With the CBC’s Ron Charles at the Toronto Sporting Life 10K 2010 for Camp Oochigeas. I watched Ron’s TV news reports in Montreal over 20 years ago.
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L-R: Peter & Wanda Bedard and Alexia & Michael Galletti.
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The Montreal chapter of CAFÉ (The Canadian Association of Family Enterprise) held its Family Business Day on October 21, 2003 at the Ritz Carleton Hotel. A hundred family business owners and people devoted to family business attended the event which was scheduled as part of Small Business Week across Canada.

CAFE undertook this opportunity to underline the importance of family business’ contribution to the economic strength of the country. The day began at 8:00 am with a buffet breakfast and continued until 4:00 pm around our theme: “Growing our business through family values.”

Keynote speaker: Robin Burns of I-Tech Sports: “Don’t call me – Daddy’’
Introducing the history of I-Tech Sports from its inception at the dinner table to the present day, Robin discussed his experience and philosophy on a number of issues: from starting with his wife to having as many as ten family members at one time in the business, firing his wife, his way of introducing the kids to the business and his philosophy of God, family and business.

Denise Paré-Julien – “The art of juggling family and business issues’’
Denise Paré-Julien facilitated this interactive session on the challenges related to business family dynamics: how to identify the competitive advantages of being part of a business family while dealing with its particular challenges. Denise discussed the key factors of success for a family business and the importance of all family members growing in an environment of support and trust. Her presentation was aimed at all members of the family even those who do not work directly in the family business.

Michael Galletti: “The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: How to Become Part of the 30% That Succeed at Succession”
Michael Galletti is Past President of CAFE Montréal and has been an active member in the Montreal chapter and the board since 1995. Michael is President of The Triangle Group, a commercial real estate investment company. The Triangle Group is a two family partnership that has lived through a succession in each of the families. Having gone through succession twice, Michael will give us some personal history of what they did well and what they would not repeat. He will share his experience and knowledge including recent research and studies to help you beat the odds and ‘Succeed at Succession’.

Stuart Iverson, Cairnmont Inc.
Stuart manages a multi-family office in Montreal and he spoke to us about family offices.

Dr. A. Bakr Ibrahim, CIBC Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurship and Family Business, Concordia University.
Dr. Ibrahim is the author of several books and papers about family business and has personal experience in his own family business. He spoke articulately about the challenges facing families in business. CAFE Montreal is very pleased with its relationship with Concordia University. We will be holding joint educational sessions next year.

Luncheon Keynote speaker: Marc DeSerres, “Re-inventer Omer DeSerres’’
From its beginning as a hardware store in Montréal to a thriving art supply retail chain in Quebec and Ontario today, Marc told us how this major change was accommodated and driven in a family business setting.

Panel discussion: “Giving well – thinking strategically’’
Hilary Pearson – Philanthropic Foundations Canada
Laurent Larose – UNICEF Canada
Bob Hest – Insight Philanthropy
Moderated by Michel Daigle – Bell Nordic inc.
This panel brought together three experienced individuals who deal regularly with the challenges of the non-profit sector from the viewpoint of the donor, the foundation and the charitable organization. They discussed how business families can leverage their can-do attitude and know-how along with their family’s values into an exciting experience in enriching our world.