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 built back in the day, about a hundred of us—professionals in the field of entrepreneurial support—gathered for our annual summit. We weren’t there to discuss massive contracts or hydroelectric power, but rather that fundamental energy that policies cannot 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 its 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 Centre 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 heads full of ideas and emerge as masters of their own destiny.

Machines have given way to dozens of mentors and a local community 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 from his birth in Shawinigan. What stands out in his story isn’t the success he enjoys 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, from the OSEntreprendre movement, sounds the alarm while speaking to us about love: we cannot expect 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 believe 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! With nine million of us now, we really ought to “talk about the work of our hands, about what we’ll do tomorrow,” don’t you think?

Talents to shape 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 adopted by dozens of mid-sized cities around the world. 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 shift 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 coming together and forming bonds, pooling their knowledge, skills, and interpersonal abilities, like so many machines knitting together and energizing entrepreneurs.

From Trou du Diable to Lac-à-l’Épaule

Sixty years ago, Quebec nationalized hydroelectricity when it realized that this form of energy 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 defense and healthcare, and gives people the courage to stand tall in the face of the unknown. It’s not just about starting or acquiring businesses, but about developing individuals capable of meeting the challenges that the 21st century will continue to present. 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 asking for 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.