13 Years of Promoting the Next Generation
Business Transfer Awards honour six exceptional Quebec
businesses
Montreal, May 28, 2019 – Once again this year, business succession was honoured at a gala evening organized for the 13th edition of the Business Transfer Awards. More than 200 people were on hand to join the honorary president, Serge Harnois, President and CEO of Harnois Énergies, in a celebration of these Quebec companies that have successfully completed their succession processes.
lnspiring success stories
ln terms of both entrepreneurial and family successions, Quebec is full of great success stories that deserve recognition. Once again this year, the competition organized by PwC Canada and its partners highlighted local companies that have distinguished themselves in various industries and showcased the strong entrepreneurial spirit that is driving the province. Chaired by Martin Deschênes, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupe Deschênes Inc., and Serge Beauchemin, successful entrepreneur and investor, the jury bestowed awards on a diverse group of six companies that are sure to inspire Quebec’s business community.
“I am so proud to be part of an initiative that rewards the key contribution made by successions to the Quebec economy,” said Serge Harnois, President and CEO of Harnois Énergies and Honorary President of the 2019 edition of the Business Transfer Awards contest. “Each in its own way, these companies have been able to stand out from the crowd and take full advantage of the potential in their business transfers. 1 sincerely hope that this evening and its winners will inspire other Quebec entrepreneurs to prepare for their succession in order to ensure the sustainability and growth of businesses in our province.”
“For the past 13 years, the Business Transfer Awards have highlighted unique and exceptional stories that demonstrate the depth and richness of Quebec’s entrepreneurial landscape,” said Martine Collins, Senior Director of Private Company Services at PwC Canada. “A business succession only happens once in a lifetime, and these women and men deserve their moment in the spotlight. Today, more than ever, successions are valued by the local business community, and we have everything needed to support these entrepreneurs as they embark on their adventures. We can only salute and congratulate this year’s winners, who will continue our tradition of inspiring tomorrow’s talent!”
Diverse group of Quebec successions
This year, six companies were honoured in two different categories:
Family Transfer category
Gold: Attraction
Julia Gagnon, Vice-President
Sébastien Jacques, Vice-President
Attraction, which is recognized as a Canadian leader in casual clothing, proudly builds on the unique expertise that the family has built over a period of nearly forty years. The company draws on the talent of its 110 employees to design, manufacture and decorate clothing that is sold from coast to coast. Attraction takes a responsible approach to producing clothing that allows clients to showcase their corporate image and lets travellers from around the world take back a souvenir of Canada.
Silver: Cambli Group
Véronique Tougas, President
Cambli Group has accumulated close to sixty years of experience manufacturing armoured vehicles. This Quebec company headquartered in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu designs and manufactures protective vehicles for the transportation of valuables, tactical vehicles specially designed for high-risk police operations, and aluminum vehicles (the Hesse product line), which are adapted for transporting beverages. ln addition to setting new standards in the North American market, Cambli Group is the preferred supplier to the cash logistics industry, and is proud to count the largest companies in the Americas and around the world among its clients. Worldwide, the Cambi Group’s customers know that their armoured vehicles and customized integrated security systems are the most advanced available.
Bronze: Laroche Mécanique du Bâtiment
Jennifer Hamel, President
Since 1966, Laroche Mécanique du Bâtiment has been providing mechanical services for buildings across the province of Quebec. The company has been able to draw on this experience to become one of the largest players in its industry. Over the generations, it has built up and constantly renewed different types of expertise. lt also relies on the valuable experience of its qualified employees, all of whom are dedicated to the success of its projects. Laroche Mécanique du Bâtiment is a member of the CMMTQ and the ACQ and a Gaz Métro certified partner, and it is actively involved with the Canada Green Building Council.
Entrepreneurial Transfer category
Gold: Informatique ProContact
Jonathan Legault, President
Since its founding in 1991, ProContact has become the largest Quebec-based IT solutions provider in Eastern Canada. lts rapidly growing team of more than 300 professionals continues to innovate with local companies to help them drive technological change and attain their business objectives. As a result, the company has been on the Canadian Business Growth 500 list for six consecutive years, and has risen to 12th place in the Channel Daily News (CDN) 2019 selection of the Canadian Top 100 Solution Providers. Procontact works with clients of all sectors and sizes to create and deploy end-to-end and customized technological solutions, and has helped thousands of Quebec companies overcome their business challenges. ln addition to mastering the best technologies from the industry’s leading manufacturers, ProContact is known for its agility, expertise, and strong and consistent presence in the market over the past 28 years. lt is headquartered in Quebec City and has an office in the Montreal area.
Silver: Moteurs Électriques Laval
Pierre Saucier, President
Since its founding in 1930, Moteurs Électriques Laval Ltd. (MEL) has earned a reputation as an industry leader in Canada, based in large part on the high level of expertise among its staff and its diverse range of products and services. lnitially specialized in the distribution and repair of electric motors, the company has adapted to the growing needs of industry in an environment of unrelenting technological change. MEL now has a highly qualified department providing electrotechnical services and the integration of ABB variable-speed drives. This has given MEL the most complete range of electrotechnical products and services in the industry, while contributing to a clean and efficient future. With its head office in Montreal and branch offices in Quebec City, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay, MEL employs an experienced network of sales representatives to satisfy the most exacting demands of an ever-growing client base.
Bronze: Ste-Marie Sport
Luc Marchand, président
ln 1968, in his family’s garage, Claude Ste-Marie founded the company by opening Bombardier’s first Moto-Ski snowmobile dealership. ln 1973, the product line was expanded to include Suzuki motorcycles. Over the years, Ste-Marie Sport has added BRP products (SeaDoo, ATV and CCV Can-Am, Ski-Doo, Spyder and Ryker) and Honda motorcycles and mechanical products. ln 1995, the company moved for the first time, to a new 12,000 square foot building, which grew to 25,000 square feet through a major expansion. ln June 2011, after 45 years in the business, Claude Ste-Marie passed the torch to Luc Marchand, an employee since 1994 who had always been very keen on the products. Luc worked his way through all the positions in the company and helped grow the company alongside its former owner. Today, eight years later, Luc, his wife, Kyna Desjardins and their employees maintain the image of SteMarie Sport and make its former owner proud.
PwC Canada, along with its contest partners the Business Development Bank of Canada, National Bank, BCF Business Law, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, HEC Montréal, La Presse + and Toast Studio, would like to congratulate the winners of this thirteenth edition of the contest. Please see le www.lesmedaillesdelareleve.com/en/ for further details.
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Renseignements : Renseignements : Claudia Landry, Conseillère en relations publiques, Est du Canada, PwC Canada, Téléphone : +1 514 205-5261, Courriel : claudia.landry@pwc.com