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Shawinigan-Based Companies Drawing Attention at Gala Distinction
Sixteen awards were granted to 18 companies or individuals, and Guy Pellerin (co-owner with C. Desbiens, M. Pellerin and J. Bureau of Pharmacy Uniprix) was the award recipient of the Gilles-Martel business personality title.
“Guy Pellerin is actively involved in the community. He exercises an enormous influence. He gave back tremendously and helped his community a great deal,” said Philippe Roy, director of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Shawinigan. The evening ceremony was hosted by Véronique Buisson and François St-Martin at Espace Shawinigan. .”
There were no bounds to Roy’s praise for Denis Morin, Ambassador for the year and coordinator for Shawinigan’s Entrepreneurial Community: “The entrepreneurial community is a model in Quebec, in Canada and around the world. I like to compare Denis Morin to The Man Who Planted Trees, the animated film by Frédéric Back. Denis Morin is known for the entrepreneurial community’s reach.”
Eleven prizes were awarded to the winners in as many categories. The deliberations were made quite difficult by the Innovation and new markets category, which awarded ICO Technologies.
“Making a winner in this category was no easy task. What played in favour of ICO Technologies is, among others, the fact that the company has doubled its human resources last year. It is a rapidly growing company, which is in line with the community’s economic diversification efforts, especially within a context where Shawiningan wants to become the third digital hub in Quebec,” said Roy.
Additionally, a number of constructive discussions have led to Grand-Mère Nature (Retail) becoming the recipient in the Retail category. “It is an innovative company which has grown exponentially and is involved in the community,” said Philippe Roy, referring to this health-food store and chocolate factory.
The efforts of several young entrepreneurs have been recognized during the evening. The director of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Shawinigan praised the approach and concept implemented by the young owners of the Zélé restaurant in the Grand-Mère neighborhood (Sainte-Flore), offering a “short-lived” menu inspired by local products.
For its part, the Youth Entrepreneurship category award went to L’univers martial ancestral (LUMA), a company specializing in the organization and presentation of medieval activities in schools and day camps. The jury was won over by the values promoted by the company and the initiative's impact on young people.
The benefits of cooperation
“We’re going to tell it like it is, Shawinigan can be seen from two angles. First, there is the end of the big manufacturing era, the devitalized urban settings, the low cost of living and the support organizations. At the same time, there is another Shawinigan; a community that raised the issue and took initiative. The benefits of cooperation are clear,” says Philippe Roy, who is heartened by the initial success of the mobilization march held on September 27 and the Job fair held on October 29.”