Even if English has been present in his life since birth, for the former boss of La Maison Simons, Peter Simons, it is important that companies do business in Quebec in the language of Molière and that managers are in able to express themselves in French.
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On Wednesday, Mr. Simons was in front of the business community of Quebec, on the occasion of an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Quebec.
Twenty-four hours earlier, the businessman announced that he was handing over the reins of La Maison Simons to Bernard Leblanc, the new president and chief executive officer. Mr. Simons now holds the position of Chief Merchant.
Asked by The newspaper on the importance of having a president who speaks French at the head of one of the oldest companies in the country, Mr. Simons is of the opinion that a CEO of a local company, even if he is Anglophone, should be able to speak French, among other things with his workers.
“Honestly, we love the French language. Me, I love living in Quebec in French. Being bilingual is a privilege. […] Everything works with us in French,” he said.
“To operate in Quebec, in Quebec, in French, yes I want to. I care regarding the language. Obviously, we live on a continent that is predominantly English-speaking,” he added.
Mr. Simons grew up in an English-speaking environment. Her grandmother was Irish; she came to settle in Canada in 1900. Even if English has always been present at home, the businessman confides that he raised his children mainly in the language of Molière.
“It is a privilege to have rubbed shoulders with both cultures. I consider it made me a better manager and a better person. It made me see my grandmother’s weaknesses and her strengths,” Simons said.
It should be recalled that, in recent months, the CEO of Air Canada, Michael Rousseau, that of SNC-Lavalin, Ian Edwards, that of the Laurentian Bank, Rania Llewellyn, and the CEO of Alimentation Couche-Tard, Brian Hannasch, have been singled out for their insufficient knowledge of French.
Some big bosses of Quebec companies even follow, today, training to learn the language.
Bonuses for employees
Like other companies, La Maison Simons is not immune to labor challenges. In 2018, the retailer jumped its minimum wage by $3 an hour to $16 an hour. Management says it is currently looking for other solutions to reward its employees.
Today, in addition to betting on its family values, management indicates that it works with different types of bonuses to attract new talent, recognize their efforts and keep them within the family.
“Honestly, we are thinking regarding it. We are in an inflationary cycle. We are trying to find the right balance between ensuring quality jobs that will allow people to earn a good living, while ensuring the sustainability of the company,” said Mr. Leblanc.
