ABRAM-VILLAGE – April 11, 2021 – After a 13-month delay due to pandemic reasons, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI (CCAFLIPE) was finally able to induct 19 business people – all pillars of regional and provincial economic development – into its new PEI Acadian and Francophone Business Hall of Fame this weekend in Abram-Village.
The names of the first 17 people to be inducted, on Saturday, April 10, were announced well in advance; they were all past winners of CCAFLIPE’s provincial Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards or RDÉE Canada’s national Lauriers de la PME awards. The last two inductees were announced during the Entrepreneurs’ Gala on Sunday, April 11.
« When I look at this list of inductees today, I see true business and community heroes. I see mentors and people who were or still are willing to give a lot of their time and a lot of their money to support young entrepreneurs and a wide range of causes in their community and province, » said Pierre Gallant, spokesperson for the Chamber, in his opening remarks before some 60 people Saturday.
« I also see some legendary entrepreneurs to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude. They are the ones who paved the way for today’s entrepreneurs. They are the ones who established the great reputation for hard work that we, as Acadians and Francophones, continue to enjoy today. They are the ones who earned us the reputation of delivering excellent customer service and of being entrepreneurs who always give more than expected. They are the ones who taught us how to treat every customer who walks through our doors very well. »
« As heirs to these wonderful qualities, we, the younger entrepreneurs, have a responsibility to always maintain them as a sign of appreciation and respect for these giants of the entrepreneurial world. We also have a responsibility to pass them on to the next generation, » added Gallant. « Yes, we are very proud to be able to honor all of these fine people on a wall in Wellington, but the best way to honor them is to use and take full advantage of the many lessons they have taught us. »
PERMANENT RECOGNITION
All inductees are now permanently recognized. Each inductee’s photo is engraved on an individual plaque mounted on the wall of the Hall of Fame, located in the J. Leonce Bernard Board Room in Wellington. Évangéline-Central Credit Union is a permanent sponsor of the Hall and the annual Hall Award.
Several of the inductees, having passed away, were represented at the ceremony by family members or friends. Each accepted a framed certificate with the Hall logo and a picture of their plaque.
The induction ceremony was co-hosted by Martin Marcoux, the former CCAFLIPE spokesperson who had suggested the idea of the Hall of Fame, and Raymond J. Arsenault, the CCAFLIPE activities coordinator who also coordinated the ceremony and the preparation of the wall.
Referring to the inductees, Marcoux noted, « We have seen them work in their respective trades for decades and we have especially seen and enjoyed the fruits of their labors. » And while they had all won awards before, « we wanted to find a way to recognize those accomplishments on a permanent basis. »
The Hall’s logo, painted in the colors of the Acadian flag, « represents a fountain gushing with water – thus a source of inspiration and life. We see the inductees as continuing to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, » Arsenault added in his introductory remarks at the ceremony.
A short video that was produced about the Hall of Fame was also shown.
The inductees were:
2004 – René Maddix, Maddix Construction, Urbainville (deceased)
2004 – Alphonse Arsenault, Wellington Construction, Abram-Village (deceased)
2005 – Adélard Gallant, fisherman/lobbyist/volunteer, Cape Egmont (deceased)
2006 – Frank Legault, PEI Pest Control, Charlottetown
2008 – Tilmon Arsenault, Cape Egmont Enterprises (deceased)
2008 – Léo S. Arsenault, Lane Farm, Abram-Village (deceased)
2010 – Ivan Arsenault, Ivan’s Garage, Wellington
2011 – Richard Bernard, Eye Care Optical, Summerside (deceased)
2012 – Alyre Arsenault, AJL Contractors Ltd, St. Philippe (deceased)
2013 – Réjeanne Arsenault, Les Maisons de bouteilles, Cape Egmont
2014 – Henri and Gloria Gallant, HMS Office Supplies, Summerside
2015 – Julien Arsenault, Sanford-Arsenault Farm, Mont-Carmel
2016 – Italo Marzari, Sirenella Ristorante, Charlottetown
2017 – Roger Arsenault, The Co-operators, Wellington
2018 – Jeannette Arsenault, Cavendish Figurines/Shop & Play, Borden-Carleton
2019 – Ray Brow, Britannia Corporation/Überloo International, Georgetown Royalty
2021 – Marcel and Gérard Arsenault – Deva Forestry/The Branch Manager
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PHOTO OF ALL INDUCTEES : Following the PEI Acadian and Francophone Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony, pictured in the front row, from left, are Gilles Arsenault (accepting for his late father Léo Arsenault), Irene Arsenault (for her late husband Tilmon Arsenault), Rita Bernard (for her late husband Richard Bernard), Alvina Arsenault (for her husband Julien Arsenault), Roger Arsenault, Ivan Arsenault, Jason Maddix (for his late grandfather René Maddix) and Florence Arsenault-Gillis (for her late husband Alphonse Arsenault). In the second row are Alfred Arsenault, representing the Hall of Fame’s permanent sponsor, Évangéline-Central Credit Union (and accepting for Ray Brow), Jeannette Arsenault, Bonnie Gallant (for Réjeanne Arsenault), Henri Gallant (representing himself and his wife Gloria), Ben Legault (for his father Frank Legault), Italo Marzari, Stephen Arsenault (for his late father Alyre Arsenault), Roger Gallant (for his late father Adélard Gallant) and Pierre Gallant, spokesperson for the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI.
PHOTO SMALL GROUP 1: Among the inductees at the April 10 ceremony were, from left, Gilles Arsenault (accepting for his late father Léo Arsenault) and Irène Arsenault (for her late husband Tilmon Arsenault). In the back row are Alfred Arsenault, representing the Hall of Fame’s permanent sponsor, Évangéline-Central Credit Union (and for Ray Brow), Jeannette Arsenault and Bonnie Gallant (for Réjeanne Arsenault).
PHOTO SMALL GROUP 2: Shown fter the induction ceremony, seated from left, are Rita Bernard (accepting for her late husband Richard Bernard), Alvina Arsenault (for her husband Julien Arsenault) and Roger Arsenault. Standing are Henri Gallant (representing himself and his wife Gloria), Ben Legault (for his father Frank Legault) and Italo Marzari.
PHOTO SMALL GROUP 3: At the end of the Business Hall of Fame formalities, shown in the front row, from left, are Ivan Arsenault, Jason Maddix (for his late grandfather René Maddix) and Florence Arsenault-Gillis (for her late husband Alphonse Arsenault). In the second row, are Stephen Arsenault (for his late father Alyre Arsenault), Roger Gallant (for his late father Adélard Gallant) and Pierre Gallant, CCAFLIPE spokesperson.
For more information, please contact
Raymond J. Arsenault
Activities Coordinator
Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI
raymond@rdeeipe.org