ESTRIE: François Gendron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, paid homage today to the commitment and determination of Megan Richards and Arianne Corriveau, both winners of the ‘Chapeau les filles!’ contest, who will be continuing their studies in the bio-food industry and wish to make a career in what has traditionally been a male field of expertise.

“I make a point of underlining the courage that you have shown to work toward building your career in agriculture. I also want you to know that the support of this type of change appears at the top of the Quebec government’s list of priorities. It is especially important to me as we need people like you to ensure the success of the Politique de souveraineté alimentaire. It is not a coincidence that the concern of today’s youth is quite present in each of the four axes of the Policy, because, in the end, it is you who will shape the future of agricultural Quebec,” declared DPM / MP François Gendron.

The two winners of the national “Agriculture, fisheries and food” division of the contest ‘Chapeau les filles!’ were distinguished respectively in the “Vocational and technical training” categories. Megan Richards, of Outremont (in the area of Montreal), studies in the Butcher training program at the Centre de formation pour adultes Pearson, whereas Arianne Corriveau, of Stornoway (municipality located in Estrie), is enrolled in the Management and Operation of the Farm program at the Cégep de Sherbrooke. Each winner receives a bursary of $2,000 offered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The ladies were honoured at the national gala which marks the closing of the contest.

‘Chapeau les filles!’ is organized by the Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sport and the Ministry for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, with the collaboration of many partners, both governmental and from trade-unions. The goal is to support the diversification of the career choices of girls and women and to encourage those who choose to leave the customary paths to persevere in their studies to achieve their goal.

For more information on agriculture and farming of the future, you are invited to consult the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/releveagricole, or La Financière agricole du Québec: www.fadq.qc.ca/financement/la_releve_agricole/la_releve_agricole.html.