Pomerleau named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers
Culture
All families have their traditions and the Pomerleau’s are no exception. For us, sugaring off time is sacred! For the past fifty years, this time of year has been an occasion to celebrate with our loved ones, our employees, our customers and our partners.
At a time when Canadians who are usually a tightly-knit people, must distance themselves from one another to protect each other’s health, I wanted to tell you the story behind this unifying tradition that continues to this day.
Once upon a time…
It was here, in the Beauce region of Quebec, that it all started. Believe me, it is no coincidence that this region, where Pomerleau still has its head office, is also called the “Land of the Maple”: approximately 20% of the world’s production of maple syrup is produced there!
Hervé, my father having grown up on a sugar bush, bought one in 1975. Growing maples and producing maple syrup became his true hobby. He enjoyed being on his land, tapping his trees and harvesting their sap with family and friends before making his delicious syrup.
As time went on, he began to offer his syrup to his customers and partners when he visited them on construction sites. It was his way of thanking them. And every spring, all Pomerleau employees were invited to the family sugar bush in Beauce. I have very fond memories of these shared moments.
My brother and I have continued this tradition with the help of the Erabeauce maple sugar bush and, over the years, the famous “Pomerleau syrup” has become synonymous with coming together and a way to share meaningful corporate messages.
A story of the heart
At this moment, the 2020 vintage of our syrup is being delivered. This vintage embodies Love with a capital L. The love that carries us through the most difficult times, like those we have gone through together during the past few months
The love we have for people and for our communities. But also, the love we have for our jobs, for innovative ideas and our passion to help make them come true.
Love and family have been at the heart of our culture at Pomerleau for decades, but this year, these values have taken on a heightened meaning and have given us the strength to stand together in the face of the unexpected.
I wonder if, fifty years ago, when my father Hervé distributed his cans of syrup, he could have foreseen that his gesture would help build the unifying culture that drives our business today. Sometimes it truly is the little things that have the biggest impact.
With over 31,000 liters of syrup delivered over the years, I can assure you that the tradition is more alive than ever and goes far beyond a simple bottle of syrup.
It is a symbol of our attachment to our history, but also a reminder of how far we have come, even in the face of adversity...
