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The Québec Gay Chamber of Commerce unveils the International Steering Committee's list of members for the "Out for Business!" conference

Montréal, 9 June 2005 – The Québec Gay Chamber of Commerce (CCGQ) has just finalized important cooperative agreements regarding the International Conference “The Right to Be Different” presented by the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006.

Montréal will to host, from 26 July to 5 August, 2006, the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006, a major athletic and cultural event that will bring together people from all over the world.

Just before the sporting competitions, the International Conference will begin on 26 July, bringing together more than 2,000 delegates at the Palais des congrès, Montréal’s convention centre. Over three days, participants will be offered four plenary sessions and will be able to choose from up to 250 workshops that will deal with the many aspects of the Conference’s five key themes: essential rights, global issues, the diverse LGBT community, participation in society, and creating social change. Finally, on 29 July, the closing session will include the adoption of the Montréal Declaration.

Already an important partner in the 1st World Outgames and actively working with the Montréal 2006 Organizing Committee since the project’s inception, the CCGQ is in the process of developing “Out for Business!”, a section of the International Conference targeted specifically at chambers of commerce, professionals and business associations in the international LGBT community.

One of the CCGQ’s mandates for the Conference is to further develop its international network, which already has a solid base in Canada, the United States and in Europe. To do so, an International Steering Committee has been set up by the CCGQ with the responsibility of proposing an internationally-renowned keynote speaker and building a full program of workshops and conferences for “Out for Business!”. The Steering Committee is also responsible for engaging professionals and business people from all around the world and generating at least 200 registrations for the International Conference.

According to the agreements reached between the CCGQ and eleven (11) organizations worldwide, the Steering Committee will be composed of:

Coordinator:

• Mr. Jonathan Sauvé, Vice-President of Public Affairs for the CCGQ and member of the Scientific Committee of the International Conference

Members:

• Mr. Justin G. Nelson, Co-Founder and Executive Director – Programs & Advocacy, representing the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce from the United States of America;
• Mr. R. Bruce McDonald, Co-Founder, representing the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce;
• Ms. Frédérique Anne, President, representing the Fédération Nationale de L’Autre Cercle from France;
• Mr. Huibert van Rossum, Member of the Board, Responsible for International Relations, representing Völklinger Kreis e.V. – Bundesverband schwuler Führungskräfte from Germany;
• Ms. Eva Kreienkamp, Member of the Board, representing Wirtschaftsweiber e.V. from Germany. Ms. Kreienkamp is also President of the European Gay & Lesbian Managers Association;
• Mr. Sergio Caredda, Vice-President of International Affairs, representing PrIMO Network Italiano from Italy;
• Mr. Angelo Caltagirone, Responsible for International Relations, representing Network from Switzerland. Mr. Caltagirone is also Vice-President of the European Gay & Lesbian Managers Association;
• Mr. Michael Tracy, President, representing Out Professionals – The Nation’s Largest Gay and Lesbian Networking Organization from the United States of America;
• Mr. John Kenyon, Chair, representing the Ontario Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, from Canada;
• Mr. Mark Long, Member of the Board of Directors, representing the Gay & Lesbian Business Association of Greater Vancouver, from Canada;
• M. Thom Cardwell, Co-Founder and President, representing the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network, from the United States of America.

“We are very pleased to have so many organizations on board. The International Conference will definitely be a not-to-be-missed occasion where professionals and business people will discuss important issues for the LGBT community worldwide,” said Mr. Pascal Lépine, President of the CCGQ. “And we are absolutely thrilled and delighted at the prospect of developing “Out for Business!” with the members of the Steering Committee in the weeks to come,” added Mr. Lépine.

Register online now!

Register online now and save $50 CAD on the International Conference Registration Fee, by using the CCGQ’s Affiliated Member’s Code. Contact the CCGQ at conference.montreal2006@ccgq.ca to obtain the Affiliated Member’s Code.

About the Québec Gay Chamber of Commerce (CCGQ)

Founded in 1997, the CCGQ is a network of hundreds of businesspeople, entrepreneurs, managers, professionals and independent workers from all areas of economic activity in Québec. The CCGQ’s mission is to promote and defend the interests of the Québec gay and lesbian business community and to promote its members.

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