30 Nov 2021

Last Wednesday, November 24th, the Matane office team gathered to wish a happy 100th birthday to Gérard Lavoie, one of the founders of the Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton office in Matane, opened in 1957.

It’s not every day that you can celebrate the 100th birthday of someone who has been so involved in his region. Gérard Lavoie, who is a Fellow of the Ordre des CPA du Québec (FCPA), contributed significantly to promoting the city of Matane and the Bas-Saint-Laurent region by supporting entrepreneurs dedicated to their beautiful region.

Gérard, the father of two daughters and spouse of Mireille Dugas, is affectionately known as Gerry by those close to him.

In the early ’80s, he created the Fondation de l’Hôpital de Matane and has served as chair or secretary-treasurer of numerous organizations such as the Corporation du foyer d’accueil, Caisse populaire Desjardins, Club Richelieu, Club de curling and Club de golf de Matane, and Zone de ski gaspésienne. He has been recognized for donating his time and energy with these honours that include: citizen emeritus as part of the Canada Day festivities, first recipient of the Octave Hommage at the Chambre de commerce de la région de Matane excellence gala and faithful leader of the Knights of Columbus.

“Professionally, my greatest source of pride was the merger in 1984, when I was president of Corriveau, Bujold, Lavoie, Madore et Associés. At the time, the firm had 17 Partners with offices throughout the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and Gaspésie. I won’t go into all the details of the meetings and negotiations. I will however give the award of excellence to my colleague Jean-Marie Bujold. On the Raymond Chabot Martin Paré side, I acknowledge Guy Chabot’s support and Jacques Desmeules’ diligence. Today, I have no hesitation in stating that I’m very proud of being a member of the select group known as the Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton builders,” Lavoie said.

“Dear Gérard, 100 years old, what a feat! You inspire all of us. You’ve achieved so much and kept your health. I had the privilege of meeting you in Matane during the office’s 60th anniversary in 2017. This celebration was in your honour, since it was you who opened the first accounting office in 1957 under the name of Caron, Corriveau, Renaud et Associés. You are a great builder of our firm and a leading advisor to many entrepreneurs who, thanks to your talent over the years, today are the pride of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Quebec and beyond. I wish you many more years of happiness and health. Thank you for everything. We admire you so much!” said Emilio B. Imbriglio, President and CEO of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.

Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton in Matane, the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and Edmundston region

The Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Matane office started with the opening of the Caron, Corriveau, Renaud et associés office in January 1957. In 1984, the firm had offices in Montmagny, La Pocatière, Matane, Rivière-du-Loup, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Chandler and New Richmond. With expansion plans in mind and the desire to meet his clientele’s needs, founder Gérard Lavoie negotiated and merged these seven offices with Raymond Chabot Martin Paré, which became Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton in 1998.

This marked the beginning of a new era for the clients of the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Matane offices. The traditional accounting firm was transformed and now offers numerous specialists and services in assurance, tax and consulting so that organizations can thrive in a structured and competitive business environment.

Today, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton boasts fourteen offices and four points of service in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and Edmundston region that are part of the national and international network.

Gérard Lavoie - RCGT

Next article

29 Oct 2021

In this rapidly evolving business world, entrepreneurs and managers want proactive solutions and practical advice to stay competitive and continue to grow.

In order to provide entrepreneurs and managers with the support they need, our firm is taking our accounting professionals into a broader role as business advisors to our clients. This will ensure that our entrepreneurs are ready to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges in all areas of their organization’s progress.

For several years now, we have been promoting multiple approaches by having our accounting professionals take on a role beyond their traditional role—business advisor to our entrepreneurial clients. We are therefore offering our talent new career opportunities, such as becoming a Manager or Senior Manager – Client Relationship and Business Strategies.

First group of Client relationship and business strategy advisors

The extended region encompassing the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and French New Brunswick is introducing the first group of Managers and Senior Managers who will be part of the new client relationship and business strategies stream.

Candidates for these positions stand out for their strategic and entrepreneurial vision, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills and ability to find proactive and practical solutions that promote new perspectives for our clients.

They are trained and equipped to help our clients move forward and make the best decisions by providing a comprehensive 360o approach. They bring financial, legal, business strategy, tax or business valuation specialists on board to maximize their internal and external collaborations.

Why have this profile within our teams?

Serving as a business advisor paves the way for new challenges and a range of opportunities to develop their talent and expertise.

Admittedly, not all young professionals are automatically interested in the traditional assurance path (producing and reviewing files or auditing). They often stand out for their strong interest in becoming involved in SMEs’ strategies and issues. Integrating this new path provides them with a different avenue that corresponds more closely with their aspirations and desire to shape the future in a different way.

New career path possibilities for CPAs

Our firm offers multiple career opportunities to CPAs throughout Québec, so that all young CPAs can choose the path that interests them, whether it is in a specialty, as a manager or at the heart of client relationships.

Autonomy and empowerment are valued so that they can confidently achieve their full potential within their own interests.

Discover the first group of client relationship and business strategy professionals and contact one of our candidates to support you through the different stages of your organization:

Manager

Sébastien Langlois (Montmagny)
Sébastien Lévesque – agriculture clientele (Rivière-du-Loup)
Martin Caron – agriculture clientele (Rimouski)
Louis Morin (Rivière-du-Loup)
Emmanuelle Lavoie (Rimouski)
Marc-André Gauvin (Edmundston)

Senior Managers

Marie-Claude Landry (Rivière-du-Loup)
Rémi Godbout (Matane)
Jean-Philippe Chrétien (Gaspé)
Michel Gagné (Chandler)
Anny Villeneuve (Matane)
Pierre-Luc Loisel (New Richmond)
Michel Sirois (Rivière-du-Loup)

Conseillers d'affaires - RCGT

Next article

26 Oct 2021

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: VARS urges businesses to improve their cybersecurity posture

Montreal, October 26, 2021 – To mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, VARS, a division of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, is reminding business leaders about the importance of having a customized cybersecurity strategy and backing it with concrete measures.

“Cybersecurity is imperative for any organization’s success. Today’s SMEs need to identify and protect their mission-critical assets, then set up security measures to keep them up and running. This is a crucial step in protecting your IT systems from increasingly sophisticated and ever-changing attack methods. You need to have real-time visibility of your business’ threats and vulnerabilities so that you can manage risks,” said Guillaume Caron, President and CEO of VARS.

VARS offers and manages a comprehensive range of security services through a one-of-a-kind integrated solution. It includes network, desktop, server and dark web monitoring; privileged identity and access management; secure sensitive data exchange; email and collaborative tools security; and an awareness-building program that includes phishing simulations.

With telework becoming widespread and the technology landscape continually changing, there’s been a sharp rise in phishing campaigns and ransomware attacks. Faced with a growing number of unsecured access points and virtual meetings replacing in-person conversations, organizations of all sizes need robust IT security more urgently than ever before. Adequate protection can safeguard their operations, help preserve their reputations and reassure their stakeholders. This, in turn, promotes good governance practices and improves their long-term viability and growth prospects. For SMEs, the goal is to mitigate IT security risks.

At Security Connect 2021, an event held in June 2021, VMware Inc. released the findings from the fourth instalment of its Global Security Insights Report. The report found that cybercriminals are taking advantage of accelerated innovation and remote work arrangements to execute targeted attacks. Nearly 80% of the surveyed organizations experienced cyberattacks due to more employees working from home, highlighting the vulnerabilities in legacy security technology and postures.

For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, VARS wishes to remind businesses that it’s very important to have a cybersecurity solution that has been tailored to their specific needs. “Paired with support from an external Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), this solution is central to improving the information security posture of SMEs. By taking preventive measures, such as implementing innovative technologies and effective monitoring mechanisms, you can reduce risks, support good governance and protect your brand image. This isn’t optional anymore; it’s a necessity for all organizations,” concluded Mr. Caron.

To learn more about VARS and its one-of-a-kind integrated security solution, click here.

About Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton

Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton is a professional services firm that has been dedicated to the success of organizations and their leaders since 1948. The firm’s advisors are committed to helping clients thrive by obtaining a deep understanding of what is important to them, their business and their industry. This knowledge, combined with a team of motivated and talented professionals, helps accelerate growth. A Quebec and Canadian leader in the areas of assurance, tax, advisory services and business recovery and reorganization, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton boasts more than 2,700 professionals, including approximately 200 partners, working in over 100 offices across the province of Quebec and in the Ottawa and Edmundston regions.

Together with Grant Thornton LLP, another Canadian firm, and the Grant Thornton global organization, our global footprint spans across nearly 140 countries with over 58,200 people who provide real insight, a fresh perspective and agility to keep clients moving ahead.

Source:

Marine Detraz
Communications and Public Affairs Advisor
Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
Tel: 514-705-8096
[email protected]

 

Next article

19 Oct 2021

Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton has been approved as a service provider to support businesses in New Brunswick.

The government of New Brunswick, in collaboration with TechImpact and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), recently introduced the Digital Boost 2.0 program, which offers New Brunswick businesses financing and expertise to kick off their digital transformation. Funds are granted in connection with this program so that these companies can collaborate with qualified providers.

Among these qualified providers, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton is able to help New Brunswick business create a digital strategy so that they can remain competitive, resilient and forward-thinking as the business world continues to digitize.

What is a digital strategy?

An effective digital strategy is a roadmap for reaching short-, medium- and long-term digital transformation goals. It’s a foundational plan that outlines your organization’s technological needs and helps you determine which technologies to invest in and how to implement them for success.

How does it work?

Digital Boost 2.0 will reimburse 75% of $26,600 up to a maximum of $20,000 per business. If the digital strategy does not cost $26,600, the remaining financing can be used to market your first project.

Who is eligible?

Businesses are selected based on their technical maturity and business operations.

Digital Boost 2.0 is not open to the following sectors: real estate, government services, personal/social services, retail, restaurants and lumber. Professional service industries such as marketing firms, creative agencies and business coaches are generally not eligible.

The program will assist up to 120 New Brunswick businesses.

For program eligibility criteria or to apply, visit the Digital Boost 2.0 website.

We can also help you with your process. Contact us today.

[class^="wpforms-"]
[class^="wpforms-"]