Jacques Larivière earns top spot as Québec Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The
Year(R)
Canada's outstanding entrepreneurs propel economy forward
"Jacques Larivière's entrepreneurial spirit drove him to seize opportunities, and develop an innovative business that is both profitable, and keeps sustainability in mind," says François Dufresne, Director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Québec, and a partner with Ernst & Young Montréal. "He is a great example of how entrepreneurs can move industry and the economy forward, and make a real difference."
Founded in 1983, Demilec is one of Canada's fastest-growing manufacturers and marketers of urethane foam systems. Their insulating products are developed at Demilec's 70,000-square foot manufacturing site in Boisbriand, Québec. The company also sells their products in 20 retail outlets across
Demilec is committed to supporting clean technology and uses recycled plastics, renewable natural oils and water in their products to protect the atmosphere. The company was also the first Canadian maker of spray polyurethane to banish the use or production of ozone-depleting chemicals by 2000.
"Ecological responsibility is a priority on everyone's agenda. Jacques has capitalized on opportunities in this market and has driven his company to the top," notes Dufresne. "Demilec Inc. is a pioneer in the manufacture of environmentally friendly products, and tomorrow's entrepreneurs will be inspired by his achievements."
Larivière's dedication to environmental awareness extends beyond his business, and into the wider community. In 2005, Demilec supported the Canadian team in the international Solar Decathlon competition. Rival teams attempted to build a house powered only by solar energy. The Canadian team took home the prestigious Solar Decathlon award in the "Energy efficiency" category from the National Association of Home Builders.
Category winners of the Québec Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year
2009 Awards:
Cleantech
Jacques Larivière
Demilec Inc. l Boisbriand
demilec.com
Specializes in the research, development and manufacture of several
high-quality polyurethane foam systems.
Business-to-business products and services
Benoit La Salle
SEMAFO inc. l Saint-Laurent
semafo.com
Canadian-based mining company with gold production and exploration
activities in West Africa.
Business-to-consumer products and services
Bianka Grand-Maison, Yan Grand-Maison
Savons Prolav Inc. l Laval
bio-green.ca/en/
Manufactures biodegradable, eco-friendly household cleaners.
Emerging entrepreneur
Jason Neale
OmniGlobe Networks Inc. l Pointe-Claire
omniglobe.com
Global telecommunications company that delivers reliable and affordable
broadband, cellular and satellite communications services to areas around
the world where terrestrial communications are unavailable, unreliable or
too expensive.
Manufacturing
Shyam Gupta
SDP Components Inc. l Dorval
sdp.ca
Designs, manufactures and distributes high-power RF isolators and
circulators to the wireless infrastructure industry.
Real estate/construction
Sam Scalia
Samcon Inc. l Montréal
samcon.ca
Condominium construction in Montréal.
Social entrepreneur
Gilles Cossette
Certex l Saint-Hubert
certexcanada.com
Sheltered work centre that specializes in the recyling of clothing and
textiles.
Technology
Richard Maltais, Pascal Pilon
Averna l Montréal
averna.com
Provides test systems and solutions that help communications device-
makers improve the quality of their products.
What's next?
As the Québec Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009, Mr. Larivière will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Atlantic, Prairies, Ontario and Pacific regions for the national honour of Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009, to be presented at a gala celebration
About the awards program
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honour the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. This year, the Canadian program is proudly celebrating 16 years of honouring Canada's outstanding entrepreneurs from all areas of business. For more information on the program, please visit ey.com/ca/eoy.
Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel, which is composed of several distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients. The members of the Québec region panel for 2009 were Denis Brière, Rector, Université Laval;
The Québec Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards are presented in collaboration with Desjardins. National program sponsors are La Presse, RDI, Global Television Network and the National Post.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca.
For further information: Marie-Ève Graniero, (514) 874 4313, [email protected]
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