Visit to Beauce Region

Unique to North America, CIMIC is an integrated professional industrial mechanics training centre at the secondary, college and university levels.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston met with His Worship Claude Morin, Mayor of Saint-Georges, and his spouse, Mrs. Anne Desrousseaux. They engaged in a discussion with the Mayor and with members of city council on the region’s economy, its successes and challenges.

At the end of the day, Their Excellencies visited the École d’Entrepreneurship de Beauce (EEB). Officially launched in September 2010, the EEB is the only school in Canada that is dedicated to training entrepreneurs through the transfer of knowledge and experience from one generation of business leaders to another.

Thanks to its modern bottling facility, Les Industries Bernard & Fils bottled 16 million pounds of maple syrup in 2015. This family business exports many of its products to some 40 countries.

In the afternoon, Their Excellencies visited Les Industries Bernard & Fils, a family-owned company that has been producing high-quality, pure maple syrup since the early 19th century. During their visit, they observed the maple syrup bottling process, from heating to labelling for commercial sale. The maple syrup industry is a leading industry in Quebec with some 7 300 maple syrup-producing companies.

Their Excellencies met with participants from the economic, philanthropic, academic and health sectors to discuss the region’s strengths and successes, as well as its challenges. They also discussed partnerships and projects underway between Saint-Georges and the private and public sectors that have strengthened mutually beneficial ties and, as a result, have improved the region’s overall economic forecast.

Following the visit, Their Excellencies met with teachers, students and associated entrepreneurs who highlighted the Centre’s areas of expertise.

Approximately 90 per cent of the 700 graduates from each graduating class find employment before the end of their studies. Moreover, the Centre operates an applied research centre benefitting SMEs in the region.

Later on that day, Their Excellencies visited the Centre intégré de mécanique industrielle de la Chaudière's (CIMIC) workshops in industrial design, electricity, industrial mechanics, machining techniques, welding and fitting, and auto mechanics.

Afterwards, Their Excellencies signed the guestbook. Founded in 1856, Saint-Georges is a flagship city in Beauce, with over 32 000 inhabitants. In 2015, it ranked 4th in Quebec and 35th in Canada in terms of its dynamic entrepreneurship. Its technology park and its two industrial parks help raise the city’s profile.

As part of their visit to EEB, Their Excellencies attended the launch of the “G5” cohort in the Émergence program and met with students who have been running a business for a few years and are looking to expand their business.