50Th Special Notebook
“NOTHING IS LOST, NOTHING IS CREATED, EVERYTHING IS TRANSFORMED!” The motto of the Cascades family patriarch, Antonio Lemaire.
Antonio’s favourite items It’s already been 50 years! Dear Friends,
It seems like yesterday that we brought the old Dominion Paper innovative and high-quality products with dedicated Cascaders, I was a student when I joined Cascades, Co. mill back to life with help from the community of Kingsey Falls all the while respecting the communities around us, as well as collecting waste paper as a summer and the Caisses Desjardins. However, a great deal has happened the environment. job. At the time, the Company’s original since we decided to settle on the banks of the Nicolet River and management style and unique business launch the project of a lifetime. This souvenir booklet provides a colourful version of our extraordinary model was already a topic of study in story over the past 50 years. We hope that you enjoy it, and that it universities. The remarkable career At the time, we had little idea that our bold gamble would will help you learn more about our Company’s past. paths of Bernard, Laurent and Alain transform into a grand adventure that would stand the test of time Lemaire were already recognized and and take us all over North America and to parts of Europe. If there is one thing we are proud of, it is that our company is in held up as examples. good health and has a promising future. We hope that the past We owe this success to our business partners who believed in five decades have served to lay a solid foundation on which we Today, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate Cascades’ Cascades. We also owe it to the fact that we have remained true to will continue to build. 50th anniversary with them. Very few companies have stood the test of our values. For 50 years, we have been manufacturing sustainable, time as well as Cascades, particularly in our industry. Time passes but passion endures. Cascades’ economic, social and environmental success is in large part due to the Lemaires’ vision and determination. It took a lot of audacity to found a company based on sustainable development in 1964, well before the concept itself had come into being.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Cascades, we Bernard Lemaire Laurent Lemaire Alain Lemaire have a duty to remember: to revisit and celebrate our history and that of the Lemaire brothers. To fully understand where we are going, we must first know where we have been.
This souvenir booklet will help us do just that. Bernard, Laurent and Alain Lemaire are giants on the Québec business scene and in sustainable development, and we are their heirs. It falls upon us to continue building on this legacy and to carry Cascades into the future.
Join us as we celebrate our rich history, our remarkable men and women and our innovative and dynamic company. Let’s continue writing the next Long live Cascades! chapters of our unique history.
Mario Plourde President and Chief Executive Officer 960 1 The Lemaire family’s first experiences in recovery Before even creating Cascades, in Drummondville Bernadette the Lemaire family already knew a thing Lemaire, matriarch or two about green living. Although the 1950 1957 concept of sustainable development Number of employees The creation of Papier Cascade Paper Inc.; was still a long way off for Quebeckers, 25 Antonio, Bernard and Laurent revive They already shared a deep conviction: the Dominion Paper Co. Sales reusing, recovering and recycling $368,416 Bernard and were practices that could benefit the 1964 Laurent Lemaire environment and society. The story of Alain Lemaire, Papier Cascade, formerly Until 1967, the Cascades is, above all else, the story the youngest brother, a tenant, purchases the profit-sharing program of a family with deeply human values, joins the Company. old mill for... consisted of a turkey for each employee. a family of action guided by their Alain 560 000 $ forward-thinking views of the world 1967 Lemaire The birth of a 1950 TO sustainable vision 1969
The “union régionale des Caisses populaires Antonio Lemaire creates Desjardins” in Trois-Rivières approves a project On November 16, the Drummond presented by Bernard and Laurent to lease 1963, the first Pulp and Fibre, recovering the Kingsey Falls paper mill sample of paper is paper, iron and metal. 1963 with an option to purchase. produced. Major Creation of fire at the the Transport Excerpt from the Drummond division Company’s first business log Pulp and Fibre 1966 Number of employees CASCADES The people and the municipality of Kingsey Falls 43 CELEBRATES ITS pay tribute to Cascades for its important economic contribution to the region. Sales th The water tower 5 overlooked the town $964,797 ANNIVERSARY 1969 until the 70s. 1970 Creation of Cascades The Company’s sales reach Forma-Pak in Kingsey Falls, the first plant to produce $1,000,000 moulded pulp made from 1970 1971 100 % recycled fibre During the 1970s, Cascades Creation of Emballages Cascades Inc. Number of employees CASCADES following the acquisition of launched its first wave of expansion 165 CELEBRATES ITS the first corrugated cardboard mill in Québec. The Company’s activities from J.M. Caya in Victoriaville Sales th expanded into moulded pulp, 10 $7.2 MILLION ANNIVERSARY plastics, corrugated cardboard, 1974 containerboard and tissue paper. The founders stayed true to their The Company enters into a 50/50 joint venture vision, ensuring that the maximum with Wyant to create its first tissue mill. amount of recycled materials was used in their products. 1977 Expanding Our 1970 TO Know-How 1979
Partnership with Canadian Johns The start of activities for the Manville and creation of the Plastiques division, which becomes Papier Kingsey Falls mill Plastiques Cascades in 1983 1972 HAPPY Start-up of the Papier Antonio Lemaire hands RETIREMENT Cascades Cabano Inc. over Drummond Pulp and ANTONIO! containerboard mill Paper to his sons. It’s the birth of Récupération Plan drawn by Cascades Inc. 1976 Bernard Lemaire
Establishment of the first Creation René Lévesque, Agreement with the provincial Conversion Group plant of Etcan Premier of Québec, government to manage the Lupel in Kingsey Falls International visits the Forma-Pak mill. company in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, 1978 1979 which was purchased in 1986 1980 Acquisition of Canadian Gypsum, an insulation panel plant in Louiseville, which will become La Tribune, October 23 Matériaux Cascades
Cascades has wind in its sails. The company has mastered the art of 1980 acquiring ailing paper mills and equipment Acquisition of Les Innovations Réal Lemaire Inc., which will become The first internal Papier Cascades and turning them around. The 1980s are Plastichange International, and later newspaper becomes Cascades Inc. eventful for Cascades, as it enters the Cascades Inopak is distributed. and launches one million shares United States and Europe, becomes a on the market. publicly traded company, and pushes the 1982 limits of innovation with the creation of Acquisition of the pulp and Emballages Cascades the Research and Development Centre. cardboard mill built in the produces 255 000 benches Driven by daring and strength, 1800s in East Angus for the Pope’s visit to Québec. Association with the Corporation experiences Terplant Inc. a period of uninterrupted growth. 1983 A DECADE OF 1980 TO UNINTERRUPTED GROWTH 1983
Creation of the Services The Plastiques division expands thanks et Achats division to Indusfoam Canada, which becomes Cascades Sentinel in 1986 and 1981 Sealed-Air in 1991. Acquisition of its first Cascades Inc. is listed on the helicopter and creation Montréal Stock Exchange. of Air Cascades 1983 Number of employees Expansion into Cascades CASCADES the United States makes the 1,700 CELEBRATES ITS with the acquisition of tissue headlines in Sales paper shares in North Carolina Commerce. (Cascades Industries) $180 MILLION anniversaRY 1984... 980 1Désencrage Cascades Cascades P.S.H. Acquisition Cascades wins purchases a de-inking was founded. of a boxboard a Mercuriades award plant in Breakeyville. plant in for Company of Jonquière the Year in Québec. ...1984 1985
Recovery of the Port-Cartier plant Acquisition of Acquisition of a Acquisition of a Joliette plant, in collaboration with crown boxboard assets moulded pulp plant producer of roofing felt and corporation Rexford in Blendecques, in North Carolina and insulating paper for the France creation of Cascades automotive industry, a subsidiary 1986 Moulded Pulp Inc. of Papier Kingsey Falls Number of employees CASCADES Acquisition of a boxboard plant 3,700 CELEBRATES ITS in Sweden and incorporation of Cascades Duffel in Belgium Sales $589 MILLION anniversaRY 1989 1984 TO 1989
Creation of the Expansion into Europe Research and with the acquisition Development of a boxboard plant in Centre La Rochette
Creation of Cascades Acquisition of a boxboard Acquisition of a Avot-Vallée S.A. plant in Toronto containerboard plant in France in New York State and creation of Cascades 1987 Niagara Falls Inc.
Acquisition of the Reid Creation of Creation of Cascades Creation of Dominion Packaging the Environment Re-Plast Inc., a recycled Cascades Diamond Moulded Pulp division Department plastics plant in Massachusetts 1990 Start-up of Cascades Énergie Purchase of assets in Inc., the first cogeneration plant Cascades Agri-Pak, A new decade begins, markets are in Kingsey Falls a New York State company exploding: Competition is global. Cascades continues to vigorously 1990 explore acquisition and strategic Incorporation Creation of Emballages Creation of Cascades investment opportunities in the industry. of Cascades Cascades in Multi-Pro It acquires a string of new units that Cartech Inc. Drummondville, Vaudreuil and will fundamentally change its makeup Montréal (P.A.T.) through increased diversification. 1992 Cascades embraces this new direction Number of employees The first edition of the book of CASCADES with the same objective that has driven values is written and shared with 7,244 CELEBRATES ITS it since the beginning: to maximize the more than 7,000 Cascaders. Sales efficient use of natural resources and $1.6 BILLION anniversaRY protect the environment. 1993 EN ROUTE TO 1990 TO diversification 1995
Partnership with Cascades P.S.H. acquires Acquisition of the corrugated Memorandum of Understanding Roynat for the Cascades Dismed and an packaging plant, Newfoundland signed with Donohue and Industries acquisition of American plant that manufactures Containers Limited James McClaren Inc. for the construction Techno Caoutchouc disposable incontinence briefs, and operation of a de-inking plant Cascades H.B.A. Inc. 1991 in Cap-de-la-Madeleine The Rolland family sells its shares of the Rolland paper Start-up of Paperboard Acquisition of Somerville Creation of Bernard Lemaire company to International Inc., making the Packaging in Mississauga, Cascades passes the Presidency Cascades. Company the leading producer Scarborough and Cobourg Sonoco in the to his brother, Laurent. of boxboard in Canada United States
Cascades announces the repurchase Plant Bédard Cascades, a Participation in Acquisition of a Creation of the Transit of the Wyant acquisition roofing felt producer, Converdis Inc. honeycomb division in Montréal company’s shares. in Tartas, France is created in paperboard plant, partnership with Cascades Enviropac 1994 the Bédard Group. 1995 ... 1990 Acquisition of Perkins Papers Ltd. Beginning of Reverse takeover of Boralex, Partnership between which owns the Candiac, Lachute Plastiques one of the largest private Cascades Boxboard and the and Laval mills Cabano producers of electricity Scierie P.H. Lemay in Québec ...1995 1996 Acquisition of the American company Start-up of the Rolland Establishment of a Auburn Fiber (de-inked pulp) Conversion and boxboard plant in in Maine Distribution Centre England and in St-Jérôme opening of a sales 1998 office in Italy Cascades Engineering Implantation of a plastics Creation of Cascades and Projects is born. plant in Missouri: Sainte-Marie in Cascades Plastics Inc. Boissy-le-Châtel in France 1999 1995 TO 1999
CASCADES = DOMTAR Creation of Start of Acquisition Acquisition of 26 Cascades Energy investments of Cascades Papiers Provincial Inc. Birth of 4 3 Action Group in Dopaco Arnsberg in Thunder Bay Norampac Inc. in partnership Manufacturing Units with Domtar 5 14 1997 Converting Units Number of employees Creation of FjordCell, CASCADES a kraft pulp mill 11,805 CELEBRATES ITS in Jonquière Sales
$2.5 BILLION anniversary
AT THE START OF THE NEW MILLENIUM Cascades redesigns its THE FIRST LOGO Logo in the 1970s Logo in the 1980s corporate image. 2000 Cascades privatizes its three public Acquisition of the subsidiaries, Industries Paperboard It is an era of consolidation in the Wyant Corporation International Inc., Rolland Inc. and industry, and the competition is fierce. Perkins Papers Ltd to form one single public entity: Cascades Inc. As the Canadian dollar climbs to new 2000 heights, it is matched by the price of fibre Laurent Lemaire passes and energy. Cascades is determined to the Presidency to strengthen its position in these most his brother, Alain. promising sectors: packaging and tissue paper. The strategy is successful, but it 2003 requires a major restructuring plan Start-up of a tissue Inauguration Inauguration of the paper mill in Memphis, of the that leads to several plant closures. Bernard-Lemaire Tennessee Laurent-Lemaire Cascades continues to distinguish itself park in Kingsey Falls Information Technology Centre with ever more environmentally friendly in Kingsey Falls and innovative products. 2004 INNOVATION THROUGH 2000 TO COOPERATION 2007
Opening of boxboard sales Acquisition of the Plainwell Founding of Purchase of assets offices in Hungary, Poland, tissue paper plants in Norampac – Vaughan in the American Tissue the Czech Republic Wisconsin and Pennsylvania Corporation and Hong Kong 2001 2002 Number of employees Cascades Cascades CASCADES Acquisition of establishes refinances 15,423 CELEBRATES ITS the remaining 50% a new its debt. of the Dopaco shares Sales environmental mission. $3.5 BILLION anniversary 2004 Cascades is named one of Cascades takes The Alain-Lemaire Skills Canada’s Top 100 Employers full ownership of Development Centre celebrates for the third year in a row. Norampac. its tenth anniversary. 2005 2006 2007 2008 TO 2014
2000 Cascades sponsored athlete Creation of Cascades S.A. merges its Number of employees Alexandre Bilodeau wins the Boutique European boxboard operations with CASCADES the gold medal in freestyle skiing Cascades Reno de Medici S.P.A. 12,529 CELEBRATES ITS at the Vancouver Olympic games. Sales $4 BILLION 2008 anniversary 2009 2010 Cascades Acquisition of Alain Lemaire receives the Cascades is named sells Dopaco the remaining 50% first Green CEO Award in the “Business of the Year” for to Reynolds. shares of Papersource Corporate category. a second time since its creation at the prestigious 2011 2012 Mercuriades contest. Alain Lemaire is named Alain Lemaire hands over the Start-up of the Greenpac Mill LLC, “Greenest CEO in Canada”. Presidency to Mario Plourde. in partnership with the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Jamestown 2013 Container et Containerboard Partners This souvenir booklet provides a colourful version of the major milestones in the history of Cascades. We have presented a selection of events representative of the company’s history. Of course, it would have been impossible to include all of the significant moments experienced by each unit. Let’s hope that the festivities taking place across North America and in Europe will provide an opportunity to relive each of these precious moments.
We wish you a happy 50th anniversary! “NOTHING IS LOST, NOTHING IS CREATED, EVERYTHING IS TRANSFORMED!”
Cascades celebrates Production: Cascades Communications Department
half a century of history + + Printed on Rolland Enviro100 Satin. 12,000 100 $3.9 Billion This paper contains 100% post-consumer fibre, women and men production units in in Sales is FSC® and EcoLogo certified and is made North America and Europe using local and renewable biogas energy.
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