Montreal, October 28, 2022 – Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, recently welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during his official visit to Canada. The dignitaries met the social enterprise and Jean Talon Market vendor Les Filles Fattoush. The choice of location for the meeting underlines the importance of Montreal’s public markets in the international agri-food scene.

Les Filles Fattoush

From May through September since 2018, Les Filles Fattoush has been providing Syrian refugee women their first job, helping them achieve personal autonomy and integrate into a new society by participating in a catering and food distribution business. The company, which is introducing Quebecers to Syria’s culinary heritage, won the 2022 award for company or innovation of the year at the Lauriers, Quebec’s gastronomy awards. Its stall in Jean Talon Market allows the women to meet a large clientele, which helps them quickly develop new products to please customers. Les Filles Fattoush developed the product that the dignitaries sampled during their visit through a marketing test in the summer of 2022.

The importance of Montreal’s public markets

Jean Talon, Atwater and Maisonneuve markets, as well as the various Neighbourhood and Solidarity markets in a dozen locations on the Island of Montreal, contribute directly to Montrealers’ quality of life as well as being international standard bearers for the city. They are an exceptional showcase for Quebec’s farmers and agri-food artisans, helping businesses grow while putting our expertise and gastronomy front and centre.

“As our merchant members will tell you, Montreal’s public markets provide unparalleled exposure and access to consumers. Les Filles Fattoush has benefited from that, and we are proud to have supported the company from the start,” said Nicolas Fabien-Ouellet, executive director of the Corporation de gestion des marchés publics de Montréal.

About the Corporation de gestion des Marchés publics de Montréal

The Corporation de gestion des Marchés publics de Montréal is a social economy enterprise responsible for the planning, development and operation of Montreal’s public markets. Its mission is to improve access to fresh food through a network of public markets that brings Montrealers closer to local farmers and agri-food businesses. Since 1993, it has been mandated by the Ville de Montréal to manage the Atwater, Jean-Talon and Maisonneuve markets, six Neighbourhood markets and three Solidarity markets. It is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors composed of five merchants and five residents of the Montreal urban agglomeration. Its membership includes nearly 200 merchants active at the public markets. The Corporation’s network of public markets is frequented by more than three quarters of Montrealers, with more than 3 million visits annually.

-30-

For interview and information requests, please contact:

Myriam Martin-Brochu

Communications Manager

Marchés publics de Montréal

514-829-5323

mmbrochu@marchespublics-mtl.com