Thirty-five students from Bishop`s University go on an industrial tour

For immediate release
PRESS RELEASE
Thirty-five students from Bishop’s University
go on an industrial tour in Coaticook
Coaticook, February 20, 2013 – Thirty-five students in business administration at Bishop’s University were
welcomed by the SADC de la région de Coaticook (www.sadccoaticook.ca) on February 20 as part of the
organization’s first-ever organized tour of industrial facilities. The bilingual event was intended to deliver a
clear message to future graduates of Bishop’s: they can pursue exciting careers in their field as members of
great businesses right in our area, and in both official languages.
Organized together with the Dobson-Lagassé entrepreneurship centre (www.dobsonlagasse.ca), the one-day
event consisted in a visit to two businesses in the Coaticook region, namely Laiterie de Coaticook
(www.laiteriedecoaticook.com) and Tissus Geo Sheard (www.geosheard.com), as well as a lunch event for all
participants.
The students first took a bus from Bishop’s University to Laiterie de Coaticook, where they were warmly
received by SADC management and the business’s leaders. They were then taken on a guided tour of the
factory itself, whose production and facilities have undergone major expansion since 2004 thanks to the
Laiterie’s highly successful products.
A lively lunch
The students had a chance to continue conversations over lunch with representatives from both businesses:
Jean Provencher and Johanne Provencher, co-owners of the Laiterie de Coaticook, along with their human
resources director Marc Faubert; and Iskender Sheard, co-owner of Tissus Geo Sheard.
The lunch also featured a video presentation about the Coaticook MRC. In his brief welcoming speech,
Coaticook Mayor Bertrand Lamoureux emphasized the quality of life in our area and pointed out that “our
region is just like Coaticook ice cream. Once you’ve tried it, you always come back for more!” For his part, the
president of the SADC de la région de Coaticook, Serge Gosselin, presented his organization’s mission of
economic development. David Monty of Dobson-Lagassé thanked all participants and all partners who helped
organize the event. Lastly, SADC Executive Director Joanne Beaudin presented a basket of regional products to
representatives of Laiterie de Coaticook and Tissus Geo Sheard, adding that “we would like to acknowledge
your availability and extraordinary cooperation, not only for welcoming us today, but also for your ongoing
commitment to regional development.” Those invited to the visit also included Jean Rousseau, MP for ComptonStanstead; Denise Call of Canada Economic Development; Charles Bernard of Emploi-Québec; Marie-Claude
Lamoureux, president of the Coaticook Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Sylvie Fauteux-Viau, a
member of the Coaticook SADC’s board of directors.
Enthusiastic students
The afternoon visit allowed participants to discover Tissus Geo Sheard, which manufactures commercial fabric
for the office furnishing and hotel markets. Diversified products, flexibility, quality and fast delivery have made
the company a top supplier in its industry. The Executive Director of the Coaticook SADC was delighted with
the day’s activities. “We’re happy to have invested time and financial resources in creating this event, which we
think is very promising for regional development. We’ll have to do this again!”
As they left the factory, a number of students warmly thanked the organizers. A good proportion of these young
graduates were visiting our area for the first time. Even if many of them are from outside the province, a good
number are thinking about staying in Quebec after their studies. Let’s hope that the event will attract many to
the Coaticook region…
Source: Lisette Proulx
[email protected]
819-849-3053
Canada Economic Development supports financially the SADC.