Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Entrepreneurs in Gatineau now have expanded access to free training, workshops and planning
tools following a partnership announced on June 26. The initiative is designed to help local start-
ups gain momentum as they navigate a shifting economy.

The École des entrepreneurs du Québec and ID Gatineau have launched an online portal that
includes a 13-hour course, “Entrepreneurs in the Making,” to guide early-stage business
planning, and an eight-hour program, “Selling Can Be Learned,” focused on sales and business
development. About 30 workshops, many offered at no cost, cover financial management,
marketing, taxation, intellectual property and leadership.

Entrepreneurs can also access tools to write business plans, prepare three-year financial
forecasts and use a digital toolbox to support them as they launch and grow their businesses.
The partnership arrives as the Ottawa-Gatineau region reported an unemployment rate of 5.8
per cent in May 2025, slightly higher than the previous month, while Quebec’s unemployment
rate stood at 6.4 per cent with an employment rate near 60 per cent. Small businesses, which
represent nearly 98 per cent of all firms in Canada, continue to face inflation and labour
shortages, with more than 60 per cent of owners citing rising costs as a top concern this year.

“This partnership allows us to enhance our support offering by providing local entrepreneurs
with even more concrete, accessible resources that are perfectly adapted to their realities,”
Sylvie Charette, executive director of ID Gatineau, said in a post on social media.

“We are delighted with this collaboration, which aims to complement ID Gatineau by offering
Gatineau entrepreneurs easy access to high-quality content to launch, structure and grow their
businesses. Studies show that entrepreneurs who develop their skills increase their chances of
success, profitability and performance in an increasingly volatile and uncertain context,” Michel
Fortin, director general of the Quebec School of Entrepreneurs, said in a separate post.

More information on the training, workshops and resources available under this partnership can
be found at eequebec.com/id-gatineau .

Photo: Gatineau entrepreneurs now have access to free online courses, workshops and
business planning tools through a new partnership aimed at supporting local start-ups amid
ongoing economic challenges. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of ID Gatineau’s Facebook page