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Who are we?

48e Nord International is a passionate, committed team ready to help companies achieve their goals through sustainable business development. It serves Quebec companies in the mining industry and all companies in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

 

– Did you know? We are part of the Quebec Orpex network.

POSI
TION
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Com
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Ex
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Mission

CATALYZE DEVELOPMENT

48e Nord International is a catalyst for business development that helps companies achieve their goals. It collaborates with companies to develop innovative ways to improve their positioning, commercialization, and exports by:

  • Leading companies through a supportive business development process
  • Creating pathways to develop entrepreneurs’ core skills
  • Equipping companies with critical tools and information about domestic and foreign markets
  • Facilitating direct collaboration with private companies, economic stakeholders, and government partners to help companies grow successfully as they develop their business domestically and internationally

Col
labo
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Bold
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Au
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VALUES

What defines us

We support your company through COLLABORATION. We become your teammates, joining your ranks to understand your concerns and help you achieve your goals through co-creation and co-development. That collaboration doesn’t just apply to participating companies, either—it also applies to our partners, our stakeholders, and our own team. In other words, it’s interconnected teamwork.

Everything we do is marked by the BOLDNESS of our ideas, our actions, and our aims. We are bold enough to reach new heights.

Thanks to our AUTHENTICITY in every interaction, in every relationship, and at every level of our organization, we foster strong, fruitful discussions to help you define your needs and achieve your goals.

The partnership between 48e Nord International and Optis began with the launch of the Mine verte et connectée [Green and Connected Mines] initiative. As part of the program’s first group, we were able to benefit from coaching that helped us develop our network, commercialize our services, and connect with major mining companies.

François Bolduc-Teasdale, CEO, OPTIS

We participated in the ReActor48 program while receiving consulting services to help orient Mécanicad’s export strategy. We were extremely impressed by 48e Nord International’s methodology, approach, and hard work, as well as their support as we developed our Western Canada market.

Jocelyn Lacroix, Mécanicad

Do you run a business in Quebec’s mining industry? What about a business in Abitibi-Témiscamingue?

You’re in the right place!

We’re here to help you:

  • Capitalize on business opportunities to enter new markets
  • Enhance your skills through strong development programs
  • Access commercialization and export consultants
  • Complete exploratory and trade missions, both domestically and abroad
  • Connect with a prime network of contacts and experts around the world

Learn more about our services

A TOP TEAM!

Valérie Lemay

Executive Director

Valérie Lemay is a graduate of the University of Ottawa in communication and holds a master’s degree in sociology from the Université de Québec à Montréal. She has nearly 20 years of experience in communication, having worked in regional development and collaboration as a professional and consultant in marketing and communications.

  • Great ease in outreach, promotion, brand images and business development.
  • The growth of Abitibi-Témiscamingue is important to her.
  • Very good ability to mobilize, lead and work in consultation with partners.
  • Coming from sociology, she adapts her ideas, her strategies in respect of the reality and culture of the territories.
  • Expertise in labour attraction at the national and international level.

Olivier Bilodeau

Logistics and Research Support Advisor

Olivier Bilodeau graduated from the Institut Maritime de Québec à Rimouski in 2013 with a degree in transport logistics.

  • His skills include international trade, mapping, and analytics.
  • With 48e Nord since 2012.
  • Bilingual (French and English).
  • Extensive knowledge of the organization and its activities.
  • Uses his technical knowledge to support companies with their operational export challenges, such as logistics and transport, and departments within a company (marketing, HR, legal, negotiation, accounting, storage, transport).

Charline Lessard-Desrochers

Commercialization and Special Projects Advisor

Charline Lessard-Desrochers holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the Université de Montréal. She is currently specializing in administration at the Université de Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

  • Passionate about international relations and specialized in conflict management—economics, strategy, and macromanagement.
  • Meticulous researcher with a particular talent for providing accurate, relevant information to guide Québec companies’ strategies on foreign markets.
  • Goal: help local businesses shine far beyond Québec’s borders.
  • She was the University of Montreal’s ambassador for new students, project management, events, and communication.

Priscilla Ventura

Communication and Events Coordinator

Priscilla Ventura has a degree in event project management and marketing. She is currently specializing in business management at HEC Montréal.

  • Passionate about communication and branding!
  • Work in the field of events for nearly 8 years.
  • Excels in planning, organizing and managing projects.
  • Great adaptability and very good sense of initiative which is reflected in problem solving.

Raphaël Piché

Commercialization and Export Advisor

Holds a bachelor's degree in administration and an accounting and management technique, and has experience in business consulting, innovation, and project management.

  • Has a good knowledge of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
  • Passionate about business development and the regional economy.
  • Fervent defender of structured approaches such as design thinking, continuous improvement, and others.
  • An empathetic person who listens to the needs of entrepreneurs.

COLLABORATORS

JEAN-CHRISTOPHE GAREAU

Digital Transformation Advisor in the Mining Sector

Holding a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in industrial engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal and with nearly 10 years of experience in project management, he has accumulated extensive experience in the mining sector. He has worked in innovation, technology project management and artificial intelligence.

  • Extensive knowledge of mining and construction.
  • Excellent analytical skills to clearly identify priorities.
  • Emphasizes the human aspect.
  • Systemic approach to take into account all the factors of a problem.
  • Curious about new technologies and the field of artificial intelligence.

Francesca Rios

Marketing Strategist

Graduated in International Studies and Languages from the University of Ottawa, specialized in Marketing, and then in Sustainable Development from MIT, Francesca has deep expertise in business strategies. Quadrilingual, she excels in supporting companies in their international endeavors. She has worked as a marketing consultant and as a project manager in the mining sector.

  • Rigorous and committed, she excels in planning and executing structured business processes.
  • Passionate about the mining sector, she actively collaborates with suppliers and companies in the industry.
  • With sharp analytical and synthesis skills, she emphasizes business intelligence essential for decision-making that leads to action.
  • With infinite curiosity, she enjoys research and writing strategic reports.

    WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

    Send us your spontaneous application!

    OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    DANIEL MISIANO

    Chairman of the Board of Directors
    • President, MBI Global.
    • More than 30 years of experience in mining exploration, having climbed the ranks of several manufacturing and distribution companies through international mandates.

    ÉRIC BEAUPRÉ

    Vice President
    • I have been on the board of 48th North for 7 years. The development of businesses in our region, regardless of their field of activity, is close to my heart.
    • CEO of the Technosub Group since 2015, a company specializing in industrial and mining pumping and dewatering in North America with its head office in Rouyn-Noranda, 8 branches in Canada and 2 divisions in the USA.
    • My know-how is particularly focused on the management of organizations, strategic planning, marketing and business development in Canada and internationally.

    GUILLAUME MARQUIS

    Secretary
    • Former President of Métal Marquis Inc.
    • Extensive experience designing and completing multiple projects in the industrial, mining, forestry, and hydroelectric fields.

    KIM VALADE

    Treasurer
    • General Manager, Meglab.
    • As the general manager, Kim Valade has many responsibilities within Meglab. Among others, she leads the sales department and supervises process standardization.

    Me PIERRE MATTE

    Administrator
    • Lawyer, shareholder (owner) and president of Cliche Avocats from 2006 to 2022.
    • Practices business law, in particular banking law, transactional law and corporate law.
    • Since April 2022, Pierre has been Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs at L. Fournier et Fils inc. and its affiliates.

    LINE DARVEAU RIVARD

    Administrator
    • Executive Director, Desjardins Business Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec.
    • She has extensive experience in financial analysis, business support, and business financing in various sectors. She puts that experience to good use with her entire team.

    FRANÇOIS BOLDUC TEASDALE

    Administrator

    Passionate about technological development and committed to innovation, François holds a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Université de Sherbrooke. Throughout his academic and professional career, François has reflected on the development of new technologies applicable to the aeronautics, mining and industrial sectors. His work led him to found a company that operates across these business sectors, with the goal of creating winning collaborations and sustainable innovations. It is with this motivation that he joined our Board of Directors as a representative of companies in the mining sector outside Abitibi-Témiscamingue. François is determined to work in concert with the actors of our economic ecosystem in order to make them shine on the international level.

    Christel Groux

    Administrator

    Born in Switzerland and coming from a family of breeders for more than 5 generations, I started my career as a lawyer. Quickly, I realized that it was not my cup of tea: agriculture was calling me. It was at the UPA federation of Abitibi-Témiscamingue that I put my energies at the service of agricultural producers for more than 8 years. I then took over the management of the now defunct niche of excellence in beef production. All these years have given me a wealth of knowledge and contacts. Convinced of the immense potential of the region, I embarked with optimism on the great adventure of processing and marketing meat to promote the products of the farm and the region. It is therefore as co-owner of the Farm and the Butchery of Les Praz that I have been developing his businesses for more than 5 years.

    Nancy Boucher

    Administrator
    • Nancy obtained her bachelor’s degree in health education from Laval University in 1994, followed by a master’s degree in mobility and posture in 1997.
    • She became co-owner of Café Bistro Van Houtte in Rouyn-Noranda.
    • Currently, she serves as the Managing Director, Co-Owner, and Co-Founder of Squizz Distributions since 2017.
    • She founded the AÉROFORME Fitness Center in 1994 and taught fitness classes there for 28 years.
    • She is also co-owner of a residential and commercial property management company in Rouyn-Noranda since 2008.

    LATEST ANNUAL REPORTS

    Our partners

    • Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec
    • Quebec
    • Desjardins
    • Investissement Québec International
    • MISA
    • Commerce International Québec