For quite some time now, regions in Quebec have been plagued by an exodus of young people to urban areas to attend school or to work. Tony Levesque from Aumond in the Gatineau Valley took this path too but returned to his roots to go into business.
He left Aumond more than 10 years ago to study at the Cégep de l’Outaouais. He earned a college diploma in building mechanics technology and a vocational training certificate in refrigeration. He worked in this field for a few years in Gatineau before leaping at a golden opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
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Back to Aumond
In 2018, Pothier Réfrigération, a Gatineau Valley company dating back a few decades, was up for sale. “I saw it as an opportunity to get into business and return to the region where I was born, which I really missed. It was a decision I didn’t regret.” To preserve Mr. Pothier’s notoriety, he renamed the company Pothier Lévesque Réfrigération.
As the sole owner of the business, Lévesque now has four employees to help him offer service seven days a week. Some 85% of his customers are in the Gatineau Valley with the remainder pretty much in Gatineau. “My customers in Gatineau are mainly cottage owners in the Gatineau Valley, who ask me to look after their installations at their principal residence in Gatineau.”
THE PANDEMIC SPAWNED A NEW CLIENTELE THANKS TO TELEWORKING
COVID – a new market
His business offers essentially refrigeration, air conditioning and heating services. The pandemic opened up a new customer segment thanks to teleworking. “With people working from home, air conditioning became a must. We also witnessed a phenomenon where people in Gatineau and Ottawa chose to telework from their cottage in the Gatineau Valley. As a result, several fit-ups were needed to improve the work-from-home experience,” explained Lévesque.
His company, which essentially serves the Grand-Remous territories and its outfitters up to Lac-Ste-Marie, could well expand in the shotre to medium terme and open a store in Maniwaki. “This would enable our customers to see the products and equipment and obtain other information.”
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A NEARBY MARKET AND A LARGE POOL OF CUSTOMERS
Less stressful in the region
Tony Lévesque does not regret his decision to move back to his stamping grounds and open a business. “The pace is slower and less stressful than in Gatineau. There’s no need to keep going faster and faster. The cost of living is not as high, and it costs far less to own your own house. I understand people who came over to our region to telework. I`ve also noticed that many young people return to the region after completing school to work here. Life is simpler in the Gatineau Valley.”
There is also a family situation that weighed heavily in Tony’s decision to return to Aumond. “My entire family is here. I even decided to turn the house of my paternal grandmother into a bigenerational house. We’re all living under the same roof, and it’s simpler for everyone,” said Lévesque, who is 29. He truly is a young ambassador for his region!
“THE PACE IS SLOWER AND LESS STRESSFUL”
IT COSTS LESS TO BECOME AN OWNER
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