Networking Breakfast Conferences: A New Format to Encourage Dialogue Among Community Organizations
On September 23 and November 10, the Ville de Vaudreuil-Dorion held its first series of networking breakfast conferences featuring special guest speakers at the Centre multisports André-Chagnon. This new format, which replaces the Community Forum, was designed to provide organizations in the fields of sports, recreation, social development and diversity, and arts and culture with an opportunity to build connections in a welcoming setting conducive to discussion and the exchange of ideas.
After five years of meetings focused on major themes, the City felt it was time to take a step back, assess the Community Forum and consider a format better suited to the evolving needs and realities of the community sector. However, it remained committed to maintaining connections and fostering dialogue among organizations, which led to the introduction of the networking breakfast conferences.
“Community organizations play an essential role in the vitality of our community and directly contribute to our residents’ quality of life. It is important for the City to recognize their contributions, remain attentive to their needs and maintain opportunities for them to come together and engage in dialogue. The networking breakfast conferences reflect our commitment to continuing these conversations, encouraging the sharing of expertise and strengthening the ties that bring us together,” said Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Paul Dumoulin.
On Wednesday, September 23, novelist, poet and social worker David Goudreault launched the series with his presentation entitled “Prendre soin, de l’autre à soi”. With humour and drawing on his experience as a social worker, he invited participants to reflect on personal balance, resilience and cognitive flexibility. He also highlighted various protective factors that help preserve quality of life and enable people to continue caring for others. True to his artistic nature, he also emphasized the benefits of art and creativity for mental health before showcasing his impressive improvisational skills by composing a poem using words suggested by members of the audience.
The second networking breakfast conference took place on Tuesday, November 10, featuring Michelle Fisher, a consultant specializing in financial structuring, revenue diversification and strategic support. At a time when organizations are facing growing needs while their teams continue to operate with limited resources, funding diversification represents a strategic challenge. The workshop aimed to demystify key funding opportunities and help participants identify the most realistic options for their organizations. Through practical exercises and discussions, Michelle Fisher guided participants in identifying high-impact actions and turning their ideas into concrete initiatives.
The City intends to continue offering these opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing and will return in 2027 with new initiatives to further encourage dialogue, the sharing of expertise and the development of connections among organizations across the community.
