Last Saturday evening, March 20th, the Quebec Hardware and Building Supply Association (AQMAT) held their 9th Annual Reconnaissance Gala – Awards honouring retailers and suppliers of hardware and building materials via a ceremony held on YouTube live.
In front of an estimated audience of over 600 people, the awards ceremony saw five retailers, five manufacturers, three employees, one sales team and two innovative products earn top honours from among the 89 applications received.
The winners were determined in two stages. First, two rounds of one hundred votes each allowed association members to express their appreciation of the various nominations. The compilation of the votes allowed a maximum of 50 points to be attributed to each entry. Then, six independent personalities proceeded to the selection of the winners by granting a maximum of 50 points to each candidate. A special ceremony also marked the years of service of 19 employees at a time when the labour crisis is at its height.
Here is the list of employees, teams and managers that were honoured:
ASCENSION AWARD recognizing the rising career of an employee, in service for less than three years, who has been offered increasing responsibilities. Presented by Dura Pro.
Winner: Nathalie Dufresne, Clerk, R. Thibault & Fils TIMBER MART, Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka
TEAM AWARD recognizing the best in sales representation and exemplary customer service. Presented by A7 Resources.
Winner: Quebec & Maritimes Sales Team, A. Richard Tools
MANAGER AWARD (2) recognizing the qualities of an executive who successfully labours towards the happiness and productivity to the company’s human resources. Presented by Garda World and Mallette.
Winner, retailer: Christian Bélair, General Manager, Lortie et Martin, Castle, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
Winner, manufacturer: Sylvain Dulude, Vice-President & General Manager, Techniseal
SPECIALTY AWARD honouring a niche store that stands out. Presented by Techniseal.
Winner: Beaubien Hardware, RONA, Montreal
SOCIETY AWARD (2) honouring an ecological, social or humanitarian commitment that is recognized and appreciated by customers, suppliers or the community. Presented by LJT Avocats and Garant.
Winner, retailer: RONA Rivière-du-Loup, Rivière-du-Loup
Winner, manufacturer: SOLENO, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
PERSPECTIVE AWARD (2) honouring outstanding marketing, allowing the company to better stand out from the competition. Presented by MVP My Valuable Products and Numérix.
Winner, retailer: BMR Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Saint-Lin-Laurentides
Winner, manufacturer: Garant, Saint-François
CONQUEROR AWARD (2) honouring a business that shows progressive growth through acquisitions, marketing strategies or export activities. Presented by Taiga Building Products and BP Canada.
Winner, retailer: Groupe L’Acadien Bricoleur, Home Hardware, Bécancour (arr. Gentilly)
Winner, suppliers: ACCEO Solutions, Montreal
HERITAGE AWARD (2) honouring a family that has been in business for at least two generations and where the next generation plays a true role. Presented by Formica and Metrie.
Winner, retailer: Arseneault Family, L. Villeneuve & Cie, Montreal
Winner, manufacturer: Buisson Family, Société Laurentide, Shawinigan
Products honoured:
INNOVATION AWARD (2) honouring an invention, solution or process that offers value to end-users of its products or services. Presented by ACCEO Solutions.
Winner (ex-aequo): Self-Drilling Anchor from COBRA Anchors, Montreal
Winner (ex-aequo): SOPRA – XPS Insulating Panels from Soprema, Drummondville
LOYALTY AWARD recognizing years of service by an employee, in service for at least ten years, who has helped to build customer loyalty or build team spirit. Presented by Henkel (Lepage) and Federated Insurance.
Note: In this exceptional year all candidates have been honoured.
Retail employees (12):
Philippe Bovy, General Manager, Lowe’s Canada – L’entrepôt RONA Saint-Bruno, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville
Claude Bruneau, Expert Advisor – Materials, BMR Saint-Lin-Laurentide, Saint-Lin-Laurentide
Louis Carreau, Salesperson, Quincaillerie de l’EST, BMR Express, Montreal
Jean Louis Corbin, Clerk, DF Rouleau, Castle, Les Hauteurs
Ghislain Doré, Senior Sales Advisor, Roberge et fils, Home Hardware, La Sarre
Patrick Dumais, Director of Operations, Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac Renovation Center, Home Hardware, Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac
Serge Gervais, Manager, Uniag Cooperative, BMR Express, Sainte-Martine
Alain Grenier, Manager, Quincaillerie Parent, Home Hardware, Sherbrooke
Normand Laurendeau, Materials Manager, G.M. Fournier TIMBER MART, Huntingdon
Paul Legault, Senior Materials Buyer, Lortie et Martin, Castle, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
Dominic Parr, Senior Materials Advisor, L’Acadien Bricoleur Group, Home Hardware, Bécancour (arr. Saint-Grégoire)
Éric Vaillancourt, Matériaux Saint-Élie, TIMBER MART, Sherbrooke (arr. Saint-Élie-d’Orford)
Supplier employees (7):
Tony Arsenault, Representative, Jeld-Wen
Michel Beauchemin, Representative, Jeld-Wen
Sébastien Benoît, Director of Inside Sales & Trader, Taiga Building Products
Sylvain Bouchard, Director – Insulation division, Polyform Cellular Plastics
Bruno Di Rubbo, Senior Account Director, ACCEO Solutions
Sylvie Lefort, Director of Human Resources, Société Laurentide
Hélène Parent, Quebec & Maritimes Sales Director, A. Richard Tools
