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As a not-for-profit organization, YES Montreal (Youth Employment Services) enriches the community by providing English-language support services to help Quebecers find employment and start businesses.

YES is a one-stop, English-language job search, entrepreneurship and artist service provider in Quebec, providing support to over 4,000 Quebecers annually.

YES started in 1995 as a vehicle to stem the flow of young people from Quebec and in the past seventeen years has helped more than 40,000 Quebecers through its various programs. The number of clients served annually has increased from 120 since our inception to over 4,500 in 2012-2013, while client visits are over 14,000 per year. YES is heralded for its professionalism, long-standing record of measurable success and the exceptional service it provides the community almost entirely free of charge.

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES MISSION

FULL TIME STAFF

Fernanda AmaroSilvina AsurmendiDalia BosisCatherine BrisindiLeann BrownColleen BushMario Clarke

ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANTS & LOANS COMMITTEE

Chad Loeven (Chair) Paulina ArroyoGavin Correa CPA, CA, CFPPino Di Ioia Michael Dos Santos Jose Miguel Fernandez-BustoMarvin GarellekFelice MeffeChristopher M. MinkoffGabriela Nitu Tom PoundRobert Ste. MarieMartin SzpiroMarcie Weitzman

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Lionel BlanshayRob BraideScott ConrodCharles B. CrawfordJohn W. DobsonPeter R. JohnsonGuy Laframboise

Ellen EnglertSherifa El-AlfyNadja GrabovariPaul HigginsSherry HollingerAnnalise ItenDouglas LeaheyDaniel LégaréMonika Majewski

FUNDRAISING EVENT COMMITTEE

Marnie Blanshay (Co-Chair) Jordan LeBel (Co-Chair) Andrew Abdalla Marina CutlerLorraine Klaasen George Mantzoros Caroline NalbantogluAndy Shatilla

REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Gavin Correa CPA, CA, CFP (Co-Chair) Brent Walker (Co-Chair) John AylenNancy ClemanPino Di IoiaMichael EskenaziJordan LeBel

Timothy LeynePeter McAuslanAndy NulmanPhilip O’BrienHilary RadleyHerschel SegalRobert Walsh

Maria PereiraGerald SilverbergJillian TanojaIris UngerAnna ViegasMarc WrobelStephanie Zacharkiw

ARTISTS’ CONFERENCE& EXPO PLANNING COMMITTEE

Elizabeth Ulin (Chair) Andrew ChenEmily Comeau Chris (Zeke) HandKim HoangJane NeedlesLori Schubert

ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Pino Di Ioia (Co-Chair)Chris Emergui (Co-Chair)John Aylen Louise Anne Côté Jose Miguel Fernandez-BustoMarvin Garellek

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Harold Simpkins, Past PresidentJohn Aylen, PresidentJordan LeBel, Vice PresidentRoslyn Slawner, Vice PresidentGavin Correa, TreasurerMarnie Blanshay, Secretary

INTERNS, PART TIME & CONTRACT STAFF

Valérie GrosjeanIsabelle Zimmerman

EMPLOYMENT ROUNDTABLE CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

David Mendelson (Chair)Diane Brunelle Cynthia Homan Lori Rubinger

WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Elisabeth Laett (Chair)Liesl BarrellSophie ForestChad Loevan Daniele NascimentoCathy NguliElisabeth VanderveldtAndrea Wood

Pino Di IoiaRon DrennanChris EmerguiChad LoevenColeen MacKinnonBarbara E. OberleitnerSimon Restall

YES STAFF, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS

YES STAFF

YES COMMITTEES

YES BOARDS

THANK YOU TO OUR 2012-2013 DONORS, SPEAKERS & VOLUNTEERS

G. Shepherd AbbeyAndrew AbdallaGilda AbdulezerJamal AbouzeidRonald AbrairaSébastien AdhikariSusan AlperNahed AlshawaMirna and Saul AlterAmerilui AlvarezHerman AlvesFernanda AmaroNorma AndreuPierre ArchambaultDiane Archibald David and Peggy ArditiPaulina ArroyoJean-Paul ArsenaultLeonard AssalySilvina AsurmendiReena AtanasiadisStephen AtkinsonAfaf AttallaMike AvedesianSuzanne AversaJohn AylenKaren AzizNathalie AzoulayJohn Scott BaileyRoy BairdVito BalenzanoLisa BarbieriLiesl BarrellCraig and Barbara BarwickEllis BasevitzCristelle Basmaji Shevaughn BattleCesar BeauchampsJacob BenedekDoug BensadounMarla BercovitchSteve BernardNeil BernsteinJonathan BertholdJean BertrandSonia BesnerKadriye BilgicSarah BishopCharles and Diane BisseggerGregg BlachfordDanièle BlainLionel BlanshayMarnie BlanshayPatricia BlanshayStephanie BlanshayMichel BlierChantal BlouinDan BohincBeatriz BolivarGenevieve BorneBetty BosisDalia BosisMichael BoxerJane BrazeauRobert BriscoeCatherine BrisindiTony BrisindiJohn and Laura BrkichDeana BrockhouseLouise BrophyRobert BrouilletteLeann BrownBill BrownsteinElizabeth BrownsteinStephen and Veronica BrownsteinMichel BruttiBrian BurkeRaymond BusbridgeColleen BushEvan BushArt CampbellAria Campbell-KellyCanderel Management Inc.CanitaCorp InvestmentsJacques CantinDavid CapeNicolas CarboneClaude CaronFernando CarreiroMarc-Andre CastagnerRoberto CefaloniChadha Family FoundationBaljit ChadhaCrystal ChanFrederick CharetteDel Chatterson ChattersonAndrew ChenSamrida ChongPhilippe K. ChurnGary Chute

Domenico CiaralloMario ClarkeNancy ClemanWendy ClubbValerie CoehnKim ColePhilippe CollardEmily ComeauRichard ConradScott and Beverley ConrodDave CoolPierre-Andre CormierGavin Correa CPA, CA, CFPDavid CrevierAdam and Marina CutlerAngelo D’AmicoNancy DandanTayo DaramolaMichael DarwishKrish DasguptaLen DavidsonAlfred and Marjorie DavisMichael DavisWilliam DavyPaul DawalibiMarc DeBloisBryan DemchinskyPaul Dery-GoldbergCeline Des MaraisJacques DeschênesClaire DesjardinsAnthony Di IoiaPino Di LoiaAgostino Di MariaDaniela Di PaolaJay DicksonNelly DimitrovaLuciano D’IorioMicheal Dos SantosJoan DoughertySterling DowneySheri DoyleRon DrennanGreg DunningAmanda EamanIlana EderyCoral EganLarry ElmanRobert ElmanChris EmerguiEllen EnglertMichael EskenaziFrank FabiMario FascianoSam FeigenbaumJuan-Carlos FernandezJosé Miguel Fernández-BustoDavid FerranteGreg FieldTed FletcherFondation J. Daniel LachanceSophie ForestBettina ForgetMarie-Ève FrancoeurHolly FriesenPeter GagliardiMary GalleryEric GareauMarvin GarellekJennifer GasoiEddie GelberJulian GiacomelliJacques GodinJonathan and Alice GoldbloomJonathan GoodmanAnna GoodsonÉrik GoyerNadja GrabovariScott GraftonCynthia GrahamePeter GreenKen GreenawayAdrian GreenbergYvonne GregoryKaren GroomLouise GuayMark HaberAnna HakobyanChris (Zeke) HandElke HansenTina HarariMichael HartmannRaymond HarveyAlice Herscovitch and Robert KleinmanPaul HigginsMichael HilesNeil and Barbara HindleKim HoangJanyne Marie HodderRobert Hoffmann and Elisabeth Laett

Sherry Hollinger and Aldo TomassiniFred HorowitzGerry HughesJames HughesTara HuntKim-Tien HuynhErnest and Gisélle IarreraCoby InghamIan IrvineAnnalise ItenStephen JacobsonSimon JamesMichel Jasmin and Patricia LafleurDickson JayPeter R. JohnsonSara JohnstonCynthia JoyLeisa JoyDanny KaneSonali KarnickFran KatzAnna KauferJudith KavanaghShermin KazemkhaniJames Kellett and Pamela DarraghJeanette KellySuzanne KennedyGail KerznerKenneth KhouryRemy KhouzamKenny KingRichard KingKim KinkeadAnne KlineJohn KobelChristine KoehnleinTom KouriSusan KrugerMagda KuskowskiAlyssa KuzmarovDerek LabellSam LackmanStuart LaddElisabeth LaettGuy Laframboise Stephane LagrangeKerry and Allan LanthierGenevieve LatreilleLorraine LavioletteSimon LawAnthony LaytonBarry LazarDouglas LeaheyJordan LeBelPaul LeBlancElisabeth LecavalierBernard LeeboshJan LefevreHilary LeftickDaniel LégaréLinda LeithMichael LencznerPeter LetkoDarryl Levine and Caralee SalomonBrian LevittChantal LevyLenore LewisPeter LewisTimothy LeyneElaine Lim Chad Loeven and Melodie SullivanAlex LowRob LutesColeen MacKinnonMark MacLeod and Kristine MatulisSam MahmoodyMonika MajewskiSam MakariosFred MaloneSandy MamanePeter MannAngelique MannellaEric MarchandPaul MarchandToni MarionJackalyn MarshRosemarie MartinMarvin A. Drimmer FoundationRaffaele MasellaBenjamin MasseRod MathesonLidija MaticLissa MatyasRobin MayesAdele McAlearJohn McAleerPeter McAuslanWayne and Janet McCartneySharon McGeeIan McGillis

Felice (Phil) MeffeRobert MeldrumGuy MelhuishSylvain MénardRobert MendelsonDeborah J. MercierSophia MetaxasJoshua MillerGavin Mills Christopher MinkoffMichelle MollerCornelia MolsonLisa MonacalieriMary MonacoElisa-Line MontignySerge MorelLouis MorissetteThe Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family FoundationCraig MorrisonKaren MorrisonEan MurphyDenise NahasCaroline NalbantogluCatherine Nalbantoglu and Garabet SofuyanJosephine NalbantogluJane NeedlesCathy NguliGabriela NituJacques NolinAndy Nulman Annemarie OberleitnerBarbara E. Oberleitner, CASara O’BrienRory Olson Kathy OsgoodDavid OstroffMaria OwczarekPeter PalmerRoger PaquinLinda ParadisBrian ParnassFabien ParoutaudHoward PateGeorge PaulezMichèle PaulinKevin PeacockGerald PekelesMaria PereiraRichard and Louise PesnerRic PetersonJoanne PhotiadesPnina PinchevskyDominique PiroloMichel PoirierMartin PollmuellerRobert PorrelloCharles PorteousTom Pound Dean ProctorNathalie ProulxFrancine Prud’hommeRichard PrytulaFred PyeHilary RadleyStephanie RaudseppVeronica RedgraveJeff Reid and Irene BohincSimon RestallMichael and Cheryl RichardsTodd RichardsWill RichardsLaura RietveldBrian RiordanGeorges RobichonLynne RobsonGuy RodgersSpyro RondosMatthew RosenbergLarry RossyJames D. RoumeliotisTed RozenwaldStephane RuahLinda RutenbergJean-Francois SaineJulia-Anamaria SalagorBurt SalehNunzio SalvatiFrank SantilloBrian SchorLori SchubertHarvey SchwartzRabih SebaalyStephen SebagShari SegalDaniel SeligmanLaurence SellynMichael SendbuehlerTina Serrao

Gerry ShadeedStewart ShaeferMark ShalhoubElizabeth ShapiroAndrew and Grayce ShatillaYona Shtern Lonn ShulkinSandy SidhuGerald SilverbergNina SilverstoneJames SimonHarold SimpkinsBrian SinnottDamian SiqueirosRoslyn SlawnerSimon SlawnerMagda SlezakLarry SmithPatricia SnowEzra SoifermanElliott SolomonAnnabel SoutarIan SoutarSandie SparkmanBen SpererKatherine StandishDavid StarRobert and Susan StefanisonLeesa SteinbergRobert Ste-MarieRachel StephanBrenda StermerMatthew SternWayne StoneSandra StuppFrank SullivanMartin SzpiroGrace TanJillian TanojaAki TchitacovBarbara TeboulMaude Theroux-SeguinRobert TherriaultCharles TibshiraniNicole TischMartha TownsendNeil Stephan TryanskyElizabeth UlinIris UngerDavid UsherJohn C. Van TochJacob VargheseLynn VergeNancy VervuurtAnna ViegasMarlène Vigneau Ronald VincelliDana VocisanoGeoffrey WagnerDaniel WaldBrent WalkerRobert A. WalshJuliet WatersMichael WatsonEsther and Rob WearingMarcie WeitzmanCarrie WertheimJim WestDov WhitmanMarlene WhittomeWarren WilanskyElvira WinklerGeorge WisemanAndrea Wolff and Eric MaldoffAndrea WoodIan WoodenColin WorrellMarc WrobelBrian WrongGordon YappDiana YazidjianJeffrey YousterJohn ZachariasStephanie ZacharkiwCherine ZananiriDavid ZelnikerIsabelle ZimmermannFranco Zullo

We have made every effort to include all donors, speakers and volunteers and we sincerely regret any omissions.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

YES celebrated the 15th anniversary of our Entrepreneurship Conference this April by assembling a powerhouse of panelists and high-profile speakers to speak to this year’s theme From Inspiration to Creation and Beyond, giving hundreds of novice and established entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from and directly interact with some of Quebec’s top business leaders and motivational speakers.

This year’s retrospective event included past keynote speakers such as Guy LaFramboise, President of Subway Quebec, Rory Olsen, Founder of Total.Net and Andy Nulman, Co-Founder of Just For Laughs who reflected on the ever-evolving environment of entrepreneurship in Quebec and shared their insight and experience on what it takes to create, sustain, and successfully evolve an enterprise.

An impressive gallery of speakers - all volunteers - from BAM Strategy, Dale Carnegie Group, Scotiabank, Reitmans and Boutique Jacob Inc. provided tips and guidance on marketing, branding, social media, sustainability, accounting and financing for small-business owners.

Over the past 15 years, more than 500 volunteers have willingly given their time and talents to our Entrepreneurship Conference and we thank them for their generosity.

15th Annual Entrepreneurship Conference: From Inspiration to Creation and Beyond

Keynote Speaker: Yona Shtern,CEO of Beyond the Rack

In April, 2012, we launched a first-of-its-kind series of focus groups designed to improve employment outcomes and help new arrivals overcome the challenges they face when seeking employment in Quebec.

Held once a week for six weeks, the peer-to-peer networking groups are specifically geared to new arrivals who wish to meet on a regular basis to discuss their challenges and difficulties in finding a job as well as share their experiences and network with others who face similar situations.

The focus groups are facilitated by a professional psychologist who is familiar with issues of the immigrant experience and has the cultural sensitivity to facilitate the support groups alongside a professional YES Career Advisor.

Over 30 new arrivals participated in the focus groups. Funded by the Foundation of Greater Montreal and Canadian Heritage.

Focus Group for New Arrivals

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

The Annual Business Skills for Creative Souls Artists’ Conference was a full day of lectures, panel discussions, and workshops that provide an in-depth look at smart business practices for artists. The topics are designed to respond to the issues artists are facing.

Held in June, 2012, at the Montreal Science Centre, the 12th annual conference was hosted by Jeanette Kelly, arts reporter on CBC Radio’s Daybreak and the host of CBC Radio’s provincial arts and culture show, and featured a keynote address from award-winning singer/songwriter Coral Egan.

Eighteen other accomplished Quebec artists and industry experts from Pop Montreal, the Quebec Drama Federation, the Conseil des Arts de Montréal, the Ballet Ouest de Montréal and more shared their stories of making it in their respective professions and provided valuable tips and guidance on marketing, finance and funding for artists.

Thanks to the support of The Counselling Foundation of Canada and Canadian Heritage, over 100 artists came away from the event inspired and better equipped to succeed.

This year’s YES Art Expo drew an audience of over 1,500 to the Montreal Science Center to celebrate the talent of independent emerging artists from the English-speaking community of Quebec. Held in tandem with the Business Skills for Creative Souls Conference, this 2-day event provided participants and attendees insight into the business of making art a career.

With the support of the Forum jeunesse de l’île de Montréal (FJÎM) and Canadian Heritage, 60 young and talented emerging Quebec artists were selected by a panel of industry experts from more than 115 applicants to showcase their unique artworks to the public.

Peter McAuslan of McAuslan Brewery and Andy Nulman of Airborne Mobile were among those in attendance at the special preview evening for donors, funders and arts professionals, and shared why they support the arts and the importance of art to the community. The preview evening was hosted by Ann Lang from CBC Radio One 88.5 FM. and featured live performances from selected clients in music and dance.

12th Annual Business Skills for Creative Souls Artists’ Conference

YES Art Expo: Tap Into the Arts

Coral Egan (Singer/Songwriter)interviewed by Jeanette Kelly

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

Our 6th Annual Tune In To YES Benefit Concert and Silent Auction was held in October 2012, at the Olympia Theatre, a fitting venue for the 325 guests who came to help YES clients build meaningful and successful futures in Quebec and help us raise the much needed funds for our programs.

This annual fundraising event - an important part of sustaining our programs into the future - attracted 9 new sponsors and, by virtue of the generosity of our community and our partners, raised a record $95,000.

With the support of the Status of Women Canada, we embarked on a three-year initiative to increase the number of women working and succeeding in Quebec’s technology industry and created a new program that prepares women for careers and business opportunities in the fields of technology.

The Women in Technology Program seeks to encourage, inspire and empower more women in the tech field through networking, mentoring, partnering and professional development. In-house and online services include one-on-one sessions with a specialized dedicated coach; thematic workshops by industry professionals; mentorship services; networking opportunities as well as consultations with career counselors, business coaches, accounting professionals and legal interns.

Participants in the program also have access to the YES resource library with an extensive range of industry books and magazines, job postings, free phone, internet, Wi-Fi and computer access.

The official kick-off event, Tech Talk, was held at the YES Centre on Monday September 24th.

Tune In To YES6 Benefit Concert and Silent Auction

Women In Technology Program

YES’ annual Summer Job Search and Holiday Job Rush Campaigns offer University, CEGEP and High School students an easy and free way to find temporary employment during the summer and winter seasons. YES actively searches the city for companies and organizations in need of staff and links them to youth seeking employment. To help keep job-seekers motivated, organized, and effective in their search for employment, YES provides them with the tools and resources they need to secure these jobs including free workshops and career counselling services.

119 positions were made available through this year’s holiday and summer job postings.

Summer Job Campaign

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

In March, 2013, YES hosted an event at the Galerie Gora in downtown Montreal to show appreciation to its many valued volunteers while shining the spotlight on its mentors and mentees.

YES Board member, Jordan LeBel, Associate Professor at the John Molson School of Business, spoke of the success of YES’ Pay It Forward Mentorship Program which is designed to foster career and business development in Quebec. Since its inception in 2001, more than 200 mentoring matches have been established.

With funding from Service Canada, YES also launched a one-year program entitled New Horizons for Seniors which focuses on recruiting experienced professionals over the age of 50 with a passion for helping the younger generation. With the help of the New Horizons for Seniors Committee, 30 new mentors and volunteers have been recruited since the new program launched, many of whom were on hand at the event.

Volunteer Appreciation and Mentorship Evening

The Quebec Employment Service Providers Conference, hosted by YES each year, is a full-day event addressing issues specific to non-profit employment organizations that provide English-language services in Quebec.

The event provides a forum where colleagues from across the industry can share best practices and expand their networks to best meets the needs of the Official Language Minority Communities.

Held in November at the Holiday Inn Midtown-Montreal, over 82 directors, managers and employment counsellors took part in professional development workshops to learn best practices, build competencies through training and network with others who provide these services in Quebec in English. Participants also had the opportunity to showcase their employment organizations and get an interactive and educational look at what is happening within their community network.

10th Annual Quebec Employment Service Providers Conference: Connecting Employment and Career Counsellors: Building Competencies through Training

The YES Job Search Program is designed for youth aged 16-35 who are looking to jump-start their careers, find employment or return to school. Offering over 290 workshops annually, professional employment and career counsellors facilitate and guide participants in strategic job search activities and provide individual counselling. In addition to scheduled appointments, YES also offers fifteen-minute drop-in sessions with a Job Search Counsellor. YES offers an intensive French course for job seekers, translation services for résumés and cover letters, free access to our computer lab with Internet, fax machine, photocopier, scanner and courtesy telephone. YES also has an extensive job search library with all of the essential resource materials for everyone’s employment needs.

In the past year:

• Over 9,148 visits were made to the centre by job search clients.

• YES career counsellors received 3,719 visits and saw 2,198 clients for one-on-one sessions throughout the year.

• YES held 296 day and evening job skills workshops with 2,285 attendees. Clients learned interview skills, cold-calling, résumé and cover letter writing techniques and more.

• The French for Job Seekers Program had 187 enrolments.

• Over 611 positions were made available through YES’ job postings, an increase of almost 15% from last year.

JOB SEARCH PROGRAM

Jennifer was an undergraduate student when she first heard about YES. She was job hunting for a Marketing internship and happened upon their need for a “stagière”. When she learned that YES’ raison d’être was to help English-speaking youth—just like her—find meaningful employment in the province of Quebec, she knew she had found home for the semester. Jennifer became a member of the YES staff for four months as she helped them with their fundraising, community outreach and planning of their annual Entrepreneurship Conference.

Naturally, when Jennifer graduated and was looking to enter the workforce full-time, she sought YES’ services. Anja Vroomen, a YES counsellor at the time, recommended an entry-level Marketing Associate position at Revision Military. Anja helped Jennifer get her foot in the door through YES’ internship program which encourages companies to hire new grads by providing financial assistance and other forms of support.

Through YES’ broad network, they helped Jennifer by exposing her to Montreal’s hidden Anglophone job market. They directed her to a good company—scratch that, a GREAT company—and helped her launch her Marketing career.

Jennifer enjoyed over 7 years at Revision Military, a once small protective eyewear company that YES first introduced her to, where she reached the role of Marketing Communications Manager. She played a leading role in the planning and execution of the company’s many internal and extern communications including advertising development, public relations and newsletters. Jennifer continues to climb in her career path, and is now Marketing Director at Gleener Marketing Inc.

“YES helped me get to where I am today by training me for the job market while I interned at their office. They then helped me land my first dream job at a fast-paced dynamic company.”

JENNIFER ZIMMERMAN , YES Job Search Client

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YES’ Entrepreneurship Program offers workshops and seminars that help entrepreneurs refine their ideas, start or grow their business and locate the resources needed to succeed. Specialty coaching services are also available including branding and sales coaching as well as legal and accounting clinics. Entrepreneurship clients have free access to a computer lab with Internet, a fax machine, photocopier, scanner, telephone, and resource library filled with the latest magazines and books. The program has continued to grow and evolve, adding interactive video services and a Consultations for Small Business Program.

In the past year:

• Entrepreneurship clients visited the YES centre 5,696 times.

• The legal intern held 118 free legal information sessions.

• YES clients received 2,839 business coaching sessions including specialty branding, sales and accounting services.

• There were 2,078 client visits to our day and evening workshops including Jump Start Your Business, Meet the Experts and Start Your Own Business Seminar Series.

• Almost 150 entrepreneurs participated in the 15th Annual YES Entrepreneurship Conference: From Inspiration to Creation and Beyond.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

Debbie had spent over 20 years as a chartered accountant to assist other businesses with their finances and management, but that had little prepared her to become an entrepreneur herself. That was until she walked into the offices of YES Montreal. Now, less than a year later, she has opened up her own innovative new lingerie boutique called DEBra Lingerie on Monkland Ave. in Montreal. Her dream started to really get off the ground after she attended the Jump Start Your Business seminar offered by YES. Up until that point, she had been doing lots of reading but the seminar gave her the concrete steps to get everything out of her head and into action. It all started with YES Business Coach, Douglas Leahey – his knowledge, direction and insight were keys to getting DEBra Lingerie from an idea into a successful working business.

DEBBIE DONNELLE, DEBra Lingerie, YES Entrepreneurship Client

“It helped to have someone to be accountable to and bounce ideas off of and the coaching also realistically prepared me for the first few years of entrepreneurship so I am less reactionary to the highs and lows of small business ownership. Many thanks to YES!”

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YES’ Business Skills for Creative Souls Artists’ Program is uniquely tailored to the specific needs of artists and artist-entrepreneurs. Artist clients have access to a range of services, tools and services to help them develop their business skills, including one-on-one meetings with YES’ Artists’ Coach, workshops, an annual conference and an art expo.

Again this year, YES awarded $1,000 through the Artist Project Grant Contest. The money goes towards the realization, promotion, and/or presentation of an artistic project or initiative. This year’s winner was Pilar Aqueci, a contemporary jeweller and goldsmith, living and working out of her studio in Montreal, where she creates unique productions for galleries and boutiques, nationally and internationally.

In the past year:

• YES’ Artists’ Coach held 551 one-on-one coaching sessions.

• Our Annual Business Skills for Creative Souls Conference was attended by 117 local artists.

• YES held 32 day and evening workshops for 837 attendees.

• YES Artists’ Program had 544 active clients with 1,436 visits to the Centre.

ARTISTS’ PROGRAM

Athena first came to YES at the end of 2009 with an unsteady work situation and a lot of questions about how to present herself to the public as an artist. She then met with YES Artists’ Program Coordinator, Monika Majewski for one-on-one coaching and attended the grant-writing workshop. At the same time, YES’ Career Advisor, Ellen Englert found several job opportunities for her and helped her to build her résumé. She also kept in touch and made her realize her potential in the workforce.

“YES helped me by giving me the opportunity to perform at the YES Art Expo,” Athena says. “I met many artists there such as Melina Soochan (Acoutstic Nights) and Leila Stambouli (City of Saints) who I have since had the pleasure of working with.”

YES provided Athena a place where she could present her ideas and receive real feedback. Athena has found the experience to be very motivating. In the past few years, Athena has applied for several music grants and has a much clearer idea of how to approach the process.

Athena has honed her skills of connecting with her audience by performing for years with Via Rail Canada as an on-board musician and has been voted one of the top 10 best singer/songwriters in the Montreal Mirror’s “Best of Montreal” Poll, alongside Leonard Cohen and Sam Roberts.

“YES Montreal has provided me with confidence and a place where my words were expected to be accountable actions. It also inspired me to simply continue following this path. I intend to work with YES in the future when I am ready to pursue a new stage of my life and career.”

ATHENA HOLMES, YES Artist Client

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With support from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED-Q), the regional Development Initiative continues to implement English-language entrepreneurship services within the regions of Quebec. With the completion of the Regional Development of English Languages Entrepreneurial Services report, YES was able to use the community’s recommendations to launch its online services province-wide and pilot an on-site service delivery model in the Gaspésie-Iles-de-la-madeleine.

YES partnered with the Council for Social Action (CASA) a non-profit community organization dedicated to serving the English-speaking population of the Gaspé Coast, by representing the community’s interests and designing and delivering programs that respond to its needs. Within the year, YES provided 6 on-site visits to the region which included the town of Gaspé, New Carlisle and New Richmond.

With the success of the pilot on the Gaspé Coast, an additional on-site service delivery model was developed in Quebec City with the support of Voice of English Speaking Quebec (VEQ), a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of a dynamic English-speaking community in the Greater Quebec and Chaudière-Appalaches regions and to the promotion of its interests.

Together with the online and on-site entrepreneurship support services, YES and its community partners collectively impact the vitality of communities across Quebec by assisting aspiring and existing entrepreneurs grow or start their business.

In the past year:

• YES provided access to speciality coaching, legal and accounting clinics, custom workshops and its annual entrepreneurship conference online.

• Regional clients have received 244 business coaching sessions as well as participated 227 times in our day or evening workshops.

• YES conducted 15 outreach visits across the province to provide on-site business coaching and workshops.

• YES has supported 202 active regional entrepreneurs resulting in 54 businesses being created or grown.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

Our “Pay It Forward” Mentorship Program aims to facilitate the transfer of skills and wisdom from an experienced professional (a mentor) to a less-experienced individual (a mentee). The YES Mentorship Program assists the transition from school to work or self-employment through the transferring of knowledge from mentor to mentee.

This year, YES successfully matched 25 mentees with mentors.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

THE JOHN DOBSON FOUNDATION • THE HAY FOUNDATION • THE HYLCAN FOUNDATION

THE TAUBEN FOUNDATION • THE ZELLER FAMILY FOUNDATION

YES FUNDERS & PARTNERS

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REVENUE

Grants

Donations and Fundraising Events

Workshops and Services

Conferences

Interest

EXPENDITURES

Salaries and Fringe Benefits

Rent

Office Administration

Professional Fees - database and website

Regional Project

Women in Technology Project

Advertising/Promotion

Workshops and Services

Conferences

Fundraising

Sales Tax

Amortization

Bank Interest and Charges

Excess of Revenue over Expenditures

$1,333,599

$171,681

$52,582

$36,333

$3,891

$1,598,086

$1,185,352

$183,316

$66,811

$43,739

$2,276

$1,481,494

For the year ending March 31

$1,182,815

$100,524

$81,190

$1,463

$16,948

$21,780

$60,115

$26,780

$46,627

$34,253

$29,491

$17,817

$5,011

$997,651

$96,941

$80,996

$3,075

$47,367

–

$59,918

$23,887

$46,738

$40,643

$27,991

$13,560

$6,013

2013 2012

$1,624,814 $1,444,780

($26,728) $36,714

A copy of the audited financial statements is available upon request.

STATEMENT OF REVENUE & EXPENDITURES