Cascades have confirmed the death of one of its co-founders, Bernard Lemaire, at the age of 87.
Lemaire was born in Drummondville, Québec in 1936. In 1960, he joined the family business of waste recovery, Drummond Pulp and Fiber. Four years later, under his impetus, and with the support of his brothers Laurent and Alain, a second life was given to the disused Dominion Paper Co. mill in Kingsey Falls. He then laid the foundation for Cascades, which would become a North American, and even European, leader in environmentally responsible recovery, packaging and hygiene solutions. For nearly 30 years, Lemaire was president of the company, applying his management philosophy based on respect for human resources and initiating an unprecedented expansion strategy. He applied the same recipe to build Boralex, a Québec flagship in renewable energy.
His brothers Laurent and Alain paid tribute to him. They said, “Bernard was an exceptional man, a larger-than-life character. Visionary, generous and charismatic, he convinced countless people and communities to participate in a huge project, the project of his life: Cascades. His career embodies the emergence of a francophone Québec that is proud of its roots. Our big brother was a great man. Today, he is a legend.”
“Bernard is the source of the ingenuity and dedication of the 10,000 or so Cascaders,” said Mario Plourde, President and Chief Executive Officer. “It is thanks to him that they are working today in a multinational company that is a role model and whose vision, success and values are praised. He gave the Company the momentum that has made it grow and shine for nearly 60 years. His legacy is rich and will live on. On behalf of all Cascades employees, I would like to offer the Lemaire family our most sincere condolences.”
Lemaire’s contribution to the business world has been rewarded on many occasions. In 1985, the newspaper Finances awarded him the title of Businessman of the Year. In 1991, the Association des professionnels en ressources humaines du Québec awarded him the Iris d’honneur for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of human resources management. He has been awarded the insignia of Officer of the Order of Canada, Officer of the National Order of Québec, and Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, granted by the President of the French Republic. He has also received honorary doctorates from the Université de Sherbrooke, the École des Hautes Études Commerciales, the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and the Université du Québec à Montréal. A prominent figure in modern Québec, the man embodies entrepreneurship.
