President, CEO | La Ruche

​

Nicolas Bouchard is one of the pioneering Quebec entrepreneurs of the web. He founded DuProprio in 1997 with the objective of providing owners with innovative tools and services to complete the sale of their property themselves and save on commission.

After ten years of strong growth in Quebec, the entrepreneur joined forces with Gesca digital investments to breathe new life into the business and roll it out across Canada. That year, Nicolas Bouchard was honored as Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Canada by the Profit 500. After selling DuProprio in 2015, its founder remained committed to entrepreneurship as an ambassador at La Ruche, a coach at the École d'Entrepreneurship de Beauce and as an investor.

Since May 2019, Nicolas has assumed the presidency and general management of La Ruche.

​

La Ruche is a non-profit organization specializing in crowdfunding whose mission is to promote the emergence of projects stimulating the economy, influence and vitality of a region.

​

President and CEO | Fondaction

President and CEO of Fondaction since January 2020, Geneviève Morin has thirty years of experience in the financial sector. She joined Fondaction when it started up in 1996, first in administration, then in finance and corporate development, before being appointed Chief Investment Officer in 2011, directly contributing to its positioning as largest investment fund committed to sustainable development in Quebec.

​

Ms. Morin was CEO of Anges Québec Capital and held various positions at Desjardins Group. She sits on the boards of directors of Finance Montréal, Écotech Québec and Moulin Microcredit, and in the past, we mention, among others, those of Investissement Québec, CVCA and Réseau capital.

​

Fondaction helps develop businesses, preserve and create quality jobs, while encouraging social actors to discuss together both the sharing of productivity gains and the sharing of work.

​

Vice-president Development and Partnerships - Eastern Quebec | Desjardins

Holder of a bachelor's degree in business administration (finance), a bachelor's degree in economics, a certificate in financial planning and the course on securities trading (CCVM), Marc Villeneuve joined the Desjardins Group in 1993.

He has since held various positions within the caisse network and then at the Federation, working in particular in the areas of business development, finance, network performance management as well as corporate strategies and marketing. Vice-President of Development and Partnerships for Eastern Quebec since October 2019, he puts his qualities as a visionary, leader and strategist at the service of Desjardins and its members and clients.

A mentor in the Desjardins mentoring program, he is a director of the École d'Entrepreneurship de Beauce and a director of Québec International. He is also involved in many charities. As a senior executive, Mr. Villeneuve pays particular attention to the very foundations of Desjardins and its cooperative nature. Thanks to his talents as a mobilizer, he supports teams to ensure that Desjardins is recognized as the leading financial institution for enriching the lives of individuals and communities.

​

Desjardins , the leading cooperative financial group in Canada, inspires confidence in the world through the commitment of individuals, its financial strength and its contribution to sustainable prosperity.

​

Co-founder and worker member | Coop Nitaskinan

​

Ms. Karine Awashish, Atikamekw is from the Atikamekw community of Opitciwan. Holder of a master's degree in leisure, culture and tourism (UQTR) and a bachelor's degree in business administration (UQAM), she has accumulated professional experience in the field of social, cultural and economic development of First Nations in Quebec for more than 15 years old.

Coop Nitaskinan is an Indigenous solidarity cooperative that brings together hardworking and supportive members who are committed to socio-economic and cultural development driven by an Indigenous vision and values.

Acting General Manager | La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec

​

Holder of a bachelor's degree in communications and politics (UQAM), Émilien Roscanu has diversified experience in communications, marketing and project management, particularly within a political cabinet and non-profit organizations. Having a strong interest in social causes, he sits on various boards of directors of organizations supporting immigrants and socio-professional integration. He is currently completing graduate studies in management (HEC Montréal).  

​

La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec is a non-profit cooperative that has more than 220 members and whose mission is to promote the local and international video game industry in Quebec and support its development as a global hub.

Managing Director | Carbon coop | Representing Coop Agri-Énergie

​

He is one of Canada's most experienced experts on carbon markets and climate change issues. He also has in-depth expertise in the economics of natural resources, the environment, agrifood and energy. He has been working in these fields of activity for over twenty years. He worked in the world of academic research as well as with various departments of the Government of Quebec before founding Écoressources in 2004.

​

Coop Carbon is a solidarity cooperative whose mission is to contribute to the fight against climate change by supporting the implementation of collaborative projects.

​

Coop Agri-Énergie Warwick is the very first agricultural cooperative dedicated to the production of renewable energy in Quebec. It brings together around ten agricultural producers from the MRC d'Arthabaska who will produce renewable natural gas (RNG) from slurry and dairy cattle manure mixed with residual organic matter from surrounding businesses.

​

​

Managing Director | The Cooperative Les Serres du Dos Blanc

An agronomist by training, Issiaka Sanou was one of the pioneers of urban agriculture in the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension district. Between 2002 and 2008, he set up numerous educational gardens in the schools of Villeray. The following year, he started working for the integrated urban revitalization (RUI) of Hodge / Place Benoit, one of the actions of the plan of which was to set up urban agriculture and develop employment opportunities in the district.  

Les Serres du Dos Blanc aims to provide local urban customers, social economy organizations and the neighboring student community with direct and constant access to quality organic fruits and vegetables.

Photo credit: PME MTL

President and Founder | Opportuna Consulting

Holder of a bachelor's degree in business administration, Natalie Quirion has developed her creativity, her sense of innovation and her efficiency in delivering results, working alongside both start-up entrepreneurs and managers of internationally active companies. by the rich research and education community. She is interested in all special projects that go off the beaten track and require the cohesion of various stakeholders. She sits on boards of directors such as the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), as president of the North American chapter, Zones Québec Innovation, the Association of Professionals in Economic Development of Quebec ( APDEQ) Laval University and the Quebec Research Funds.

Opportuna Conseil , promotes exchanges and the work of multidisciplinary teams with in-depth expertise while ensuring compliance with objectives to ensure the initiation and implementation of complex projects.

Quebec's Chief Innovation Officer    |  Conseil de l'Innovation

​

Holder of a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from McGill University and an MBA from Harvard University, Luc Sirois is a leader and entrepreneur recognized for his creative approach to innovation and for his involvement in digital technology in Quebec. He co-founded Hacking Health as well as an accelerator and esimage fund in digital health. He is the co-founder of Resonant Medical, now Elekta Canada. He also worked as vice-president at TELUS Health, Telesystem and Nightingale, manager of strategic consulting at McKinsey & Company, and general manager of Prompt. In December 2020, he was appointed Chief Innovator of Quebec and Director General of the Quebec Innovation Council.

​

Find out how the Conseil de l'Innovation contributes to animating the innovation ecosystem of Quebec and to ensuring the promotion of the culture of innovation and the influence of the excellence of the expertise, the talents and the actors of this ecosystem.

Directeur de la transition numérique | La Coopérative de développement régional du Québec

​

Ingénieur Informatique de 18 ans d’expérience en Technologies de l’Information dans tous les domaines, de l’administration publique au développement régional autant que de l’aéronautique à la construction navale.

​

La Coopérative de développement régional du Québec (CDRQ) offre un soutien aux coopératives en démarrage, en phase de croissance ou si un redressement s’impose. Elle propose également un vaste éventail de formations spécialisées et sur mesure couvrant plusieurs aspects d’une entreprise coopérative ou de vos réalités d’affaires.

​

La CDRQ, constituée d’un siège social situé à Québec et de 10 bureaux régionaux couvrant l’ensemble du territoire québécois, compte plus de 30 employé(e)s.

Managing Director | Groupex horticultural cooperative

Sébastien Cordeau, intrapreneur and general manager of the Groupex horticultural cooperative. Sébastien is an innovative and inspiring manager who puts the well-being of member entrepreneurs, supplier partners and the Groupex team at the heart of his actions. Holder of a diploma from L'École d'Entrepreneurship de Beauce, Elite program, he was interested throughout his university studies in relationships, customer behavior as well as business and consumer law. He is a passionate leader and is an agent of change for the industry. Definitely a man of action, generator of creative ideas and daring projects whose objective is to enrich his network, in all its forms. A COOP or listening, dedication, cooperation helps propel members through its five roles: Supply, Technology, Talents, Awareness and Finance.

The Groupex cooperative is a purchasing group whose services accelerate the growth of a network of garden center and landscaping entrepreneurs.

Associate in certification |  Mallette

Alain Fortier is an assurance partner at Mallette and managing partner of the Lévis, Saint-Georges and Montmagny offices. Recipient of the CPA Emeritus award, he is involved with several community organizations, notably the Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Foundation and the Foundation for Education in Cooperation and Mutuality. He is also a member of the OCPAQ cooperative committee. He specializes in advising cooperatives and private companies.

Mallette is about sharing their accounting, financial and strategic expertise with their clients by offering innovative solutions that are well suited to your immediate and future needs. It means participating in the improvement of environments by getting involved in social, cultural, economic and community organizations.

Associate in certification |  Mallette

Pascal Moffet is a partner at Mallette, a company of chartered professional accountants. Within the financial management department, he is responsible for a team specializing in business transactions and succession planning.

Mallette is about sharing their accounting, financial and strategic expertise with their clients by offering innovative solutions that are well suited to your immediate and future needs. It means participating in the improvement of environments by getting involved in social, cultural, economic and community organizations.

Managing Director | Federation of funeral cooperatives of Quebec

​

Alain Leclerc has nearly 40 years of involvement in the cooperative movement. He was an activist in the housing sector for 28 years; leader in the funeral sector for 35 years; director and chairman of SOCODEVI; administrator of CQCM and several other cooperative organizations.

Since 2011, he has been a lecturer in business strategy at the University of Sherbrooke in the MBA program and has taught cooperative management at IRECUS.

Development through business acquisitions has  was a strategy he implemented in the funeral cooperative sector. In 25 years, he has made more than 35 acquisitions in Quebec, Ontario, NB and Newfoundland. A group of funeral cooperatives in France is currently inspired by the Quebec acquisition model to develop.  

​

The Federation of funeral cooperatives of Quebec is the structure bringing together all of the funeral cooperatives in Quebec. Founded in 1987, the Federation now has 20 member cooperatives spread across Quebec. Today, these 20 cooperatives account for more than 90% of the deaths handled by all funeral cooperatives in Quebec.

President and CEO |  Desjardins

​

Guy Cormier has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group since 2016. Upon his arrival at the head of the organization, he instilled a corporate culture focused on members and clients. Among other things, it supports structuring initiatives with the creation of the Grand Mouvement Fund of $ 250 million, which reaffirms the socio-economic leadership of Desjardins. In addition to accelerating the digital transformation of the organization, Mr. Cormier is a staunch defender of the ideals of the cooperative model, shared prosperity and a greener economy. A graduate of HEC Montreal, he holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in business administration, in addition to having taught finance there for 8 years. Guy Cormier becomes in 2020 the first sponsor of Academos and he acts as a mentor to young people.

​

Desjardins , the leading cooperative financial group in Canada, has inspired confidence in the world for 120 years through the commitment of individuals, its financial strength and its contribution to sustainable prosperity.

​

Chief Executive Officer | Promutuel Assurance

​

Geneviève Fortier, Fellow CHRA, has been Chief Executive Officer of Promutuel Assurance since 2019. During her career, she has successfully held senior positions at SSQ Assurance, McKesson, Reitmans, Merck and Biochem Pharma.

In recent years, she has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Most Influential Canadian Women in Human Resources and Diversity, was a Finalist for the Alpha Business Personality of the Year Award and was the recipient of the Women in Human Resources and Diversity Award. business of Quebec for the Large enterprise.

A corporate director, she sits on numerous boards of directors of companies and recognized organizations.

She is one of the Leaders of Effet A, an innovative program aimed at providing women with concrete tools to boost their professional ambition.

​

Promutuel Assurance, which has 170 years of history, is present and rooted in all regions of Quebec through its unique network of 16 mutual insurance companies, which are recognized for their expertise in insurance, their economic strength and their social implication.

​

CEO | Sollio Groupe Coopératif

​

Holder of a Bachelor of Business Administration (BAA), Chartered Management Accountant (CMA) and Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Pascal Houle has held several positions since joining the network in 1998. First as a hardware store manager at La Coop des Appalaches, then as management consultant at La Coop fédérée. In 2004, he joined La Coop des Bois-Francs, now known as the VIVACO cooperative group, as director of hardware, materials and petroleum. In 2008, he was appointed general manager of the cooperative. Pascal joined BMR Group as Vice President of Retail in 2013, before being appointed Executive Vice President. In 2015, he became CEO of Groupe BMR and Executive Vice-President of Sollio Groupe Coopératif. In February 2021, continuing the steady within the network, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Sollio Groupe Coopératif, which appointment is part of the organization's succession plan.

​

Sollio Groupe Coopératif is the largest agricultural cooperative in Canada with Quebec roots. For them, cultivating, raising, producing, transforming and building the economy of tomorrow are everyday actions.  

​

President |  Cooperative de Transport Régional du Québec TREQ

Éric Larouche has been managing Groupe Pétroles RL since 1992, a family business founded in 1970 in which he has held various positions. He is also the owner of Hôtel Chicoutimi, Auberge des Îles, a lodge at Mont Édouard and a Nordic spa. A diversified entrepreneur, he holds stakes in several companies, including the Sherpa agency, Biophil, Frabbrica and RBB. Mr. Larouche is very involved in his community, whether in sport, culture, economy, health or youth. In 2020, he created the Cooperative de Transport Régional du Québec TREQ, a major project close to his heart, namely to provide Quebec with a real committed air carrier at affordable prices.

The mission of the Cooperative de Transport Régional du Québec TREQ is to provide Quebec with a real regional air carrier serving the regions and their development while ensuring the supply of low-cost plane tickets.

Managing Director | Les coops de l'information

​

Stéphane Lavallée has been Managing Director of the Information Coops since their creation in early 2020. As such, he heads the group made up of cooperative media Le Droit (Gatineau-Ottawa), Le Nouvelliste (Trois-Rivières), Le Quotidien (Saguenay) -Lac St-Jean), Le Soleil (Quebec), La Tribune (Sherbrooke) and La Voix de l'Est (Granby).

Previously, Mr. Lavallée worked in the Quebec media for 30 years, notably with TC Media (Les Affaires), La Presse (Montreal) and La Tribune, where he held various management positions. He is an experienced leader who stands out through effective communication, unifying leadership and an entrepreneurial approach focused on development projects.

Originally from Lac-Mégantic, he has been involved in projects of different kinds since the train tragedy of the summer of 2013; in particular, he headed the Reconstruction Office of downtown Lac-Mégantic.

​

Les coops de l'information is the largest cooperative media group in Quebec was collectively taken over in 2020 by the employees of the 6 newspapers.

​

Chairman and CEO | Domaine Château-Bromont | MEMBER OF Ôrigine artisan hoteliers

​

Passionate, innovative, visionary and leader in the hotel industry, Mr. Sirard has more than 30 years of experience in several establishments and regions of Quebec. He acts as Chairman and CEO while being a shareholder of Domaine Château-Bromont. He was also president of the Ôrigine artisans hôteliers network when the organization changed its business model to become a cooperative. Having sat on several boards of directors such as that of the Alliance of the Tourism Industry of Quebec, of the Quebec Council of Human Resources in Tourism and of Tourism Cantons-de-l'Est, Mr. Simard is a reference and an asset. for the Quebec tourism industry as a whole.

​

Ôrigine artisan hoteliers today forms the first hotel cooperative and the largest network of independent hotel establishments in Quebec. Gathered under a single banner, 24 destinations offer you unique experiences.

​