Below is a list of individuals from Quebec who have had a substantial impact on Canada’s Industrial History. All information for these individuals can be found by clicking on their name; you will be redirected to Parks Canada’s website.
Aubert de La Chesnaye, Charles. 10 Sault-au-Matelot Street, QuĂ©bec, QC. Aubert de La Chesnaye became New France’s leading businessman. He was driven by a desire for place and profit and he began in the import trade. He later expanded into all aspects of the colony’s economic life, namely the fur trade, agriculture, and fisheries.
Bombardier, Joseph-Armand. 1001 J.-A. Bombardier Avenue, Valcourt, QC. Bombardier is remembered as an entrepreneur and industrialist. He is notable for his invention of the snowmobile which effectively ended winter isolation in rural areas, not only in Canada, but around the world. After Bombardier’s death, his business became a leader in the transportation industry.
Donnacona. 175 de l’Espinay Street, QuĂ©bec, QC. Donnacona was the chief of Stadacona, an Iroquoian village near the St. Lawrence. Donnacona welcomed Jaques Cartier and his crew with the hopes to control French Trade along the St. Lawrence River. Cartier instead seized Donnacona and transported him to France, where Donnacona later died. This led to Iroquoian resentment and the prevention of later French settlements near Stadacona.
Eddy, Ezra Butler. Gatineau, QC. Eddy is recognized for his manufacturing of matches, wood products, pulp, and paper.
Lacroix, Édouard. 11160 9ième Avenue, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, QC. Lacroix is noted for being one of the few French-Canadian Entrepreneurs during the interwar period that belonged to Canada’s industrial elite.
Macaulay, Thomas Bassett. 1150 Mansfield Street, MontrĂ©al, QC. Apart from Macaulay’s success in the life insurance industry, he is also noted for his creation of a new line of Holstein cattle at his Mount Victoria farm.
Molson, William. 288 Saint-Jacques Street, MontrĂ©al, QC. William was the youngest son of the famous MontrĂ©al brewer John Molson. William played an important role in expanding his family’s business which would later come to include a distillery, lumberyard, foundry, steamships, and railways.
Neilson, John. Neilson is recognized for his prominent role in the printing industry in Québec City.
Prince, Sir William. KĂ©nogami, QC. Prince established an empire of lumber, pulp, and paper.
Smith, Sir Donald A. (Lord Strathcona). MontrĂ©al, QC. Smith was a Hudson’s Bay Company official and promoted the Canada Pacific Railway.
Talon, Jean. 8 Vallière Street, Québec, QC. Talon was Intendant of New France from 1665-68, during this time he stimulated immigration, encouraged agriculture, fisheries, mining, and industry. He also established trade with France and the West Indies.