Desjardins Entrepreneur Prizes honour 11 outstanding businesses

QUÉBEC, Oct. 7 /CNW Telbec/ - Desjardins Group, the largest financial institution in Québec, announced yesterday the names of the winners for the Desjardins Entrepreneur Prizes. The prizes were awarded at a gala evening hosted by Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group. These prestigious awards showcase the excellence of local businesses and their active contribution to regional economic development.

Ms. Leroux highlighted the leadership and creativity of the award-winning entrepreneurs. "Desjardins is proud to support these entrepreneurs on a daily basis so that they may continue to be a dynamic and energetic force within the community. Not only do these Desjardins Entrepreneur Prizes allow us to honour the courage and tenacity of many of them, but also to give them a boost for the future."

    
    International Commerce category, in collaboration with Export Development
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    Canada
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    The winners are (tie):

    HONCO STEEL BUILDINGS, Lévis - Francis Lacasse, President
    Sonaca Montréal, St-Janvier - Philippe Hoste, Chief Executive Officer

    Agriculture category
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    Le Domaine du Parc Reg'd., Sainte-Élisabeth - Denis Ouellet and Josée
    Rainville, Co-owners

    Business Ownership Transfer category, in collaboration with Samson
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    Bélair/Deloitte & Touche
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    Dubé & Loiselle Inc., Granby - Daniel Lachapelle, President

    Young Entrepreneur category, in collaboration with the Secrétariat à la
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    jeunesse
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    Winners in this category received a $10,000 bursary from Fondation
    Desjardins.

    Eastern Québec region:
    Synertek Industries, St-Romuald - Jean-François Boutin, Vice-President of
    Sales

    Western Québec region:
    Zorah Biocosmetics Inc., Montréal - Mélissa Harvey, President

    Central Québec region:
    Le Trou du Diable Microbrewery, Shawinigan - André Trudel, President

    Sustainable Development category, in collaboration with Bell
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    Eastern Québec region:
    Roche Ltd., Consulting Group, Québec City - Mario W. Martel, President
    and Chief Executive Officer

    Western Québec region:
    Produits de marque Liberté Inc., Saint-Hubert - Martin Valiquette,
    General Manager

    Central Québec region:
    Auberge Le Baluchon, Saint-Paulin - Louis Lessard, President

    Ontario:
    Bridgehead (2000) inc., Ottawa - Tracey Clark, Managing Director
    

In addition to the partners for each of the prize categories, Desjardins would also like to thank Les Affaires newspaper and Fasken Martineau Dumoulin for their collaboration.

For more information on the award winners, visit: www.desjardins.com/entrepreneurshipprizes.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada , and the ninth largest in the world, with overall assets of approximately $160 billion . Drawing on the strength of its caisse network in Québec and Ontario, as well as its subsidiaries, several of which are active throughout Canada , Desjardins offers a full range of financial products and services to its 5.8 million individual and business members and clients. Desjardins Group is also home to a wealth of expertise in property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance, wealth management, services for businesses of all sizes, securities brokerage, venture capital, asset management and secure leading-edge virtual access methods, all part of an integrated offer that is the only one of its kind in Canada . One of the largest employers in the country, Desjardins is backed by the knowledge and skills of its 42,000 employees and the commitment of its 6,300 elected officers.

For further information: (for journalists only): André Chapleau, Director, Information and Media Relations, Desjardins Group, [phone], 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7229, [email protected]