WHERE I COME FROM
Born in a remote region, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, I studied labor relations, journalism and sociology at Laval University, fields complemented by certificates in leadership and corporate administration, which gave me the title of ASC.
My first professional challenge took place in the regional press. As editor-in-chief of a weekly newspaper, Le Courrier de Portneuf, I helped transform the newspaper's ownership into an advertiser-owned cooperative while preserving editorial independence, which allowed the family business to avoid being swallowed up by the two empires that were buying up everything, Quebecor and Transcontinental, to this day, 40 years later.
Then I joined the communications department at Quebec City during the glory days of the Mer et Monde event, the gathering of tall ships. I created from scratch a citizen empowerment campaign called "Quebec, Ma propre ville." My association with the omnipotent mayor Jean Pelletier and the (unscrupulous) entrepreneur Marcel Aubut tested my ethics, an experience that naturally led me to get involved in Me Jean-Paul L'Allier's campaign for mayor of Quebec City: nine intense months with a soul dedicated to the common good and municipal democracy that left their mark on me.
I helped lay the foundations for regional county municipalities by working at the UMRCQ office at the turn of the 1980s, when a rebalancing of powers between cities and towns, agricultural producers and the rural world was being negotiated. In particular, I acted as secretary of the Working Committee on the Powers of Municipalities and MRCs led by political scientist Vincent Lemieux, which allowed me to travel across Quebec to understand that the desire for delegation of powers, from one region to another, would vary greatly due to the resistance of the agricultural world, the size of central cities and the desire of town halls to work together for the health and development of their shared territory, to generate economies of scale, value-added services and a sense of regional belonging.
I have organized several major events, including the Super Sports and Outdoors Show at the Olympic Stadium for the Promexpo firm with the collaboration of around fifty sports federations.
My knowledge of non-profit organizations and power struggles has shifted to the Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I could be proud of having earned the title of Chamber of the Year in Quebec and CEO of the Year in Canada, but I am especially pleased of having resisted numerous maneuvers by Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, who, unknowingly, was also strengthening my principles.
I led the "Forum Francophone des Affaires", which enabled hundreds of strategic alliances between economic operators from here, Africa and Europe, even taking my field experience to the point of living in the Sahel in order to face the challenges of undertaking two ecological projects.
WHO I AM
WHERE I AM
I am currently the head of the Quebec Hardware and Building Materials Association and of "Well Made Here", a pan-Canadian program that promotes the purchase of locally manufactured products, where I defend entrepreneurial heritage.
At the same time, I served as a volunteer on a good dozen cultural, social and economic organizations, such as the Théâtre Duceppe, the Société québécoise de la schizophrénie, the Coalition Bois Québec, Transport 2000 (now Trajectoire 2000), the Orchestre baroque de Montréal, Éco Entreprises Québec, the Conseil du patronat and the Chambre de commerce du Québec.
This high level of professional activity is allowed me by my health maintained by the practice of recreational and competitive sports up to national and international levels.
I live in Sainte-Adèle where I enjoy an exceptional and nourishing quality of family life.
