Business
Boréalis puts corporate social responsibility on the world map
Boréalis puts corporate social responsibility on the world map
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nOct. 20, 2009 (Canada NewsWire Group) -- MAGOG, QC, Oct. 20 /CNW Telbec/ -- Patrick Grégoire's world stretches far beyond Magog, where his business is headquartered. The co-founder and vice-president of Boréal - Informations Stratégiques (Boréalis) has made a name for his company by helping multinational corporations ensure the sustainability of their international development projects in Africa and South America. In recognition of his success, Patrick, 35, has won BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award for Quebec and will be honoured tonight at a ceremony in Ottawa.A geography graduate with expertise in geographical information systems, Patrick started his career managing information for ExxonMobil on development projects in Chad and Cameroon. While in Africa, he crossed paths with fellow graduate Jules Paquette, then an information technology director at Bombardier, and the two saw an opportunity to start a business. \"It was the beginning of the first corporate social responsibility standards for development projects,\" explains Patrick, referring to the Equator principles set by the World Bank as benchmarks for managing the environmental and social issues related to projects in the developing world.Developing a nicheBoréalis was created to provide data and consulting services that help mining and petroleum companies evaluate risks and make strategic decisions that minimize negative impacts on communities and the environment, and adhere to the Equator principles. \"The timing was very good,\" says Patrick. \"Nobody else was doing this five years ago. We created a niche for ourselves, building on our experience, contacts and technological expertise.\" Today, Boréalis employs 37 people and has revenues in the millions. Its niche has expanded to include environmental footprint management, a service it is bringing to the North American market, particularly in the wind turbine energy sector.In the first years of their business, the two partners each spent more than half the year away from home, training and overseeing Boréalis personnel working on development projects on site. \"It was an investment; we had to lead by example,\" says Patrick. Their hands-on involvement helped to build credibility for Boréalis and to develop a sterling reputation for their work. \"Today, we still travel about...