The Nomadeck, a chalet to go

Who hasn't dreamed of one day owning a cottage in the country? With the Nomadeck, that dream is now within the reach of a greater number of people.  This one-and-a-half storey kit chalet with built-in furnishings—the latest innovation of Les Habitations Mont-Carleton—is made of environmentally-friendly materials and can be assembled, without tools, in under an hour. Who could ask for more?

Les Habitations Mont-Carleton, a young Gaspésie manufacturer of prefabricated homes and buildings, has been constantly innovating since first opening its doors in 1992. Nomadeck is one of the many housing concepts that illustrate the company's distinct knack for keeping things fresh in its quest to create new and better products. With the wind clearly in its sails, the enterprise has garnered numerous accolades for its contribution to the Quebec and Canadian housing sectors, including a 2008 "Gold" prize win in the National Bank of Canada's prestigious SME Awards.

It is that very same spirit of challenge that drives the company's two founders, brothers Éric and Michael Harrisson, who together share one overriding goal: to build an enterprise on the cutting edge of technology that stands apart from the competition. The result of three years of research and development, the Nomadeck uses a bold, patent-pending fold-in system that allows for the easy assembly and disassembly of this four-season chalet, including the plumbing, sanitation and heating systems, all in a perfect blend of comfort and elegance. Les Habitations Mont-Carleton officially unveiled its Nomadeck concept in late 2008 at the Salon Chalets et Maisons de campagne.

"We are convinced that the Nomadeck, with its many aesthetic qualities and innovative features, will generate marked interest among potential buyers from here and all over," notes Éric Harrisson, President and CEO of Les Habitations Mont-Carleton.

To promote the Nomadeck on Quebec, Canadian and European markets, the company has put together a commercialization plan centred on the production of marketing tools, development of sales activities and participation in trade missions and commercial fairs in Canada and abroad. The enterprise is working in close collaboration with the regional export support organization GIMXPORT—also a beneficiary of financing from Canada Economic Development—to ensure the success of this marketing strategy.

"From my very first meeting with Éric and Michael Harrisson some 14 years ago, I noticed the unwavering determination of these two young entrepreneurs to grow their company by developing new markets. After accompanying them on trade missions to Japan, France, Germany, England, the United States and many other countries, I am more certain than ever that their success today is but a prelude to what the future has in store for them and for Gaspésie's magnificent Baie-des-Chaleurs area," explains Aurèle Doucet, General Manager of GIMXPORT.

Canada Economic Development has been a proud supporter of Les Habitations Mont-Carleton from the very outset, providing financial assistance for, among other things, the company's participation in the Japan Home Show in 1997 and the expansion of its facilities in 2002. Thanks to this support, the enterprise has been able to land major contracts and double its staff force.

Les Habitations Mont-Carleton is, without a doubt, a daring enterprise. By introducing high value-added products like the Nomadeck, it is helping to diversify a regional economy that remains heavily reliant on forest development. Call it a chalet, casa, dacha, haus or what you will, the Nomadeck is sure to find a good many takers!