A Powerful Start to 2025: Highlights from the President’s Cocktail Event
The West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce (WIMCC) officially launched 2025 with the highly anticipated President’s Cocktail, bringing together over 200 members, business leaders, and community partners for an evening of networking, recognition, and exciting announcements.
This flagship event set the tone for the year, reinforcing the Chamber’s commitment to fostering a strong, connected, and resilient business community.
An Inspiring Address from Our President
During the event, our elected President of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Laurie McCullagh, delivered an inspiring speech, highlighting the evolving business landscape and the Chamber’s dedication to supporting its members. With the rapid pace of technological advancements, economic uncertainty, and workforce challenges, 2025 is set to be a transformative year. The Chamber is here to help businesses navigate it with confidence.
Gratitude to Our Partners and Sponsors
A huge thank you to our primary event sponsor, The Royal Bank of Canada, for their generous support in making this evening a success.
We are also incredibly grateful to our partners, whose time, effort, and offerings elevated the experience for all attendees:
Group Flores
La Boutique Du Café Tazza Di Mattina Inc
Thank you to JABS Bar Service for their outstanding service and delicious cocktails.
Thank you to Diversion for their excellent audiovisual work.
A huge thank you to Kathleen Girard from Studio Cookie for her stunning photos and to Ivan Presser from Serious Moonlight Productions for his amazing video work.
Exciting Announcements for the Year Ahead
The President’s Cocktail also served as a platform to announce some of our key 2025 events:
- Luncheon with Pierre Cléroux, Chief Economist of BDC – Offering invaluable insights into the economic outlook for 2025, a must-attend event for business leaders navigating today’s economic challenges.
- The Return of the Accolades Awards – A celebration of business excellence in the West Island, once again chaired by Marco Della Rocca.
Additionally, the Chamber is expanding its service offerings, including an HR seminar designed to help businesses attract and retain top talent, an essential focus in today’s competitive job market.
A Team Effort Behind the Scenes
The seamless execution of this event was made possible thanks to the countless hours of planning and dedication from the Chamber’s team. A special acknowledgment goes to Sophia Lavergne, Emmanuelle Ruest and Chantal Richard, three incredible professionals who played a pivotal role in coordinating this evening, from securing food and beverage partners to organizing invitations, setup, and welcoming guests. Their commitment to the Chamber’s success is truly commendable.
A Chamber That Makes a Difference
By bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from various industries, the Chamber creates opportunities that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Whether it’s through our networking events, professional development initiatives, or advocacy efforts, we are committed to helping businesses thrive in an ever-changing economic landscape. We were thrilled to see the following testimonial on LinkedIn following this event:
“A chamber like the one in the West Island wears many hats… It listens to its business community, raises issues reported by various stakeholder groups, guides and supports companies through various phases, and more. It also serves to connect people from the business sector, the community sector, and the public sector who would otherwise not have the opportunity to exchange ideas about their realities…”
-Olivier Paiement, WIMCC Member
Together, we are shaping a stronger, more connected West Island of Montreal for 2025 and beyond. Learn the benefits of becoming a member, and we invite you to join our community!
Looking Ahead
As we embark on this new year, we invite all members to engage with the Chamber, attend upcoming events, and take full advantage of the networking and business growth opportunities available. The West Island business community is stronger together, and we look forward to making 2025 a year of growth, collaboration, and success.
Check out some of the highlights from the event in the images below!
