The Palais des congrès de Montréal helps fight homelessness

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 23, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Palais des congrès de Montréal is proud to be actively fighting homelessness in the community via the very first Corvée pour lutter contre l'itinérance, a homelessness prevention initiative jointly organized with BOMA Québec and the Société de développement social Ville-Marie. On October 23, a dozen former homeless people now in the process of being socially reintegrated will be at the Palais participating in the initiative. "Since the Palais is located downtown, homelessness is a daily reality, and this initiative is a tangible opportunity to help stem it by helping people reintegrate into their communities," indicated Raymond Larivée, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal. "Each action counts and we are pleased to be doing our part year after year by getting involved in a variety of ways."

Like the Palais des congrès, four major property management firms will also be participating in the Corvée, which aims to reintegrate people who have experienced homelessness and sensitize downtown property managers on cohabitation solutions for the people who use their buildings. The participating property managers will also receive a toolbox to assist them with their prevention and intervention activities.

Daily cohabitation
The Palais des congrès is located downtown and hosts business tourists in an environment it shares with people lacking a fixed residence. The challenge for the Palais is to ensure its customers fully benefit from its facilities while it also looks after the safety of everyone, including those who commute through the Palais. "The Corvée provides us with an opportunity to learn more about homeless people and to talk to them. We are certain the experience will help us work more effectively," added the Palais des congrès Security Director Robert Charron.

A series of tangible actions
During major conventions and shows, the Palais sometimes involves experts specializing in preventing homelessness and facilitating reintegration. The Palais also sits on the homelessness taskforce set up by the Montréal police department. In addition, Palais employees devote a day to working with the neighbourhood's community organizations as part of their annual Journée Coup de pouce, including the Old Brewery Mission, Spectre de rue, St-Michael's Mission and the Welcome Hall Mission. And Capital Catering, the Palais des congrès' exclusive caterer, donates surplus food to the men's homeless shelter Maison du père.

About the Palais des congrès de Montréal
The mission of the Palais des congrès de Montréal is to attract and host conventions, exhibitions, conferences, meetings and other events. A public institution with a commercial vocation, the Palais generates major economic benefits for Québec and has contributed proudly for over 30 years to sharing knowledge and enhancing Montréal's international reputation as a first-rate destination. To learn more: congresmtl.com.

SOURCE: Palais des congrès de Montréal

For further information: Source: Chrystine Loriaux, Adm.A., B.A.A., Director, Marketing and Communications, Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal; For information: Amélie Asselin, Advisor, Communications and Public Affairs, Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal, [email protected], Phone: [phone]