Ernst & Young names Sean Roosen of Osisko Mining Corporation the 2011 Québec Entrepreneur Of The Year
(Montreal, 7 October 2011) Sean Roosen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko Mining Corporation — a development-stage gold mining company currently completing the construction of the Canadian Malartic gold mine in the Abitibi mining district — is this year’s Québec Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award winner.
“Sean is a true entrepreneur in action,” says François Dufresne, Partner and Québec Director of Entrepreneur Of The Year. “Through strong leadership and vision, Sean effectively orchestrated Osisko’s development from exploration to development, and, ultimately, to operations in the second quarter of 2011.”
While other companies were pulling back during the financial downturn, Sean was determined to bring the company to a new level and overcome important challenges. That includes identifying a world class deposit, gaining the social license to operate in a populated area, securing fund exploration and development, and recruiting a recognized mine development and operating team.
That kind of forward-looking approach can be critical to an entrepreneur’s success. Nature or nurture? Decoding the DNA of the entrepreneur, Ernst & Young’s global survey of leading entrepreneurs, found 76% of those polled cited vision as the top quality necessary to achieve success.
Sean’s vision helped identify the potential and led him to acquire the initial claims for Canadian Malartic in late 2004. The project now represents one of Canada’s largest gold deposits.
While junior exploration companies will typically divest their discoveries to large mining companies, Sean resolved to leverage Canadian Malartic into a new mid-tier Canadian mining company. In terms of market capitalization, Osisko is now one of Quebec’s top-10 public companies.
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. The Canadian program is in its 18th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award winners are chosen based on a number of factors, including their vision, leadership, financial performance and social responsibility.
Category winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 Québec Awards:
Business-to-business products and services
Sean Roosen
Osisko Mining Corporation l Montréal
osisko.com
A development-stage gold mining company, Osisko is currently completing the construction of the Canadian Malartic gold mine in the Abitibi mining district.
Business-to-consumer products and services
Sylvie Myre
Voyages à rabais l Trois-Rivieres
voyagesarabais.com
Travel provider that offers vacations, flights and travel insurance.
Health sciences
Frank Baylis, Krishan Shah
Baylis Medical Company Inc. l Saint-Laurent
baylismedical.com
Recognized around the world for high-tech cardiology, radiology and pain management products. Supplier of high-technology cardiology, pain management and radiology products.
Information technology
Mario Bouchard
iBwave l Saint-Laurent
ibwave.com
A Canadian-based company created in 2003 from a need to standardize the emerging in-building wireless market. Its software suite and certification programs have been adopted by over 270 telecom leaders in over 70 countries.
Manufacturing
Jean-Robert Leclerc
Groupe Biscuits Leclerc l Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
biscuitsleclerc.com
Designs, produces and markets quality and innovative food products, including cookies, granola bars and crackers.
Service business
Robert A. Frances
PEAK Financial Group l Montréal
peakgroup.com
A network representing more than 1,000 independent financial advisors to over 135,000 Canadian investors.
Technology solutions
Patrick Ostiguy
Accedian Networks l Saint-Laurent
accedian.com
A leading provider of High Performance Service Assurance™ solutions for carrier ethernet networks.
Special citation – Social entrepreneur
This special citation is a unique category among the awards. It’s given in recognition of an entrepreneur whose achievements have driven large-scale social change and improved people’s lives or quality of life.
Gabriel Bran Lopez
Fusion Jeunesse, Montréal
fusionjeunessequebec.org
Youth Fusion establishes innovative partnerships between high schools and universities to counter high school dropout rates by creating and implementing projects that engage youth.
What’s next?
As the Québec region’s 2011 Entrepreneur Of The Year, Sean will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Pacific, Prairies, Ontario and Atlantic regions for the national honour of Canada’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011, to be presented at a gala celebration November 23, 2011, in Toronto. In June 2012, Canada’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 will move to the world stage to compete with 50 country recipients for the title of Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year®.
About Entrepreneur of The Year
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honour the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel, which is composed of several distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients. The 2011 Quebec region judging panel consisted of Jean Cloutier, Vice President,Operations and Finance, Outdoor Gear Canada (OGC), 2010 award winner, Manufacturing category; Jean Gattuso, President and Chief Executive Officer, A. Lassonde Inc., Chief Operating Officer, Lassonde Industries Inc., 2008 Quebec Entrepreneur Of The Year; Nina Gupta, President, Greenlite Lighting Corporation, 2008 award winner, Social entrepreneur category; Andrée-Lise Méthot, Founder and Senior Partner, Cycle Capital Management; Pascal Pilon, President and CEO, Averna, 2009 award winner, Technology category; Alexandre Taillefer, Partner, XPND Capital, Étienne Veilleux, President and CEO, Distech Controls Inc., 2010 award winner, Cleantech category.
For more information on the program, FAQs, and key dates please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.
Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored nationally by National Post, La Presse and RDI. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Quebec Awards are sponsored by Fonds de Solidarité FTQ.
About Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice
Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice serves Canada’s entrepreneurs by delivering integrated business advisory services in assurance, tax, transactions, and advisory services to help them drive growth and create value. Our team of professionals has a track record of focusing on the issues and needs of companies as they grow from early stage to become market leaders. Ernst & Young has long worked with and celebrated the achievements of Canadian men and women who create the products, services and jobs that propel Canada’s economy and communities forward. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs.
About Ernst & Young
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