Montreal, January 12, 2021 – The board of directors of the Corporation de gestion des marchés publics de Montréal, the non-profit corporation that runs the Jean-Talon, Atwater and Maisonneuve markets as well as ten neighbourhood and solidarity markets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicolas Fabien-Ouellet to the position of executive director. Mr. Fabien-Ouellet is an agri-food expert who is respected in academic, business and community circles. Since December 2019, he has served as the corporation’s interim executive director.

“We are very proud of this appointment, because it represents another milestone in the revitalization of the markets. The board came to a unanimous decision at the conclusion of a rigorous process during which dozens of high-quality applicants were considered. We are confident that Nicolas is the best person to guide the development of our markets and continue the work already begun,” said Serge Marticotte, chair of the board of directors.

“The strategic development of Montreal’s network of public markets is one of the important measures included in our economic recovery plan for 2021, Acting Now to Prepare Recovery. We intend to position the markets at the heart of the city’s bio-food system, since the markets meet significant demand from Montrealers for fresh, local products. Mr. Fabien-Ouellet will be a key partner in that process, and we congratulate him most warmly on his appointment,” said Luc Rabouin, the Ville de Montréal executive committee member responsible for economic development and design.

Mr. Fabien-Ouellet studied engineering and agronomy at McGill University and holds a master’s degree in food systems from the University of Vermont. He joined the Corporation de gestion des marchés publics de Montréal in January 2018 as a member of the business development team. In 2019 he became interim executive director, and served in that role for the last 12 months. During that time, he demonstrated his expertise and a strong ability to manage complex challenges. He succeeded in changing the organization’s culture and dynamics by emphasizing collaboration and trust among the public markets’ members and their strategic partners.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to keep leading Montreal’s public markets, and I thank the board for its trust. Our network of public markets is at the heart of Montreal’s buy-local movement, and we will continue our drive to improve access to fresh food while building bridges between the public and the local food and agriculture sector,” said Mr. Fabien-Ouellet.

Reminder: Jean-Talon, Atwater and Maisonneuve markets have been deemed essential services and continue to serve Montrealers by offering fresh local products, even in winter. Preventive measures and capacity limits are in effect for everyone’s safety.

About Montreal’s Public Markets

Founded in 1993, the Corporation for the Management of Montréal’s Public Markets is a non-profit organization that manages and develops the major public markets in the Montreal area – Jean-Talon, Atwater and Maisonneuve – and some ten Neighborhood and Solidarity Markets. Its objective is to ensure that Montrealers have access to local products as diverse as they are in markets that are at the heart of their community.

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Diane Leblanc
Director, communications and marketing
dleblanc@marchespublics-mtl.com, 514-816-3107