Business changes in Aylmer

APICA: New president, new board, new co-ordinator  

 

Lily Ryan

Days after Old Aylmer was flooded with maple-sugar lovers for a new APICA event, the membership said goodbye to outgoing president Daniel Lacasse. A new board of directors was also elected at the annual general meeting, April 1. 

 

APICA’s new directors are: Gérard Émond, general director of the Aylmer Food Bank; Mike Lafleur, Scotia Bank; Karine Savaria, accountant; Philippe Ardilliez, CIBC Bank; Stéphanie Olney-Lessard Étude légale du Vieux-Aylmer; Alexandre Cliche, TC Media; Annie Léveillée, DoubleTree by Hilton; Pierre Dionne, Caisse Desjardins Hull-Aylmer, and Denis Lavallée, Tim Hortons Aylmer.

 

Rue Principale co-ordinator Samuelle Desjardins has moved on to a new position after guiding Old Aylmer’s activities through their development phase. Maxime Gauld has taken over the reigns as co-ordinator. 

 

Twenty-five APICA members attended the annual general meeting, electing this new board as well as ratifying the direction the board is taking. 

 

Full slate of events 

for Aylmer 

 

Between a pumpkin festival in autumn, a maple sugar festival in the spring, and a summer street party, APICA has drawn well over 10,000 people to Old Aylmer. Double that number to include Christmas revelers who enjoyed the Santa Parade, expanded this year with a Christmas Market. With a new office, as of January, 2014, on the ground floor of 115 rue Principale, the municipal library and city services building, APICA staff have easy access to their members. Plans for the coming season expand on APICA’s established events, and, according to former president Daniel Lacasse, will be as successful as the earlier events have been, due, in part, to the collaboration of Gatineau city officials.

 

FCEI strategic alliance 

with Aylmer businesses 

 

In 2014 APICA forged an agreement with the Federation of Canadian Independent Businesses; buying an APICA membership brings a FCEI membership as well. There is a dedicated telephone line for APICA members at FCEI. The Federation has experts in dealing with provincial and federal departments (CSST, taxes, etc).