“The people of Montreal do not have the image of the Saguenay that I would like them to have. We are no longer a village. What I want to highlight is that there is diversity. I come from diversity and do business here as much as in Montreal, ”says the preamble entrepreneur.
He reiterates that anyone from diversity can now have a chance to succeed in the region. It is important for him to show this fact to the rest of the province and he wants to use his history to demonstrate it.
“I grew up in Saguenay and, when I was at school, the teacher had made me rise so that the others touch my hair. This is no longer it today. But despite all the challenges I have experienced, it is possible to go into business and make the region shine. »»
His dream being to become a police officer, his journey first led him to stop in Montreal to exercise this career there. He wanted to show the beautiful sides of diversity, hoping to become director of the police of the metropolis, by highlighting his African and Jonquiéroes origins. According to him, everything is possible, regardless of the origins, whether it is continent, culture, sex, orientation or physical aptitude, among others.
Construction
The role of policeman affecting his mental health, Mr. Gaudreault finally changed track, taking the path of entrepreneurship. He started by picking up debris. Little by little, these are construction debris that he began to pick up. He then obtained his licenses to become a specialized entrepreneur.
Thereafter, it was the roof that caught his gaze and it was there that Demco was born. After positioning himself as an important black actor in the field of construction on the island of Montreal and the surrounding area, an environment which he says to be still underrepresented for these individuals, he wanted to put his other community of the front, that of the region.
He therefore called a friend in the region, Samuel Leblond, to launch a construction company in Jonquière. It is from this union that LSCO Construction was born. Mathieu Gaudreault was able to put his entrepreneurial knowledge of Montreal at work to develop a company on solid bases in the region of his youth.
Presence in the region
The presence in the region remains very important for Mr. Gaudreault, since he often comes to take news from his family. The involvement for organizations in the region is also notable; LSCO, for example, organized a draw for the benefit of the SPCA in Jonquière. The entrepreneur mainly takes care of the administrative component.
“We are present both on construction sites and socially in the region. It is anchored in my values and those of Samuel, since we are proud of our region, ”he lets know.
For him, having a foot in Montreal is a significant advantage. The new features often arrive through the metropolis and its experience with an overflowing market allows it to distinguish itself once in Saguenay. Many opportunities on the island also allow it to publicize the region across the country and the world.
Proud of its regional, but also African roots, his eyes are now turning to Rwanda. He wants to organize a company in his country of birth to still show the pride with which he has his origins. This is a project for the moment, but he assures that he will realize. He believes that the path between Montreal and Rwanda is not more frightening than the Saguenay-Montréal path.
“I want to give back to life, both for my Saguenay community and those Rwandan and Montreal. I believe that fundamentally, in my entrepreneurial journey, the real wealth is to restore all the achievements, all the knowledge and learning to his community, ”says the founder of Demco Canada.
This is how he describes the mission he has given himself, in addition to being an ambassador of the talent which is in the regions and in diversity.
AFROPRATOR GALA
Having registered in a competition to win a prize for a regional company owned or coded by an entrepreneur from the Black Community, the Gala Afropreneur, Mathieu Gaudreault deplores the fact of never heard of this kind of competition while he was in Saguenay. He wishes to make this competition known to allow others of the black community to build a solid contact network to help them in their businesses.
He wants to win this gala to show what is possible for entrepreneurs in the region, so that they understand that what seems impossible is accessible. He thus wants to make the region shine and inspire the community to do the same.
If he wins the prize, Mr. Gaudreault wants everyone to benefit from this trophy. He wants to bring her to Jonquière to make a common good, accessible to everyone. Its wish is that the population understands that minorities can also be proud of their region, while inspiring people to embark on their projects.
He stresses that working in a profession that is aligned with your mission is the best way to succeed and feel accomplished.
Its advice for colored entrepreneurs in the region is that they have to extend their network of contacts. Networking is the key to success. “Don’t be afraid to contact people!” Approach your inspirations, there is no entrepreneur who will laugh from another who embarks on business. Ask for advice. »»
