Entrepreneurship: The Factory That Transforms People

Canada dreams of reindustrialization. The talk is of defense, manufacturing capacity, and economic sovereignty. It is a legitimate dream—perhaps even a necessary one—but above all, a familiar one. 125 years ago, Shawinigan harnessed its mighty river to supply hydroelectric power to the industries of the future.

On February 11, at the Shawinigan cotton spinning mill—which was built back in the day—about a hundred of us who work in entrepreneurial support gathered for our annual summit. We weren’t there to talk about massive contracts or hydroelectric power, but about that fundamental energy that policies can’t create: entrepreneurship.

More than a century ago, hundreds of female workers would walk through the doors of “La Wabasso” every morning, lunchboxes in main. There, they would lend their fingers and arms to the machines, returning home at dusk. The silence imposed by the boarded-up windows in 1985 has, for nearly 15 years now, once again given way to light—and to a very special kind of hope.

Today, the headquarters of the Alphonse-Desjardins Shawinigan Entrepreneurship Center and DigiHub Shawinigan buzzes with the sound of footsteps and the swarm of ideas from hundreds of entrepreneurs. It’s no longer cotton that’s being processed here, but people—who enter with their minds full of ideas and emerge as masters of their own destinies.

Machines have given way to dozens of mentors and a local ecosystem mobilized on all fronts, all of whom are contributing to the transformation. The factory is still running. It’s the product that has changed.

Products from the factory, produce from the garden

To kick off the Summit, Félix-Antoine Huard, founder of Rum&Code, humorously recounted his journey, starting with his birth in Shawinigan. What stands out in his story isn’t the success he’s known for today—which is very real and well-deserved. It’s his ability to remain humble and true to his values—and the many people who helped him forge his path… and avoid falling flat on his face along the way!

Manon Théberge, of the OSEntreprendre movement, sounds the alarm while speaking to us about love: we cannot hope to reap tomorrow what we no longer invest in classrooms today. The late Paul-Arthur Fortin, founder of the now-defunct Fondation de l’entrepreneurship and the “father of entrepreneurship” in Quebec, spoke of a garden that must be constantly tended and its harvest—the entrepreneur—as an antidote to poverty.

It’s hard to accept that, since the start of this century, while Quebec’s population has grown by 24%, the number of entrepreneurs has plummeted by more than a third! There are now nine million of us—we really should “talk about the work of our hands, about what we’ll do tomorrow,” right?

Talents to Fuel Our Century

Shawinigan’s decision may seem to go against the grain in Quebec. At the Summit, however, Zachary Barker, CEcD, MS, an American specialist in economic development through entrepreneurship, demonstrated the long-term impact of this structured and systematic approach that dozens of mid-sized cities around the world have adopted. On the economy, culture, and social cohesion. Shawinigan is not innovating in isolation—it is part of a global movement toward revitalization through ambition.

This change is nothing short of a minor revolution in economic development, but above all, it is a human journey. Experienced entrepreneurs, coaches, experts, and mentors—a community that is coming together and growing, pooling their knowledge, skills, and interpersonal abilities, like so many machines that knit together and energize entrepreneurs.

From Trou du Diable to Lac-à-l’Épaule

Sixty years ago, Quebec nationalized hydroelectric power when it realized that this energy source was the key to empowering Quebecers to take control of their own destiny.

Entrepreneurship is the driving force of this century. It transforms communities, drives innovation in both defense and healthcare, and gives people the courage to stand firm in the face of the unknown. Not just to start or acquire businesses, but to develop individuals capable of meeting the challenges that the 21st century will continue to present us with. These are the skills our entire society needs—from the classroom to the halls of Congress.

Some communities have already chosen to invest in their people, locally, without permission. Others are still waiting for the big contract, the miracle factory that will save them.

I will walk alongside those who choose the path of self-discovery, the path of endless possibilities.

Louis-Félix Binette, Executive Director, MAIN.