benefit of the Fondation du maire : le Montréal inc. de demain.

Lufa Farms, the winner of the National Bank Montreal Inc. Next Generation Award was declared by the business people in attendance to honour the most illustrious of the Foundation grantees over the last 12 months. Créations Mantoo and Nüvü Caméras were the other two finalists.

Andrew T. Molson, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation, says that he is "especially proud that Montreal inc. gathered together last Tuesday to support entrepreneurship and encourage the emergence of a new and promising generation of young Montreal entrepreneurs. Mohammed Hage of Lufa Farms, with his innovative concept of downtown rooftop gardens, is without a doubt the next generation of Montreal inc.!"

Mayor Gérald Tremblay, for his part, stressed the generous involvement of some 250 business personalities who volunteer hours of coaching and mentoring to young Foundation grantees. This year, the 2011 Mayor's Award, honouring the exceptional contribution of a Foundation volunteer, was awarded to Francis Perreault, Senior Partner of the consulting firm Creative Management Perreault Samson. Mr. Tremblay points out that: "the participation of volunteers like Mr. Perreault is remarkable because it fosters the development of young entrepreneurs and, by the same token, contributes to Montreal's economic vitality."

Finally, the event also raised more than $155,000, which will be invested in the success of young Montreal entrepreneurs by providing them with business start-up grants. For 15 years now, the Foundation has awarded $4.75 million in grants to help the launch of 735 companies in our city that, in turn, have created over 2150 jobs. Over the years, the Foundation has helped create investments of over $39 million in Montreal.

Image with caption: "Olivier Daigle and Marie-Eve Ducharme from Nüvü Caméras Inc.; Mohamed Hage, from Lufa Farms Inc. and 2011 laureate of the National Bank Montréal Inc. Next Generation Award; Stéphanie Airaud from Créations Mantoo. (CNW Group/Fondation du maire : le Montréal inc. de demain)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111207_C4886_PHOTO_EN_7934.jpg

Image with caption: "Andrew T. Molson, Vice-chairman of RES PUBLICA Consulting Group and Chairman of Molson Coors and of the Foundation; Francis Perreault, Senior Partner of Creative Management Perreault Samson and 2011 Mayor's Award recipient; Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal. (CNW Group/Fondation du maire : le Montréal inc. de demain)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111207_C4886_PHOTO_EN_7935.jpg

Image with caption: Andrew T. Molson, Vice-chairman of RES PUBLICA Consulting Group and Chairman of Molson Coors and of the Foundation; Francis Perreault, Senior Partner of Creative Management Perreault Samson and 2011 Mayor's Award recipient; Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal. (CNW Group/Fondation du maire : le Montréal inc. de demain)

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