Every week, columnist and journalist Karine Gagnon invites you to a major interview with a notable personality from the Capitale-Nationale.
A go-getter, Marie-Josée Morency, president and general director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Greater Lévis for five years, always has been. As federal, provincial and municipal elections approach, her name is circulating a lot, and she is not closing any doors.
“People talk to me about it often, even for five years, and for the municipal sector it’s more recent […] and it’s flattering […] I never close doors as long as I have the wind at my back and I can contribute to the development of my city, my region,” said the woman who presented herself as a candidate in Chicoutimi for the PLQ of Philippe Couillard. It was during the 2018 election, marked by a CAQ tidal wave.
Very happy in her current position, the CEO however says no “for the moment”. I have the impression that we won’t stop there. File to follow.
Proud adopted
In any case, arriving in Lévis in 2019, Marie-Josée Morency feels “like a proud adoptee” of the place, to which she has become very attached.
Born in Quebec, she studied at Laval University in communications and public relations. If she chose this field of study, nothing predestined her to it. Rather shy, she dreamed of being a psychologist.
“When I was a teenager, a young woman, I was very interested in people. A network, for me, is super important. On the other hand, I didn’t like studying very much so I couldn’t get into psychology.”
She never regretted her second choice, since she discovered herself in this field.
Business bump
Employed at a gas station during her university studies, she enjoyed doing accounting on a voluntary basis, in order to better understand how it worked. Then, shortly before the end of her baccalaureate, her boss encouraged her to take over.
She therefore embarked on the entrepreneurial adventure, supported by her father. Business skyrocketed, thanks to the contact she established with her customers.
After a year, she bought a second gas station and won several awards for her performance.
Two decades in Saguenay
At 28, meeting her current husband led her to move to Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, where he is from. The couple took the opportunity to start a family. After the birth of their second child, Marie-Josée Morency launched into full-time volunteering.
She was notably involved on the board of directors of the Association québécoise de la fibrose cystique. “My boyfriend and I were both carriers and we had two healthy children, so I needed to give back,” she explains.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
She then worked for the Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec (APCHQ) in the region and at Promotion Saguenay, as a commercial delegate.
She then made the jump as spokesperson and general director of the Saguenay-Le Fjord Chamber of Commerce and Industry, resulting from the merger of three chambers. She remained there for seven years.
Leap into politics
Then the family decided to return to Quebec, a wish expressed by the grown-up children. During the transition, Marie-Josée Morency, however, announced to her partner that she intended to run for politics in Saguenay, for the PLQ.
The woman of action wanted to get involved in another way for the community.
The race was won by Andrée Laforest, who became CAQ minister. “I’m not a debate girl and I was always the one attacked in every forum. I found it hard. I grew again, I learned, but the “after” was difficult.”
After a few months of rebuilding herself after the defeat, she wanted to try her luck at the Lévis Chamber of Commerce. For the first time in her life, she had to create a CV. She was chosen to lead this chamber, founded 152 years ago and which has 1,200 members.
“And I have no regrets […] As soon as I arrived in Lévis, I felt the openness, the welcome […] I fell in love at first sight […] I said to myself: I’m going to have fun here.”
The development of the territory impressed her. Given this growth, she believes that there is still a lot to do, particularly in relation to mobility and transport.
As for tourism, as Quebec is so attractive, Lévis is struggling to find its rightful place, despite the City’s efforts. “We need to exploit our shore more, as was done on the Quebec side,” she believes.
Homelessness is also starting to be talked about on the South Shore, in Old Lévis and in Saint-Romuald. Its members are concerned.
Rewarding appointment
Very recently, Marie-Josée Morency was named honorary lieutenant-colonel by the commander of the Régiment de la Chaudière. One more string to his bow. It will thus be able to create a link between the Canadian armed forces, the business community and citizens.
Last June, she attended the ceremonies in Normandy marking the 80the anniversary of the landing. She came back upset and touched. “Quebecers are still welcomed there today as heroes. It’s fascinating, we forget the impact we had.”
Not to be missed, Wednesday evening at 8:30 p.m. on MAtv (channel 9 (Hélix et illico), 609HD (illico)), the show Karine’s Notebook about Marie-Josée Morency.
