Like the phoenix rising from the ashes!
This story takes place in Milan, a quaint little village of 330 souls nestled in Quebec’s scenic Eastern Townships region. As deeply rooted in the community as the mighty oak, the Morin family has long been known for its business acumen and keen determination. In 1992, the six Morin brothers pool their skills to form Maison Usinex, an SME that soon builds a solid reputation for the quality of the prefabricated homes it manufactures.
The year is 2006, the company is thriving with its 65 employees from the region, the wind in its sails, delivering an average of four houses per week to all corners of the province. Then, on the night of December 24, 2006, disaster strikes: fire destroys the family plant, taking with it all the Morin brothers and the Maison Usinex team have worked so hard to build.
A remarkable show of solidarity
The entire village is in dismay. The members of the Morin family receive the news as they, with the majority of the villagers, are attending the traditional midnight mass. Everyone rushes to the site, but only Raymond Morin, the company’s president, is allowed to approach the blaze. Right there and then, the brothers unanimously decide they will rebuild their plant, in Milan, their little corner of the world…
“Thanks to this major investment, our new plant will be larger, more efficient and better equipped. This will allow us to contribute more than ever before to the economic growth of the du Granit RCM.”
The very next day, the company’s employees are there to show their appreciation and loyalty by volunteering their time to start clearing the debris. Only a week later, the entire region is banding together to help find a temporary location where Maison Usinex can set up shop to honour its contract deadlines.
Canada Economic Development also joins the effort by providing financial assistance to Maison Usinex for an expansion project and the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment. This support enabled the company not only to resume its activities, but also to increase its annual production capacity by 20%. The overall investment, to the tune of $4.3 million, served to maintain the 65 jobs in place.
“In response to the incredible show of solidarity that rallied all of the region in the aftermath of the fire at our plant, my brothers and I decided to take this trial of misfortune and to turn it into an opportunity for growth and the chance to explore new markets. Thanks to this major investment, our new plant will be larger, more efficient and better equipped. This will allow us to contribute more than ever before to the economic growth of the du Granit RCM,”
explained Raymond Morin.
