13 Quebec businesses stand out as Business Models
Montreal, April 11, 2007 — The Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) today honoured 13 highly-successful Quebec businesses at the 27th edition of Les Mercuriades competition held at Montreal’s Palais des congrès. The event, organized by the FCCQ, had in attendance thousands of key individuals from Quebec’s business community, honourable gala chairman Benjamin J. Kimball, President and CEO of Imperial Tobacco Canada and Quebec Premier Jean Charest.
Les Mercuriades,
the most prestigious competition celebrating Quebec entrepreneurial success
Les Mercuriades is the most popular and prestigious competition designed to celebrate the outstanding achievements of businesses which distinguish themselves by their entrepreneurship and excellence. The competition was created twenty seven years ago out of the desire to encourage and promote the glowing success of Quebec businesses here as well as abroad. "Every one of Les Mercuriades competition’s finalists and winners contribute daily in a meaningful way to Quebec’s competitiveness," affirmed FCCQ President and Executive Director Françoise Bertrand. She added: "Through their success, these businesses prove to us how profitable it is to do things differently, to go off the beaten track and constantly innovate to be among the best, here and around the world."
Here then are the winning companies, the "business models" (to repeat this year’s Mercuriades theme), that stood out through their major achievements and excellence in the 10 categories of the competition:
Commerce and Distribution
Restaurants Pacini inc. (La Prairie)
Contribution to Economic and Regional Development
Zoo de Granby (Granby)
Export
Mechtronix Systems Inc. (St-Laurent)
Technological Innovation
SMB
Creaform Inc. (Lévis)
LARGE BUSINESS
EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. (Québec)
Leisure and Culture
FESTIVAL DU CINÉMA INTERNATIONAL EN ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE (Rouyn-Noranda)
Industrial and Processing Production
Interstar (Sherbrooke)
Investment Project
Atrium Biotechnologies inc. (Québec)
Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development
Les Services Ménagers Roy ltée (Anjou)
Human Resources
SMB
Vézina, Dufault inc (Montréal)
LARGE BUSINESS
PACCAR du Canada limitée – usine de Sainte-Thérèse (Sainte-Thérèse)
Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services
SMB
AXDEV Groupe Inc. (Brossard)
LARGE BUSINESS
GFI Solutions inc. (Montréal)
Business of the Year
SMB
Mechtronix Systems Inc. (St-Laurent)
LARGE BUSINESS
PACCAR du Canada limitée – usine de Sainte-Thérèse (Sainte-Thérèse)
Nominations for businesses of the year and the jury’s favourite
Each year two businesses among the winners, one from small and mid-size business and the other from big business, are chosen by the jury to join the prestigious Club de l’excellence. This year’s jury, chaired by Laval University Rector Michel Pigeon, comprised of respected individuals from the business, academic, and journalistic communities, chose to bestow the coveted title to Mechtronix Systems Inc. (SMB), and to PACCAR of Canada Limited. In addition, a special mention was given to business finalist, Maison amérindienne, as this year’s jury favourite.
"While observing all the creativity and innovation demonstrated by our business finalists and winners, and especially thanks to the vision and talent of the entrepreneurs and their teams, we can only be very confident with regard to Quebec’s entrepreneurial future. Let’s hope their successes will inspire other businesses and encourage the next generation to raise the bar by making them feel like going even further," added the president of Les Mercuriades 2007 competition Roch Dubé, President and CEO of Groupe Bell Nordiq Inc, President of Bell Aliant, Quebec and Vice President of the FCCQ’s executive committee.
Once again this year, the accounting firm of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton had the task of evaluating the files on all candidates and then, the FCCQ entrusted the selection of the business finalists to an independent jury. The jury members of Les Mercuriades 2007 competition looked particularly at businesses whose achievements and remarkable success were proof of the quality of the operations and strategies put forth to remain highly competitive at the regional level just as at the national and international levels.
The Mérite philanthropique
Since its creation in 1999, the Mérite Philanthropique aims to recognize in a particular way individuals of the business world who, in addition to succeeding in their chosen field, have distinguished themselves throughout their career by their social and community involvement. This award seeks to underline the contribution of those who have accepted to share their know-how, possessions and experience for the benefit of the entire community.
The jury’s choice this year was Mrs. Mirella Saputo and Mr. Lino Saputo, cofounders of the Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation, for whom giving back to Quebecers who so warmly welcomed them is such a natural gesture. Founded in 1979 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Saputo business, the Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation helps sick and handicapped children, as well as women and the elderly. The Foundation is also active in the financing of numerous projects centred on services offered to major Quebec hospital patients and on research. "With much gratitude we salute the extraordinary involvement of Mirella & Lino Saputo in helping to make our society better and more favourable to the development of all Quebecers," stated Françoise Bertrand.
The Mérite promotion de l’entrepreneuriat
In 2005, in collaboration with the Youth Secretariat, the FCCQ created the Mérite promotion de l’entrepreneuriat as an extension of the Quebec government strategy on the development of entrepreneurial culture among the young entitled "The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge." This award aims to recognize the exceptional contribution of an individual who has stood out throughout his/her career by the involvement and devotion to the advancement of the entrepreneurial culture among the young, and for the value of a project or organization playing a major role in the development of entrepreneurship, in particular among the young.
This year the honour goes to Mr. Yvon Gasse, full professor in the management department and director of international relations at Laval University’s Faculty of Administrative Sciences, director of the Entrepreneurship and SMB Centre, and holder of the chair on entrepreneurship and innovation, for his sustained efforts in developing and creating measures aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship among the young. "We thank Mr. Yvon Gass warmly for his very generous contribution to the growth of entrepreneurship among Quebec’s next generation," concluded Françoise Bertrand.
About the FCCQ
With its impressive network of 162 chambers of commerce, the FCCQ represents 57,000 members working in all sectors of the economy and throughout Quebec. As the largest network of business people in Quebec, the FCCQ is the passionate defender of its’ members interests with regard to public policies, thus favouring an innovative and competitive environment.
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Information:
Isabelle Poulin
Communications Director
Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec
Tel. : (514) 953-3725
isabelle.poulin@fccq.ca
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