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Laurent Lemaire was born in Drummondville on January 2, 1939 and is the father of two children. He is the third child of a family of five children. At eight years of age he was already fully immersed in the world of recycling as his parents were running a small recycling business called Drummond Pulp and Fiber.
In 1962, with a Master's degree in Commerce from the University of Sherbrooke, he officially joined his father and brother, Bernard, as the head of Drummond Pulp and Fiber; this was followed in 1964 by his participation in Cascades' beginnings in Kingsey Falls. Of the three, he was the most financially astute and the greatest stabilizing influence. Frankness and honesty are second nature to him. He is a man of great strategy who accepts challenges and fulfills his functions efficiently.
Laurent Lemaire has always honored his heritage with a management style oriented towards respect, excellence and protection of the environment. In 1992, his arrival as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cascades Inc. coincided with the restructuring of the company's activities which included adopting a more restrictive investment strategy in order to target future acquisitions. His contribution has been paramount in establishing Cascades' business model.
In July 2003, Laurent Lemaire yielded the presidency of Cascades to his younger brother, Alain. He then became the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the company. During the eleven years that he headed the company Laurent Lemaire accomplished a colossal task; the company quadrupled in size while maintaining a solid bottom line. In 2002, Cascades reached an unprecedented record-high net profit of 169 million dollars. In May 2003, the Conseil de l'industrie forestière du Québec (CIFQ) awarded Laurent Lemaire 'le prix d'excellence Pâtes et Papiers 2003' to emphasize his outstanding professional performance. This prize is awarded annually to a Quebec personality who has contributed in large measure throughout his career to the development and expansion of the Pulp and Paper Industry.
Laurent Lemaire has always been a concerned participant in community activities; his participation has earned him major distinctions in the various circles in which he was involved. In 1986, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Administration from the University of Sherbrooke. In 1999, he was awarded the title of Master Entrepreneur at the Grand Prix of Entrepreneurs in Quebec. In February 2002, Sports-Québec honored him at their annual gala with the Jacques-Beauchamp award for his renown support and remarkable contribution to amateur sports. In December 2002, in recognition of his social contributions, he was awarded the Jubilee Medal presented by the Honorable Lise Thibault, Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec. In 2003, he has accepted to be the Honorary President of an evening benefit for the Drummond Alzheimer Society and also to act as president of the fund-raising campaign for the "Fondation des centres jeunesse de Montréal".
Laurent Lemaire uses his administrative talents advantageously by serving on the Board of Directors of several enterprises, namely, Scotia Bank and Junex Inc.
He delights in fine wines and he loves to travel. In his leisure time he enjoys horseback riding, stag-hunting and alpine skiing. | 