Last week, I wrote a post on this blog (in English) about the Family Enterprise of the Year Award presented by CAFE, the Canadian Association for Family Enterprise. In that post, I mentioned that I found it disappointing that CAFE no longer really has a presence in Quebec.
Today is Father’s Day, and for me, it has become a day of mixed emotions. I have two kids who are veeeery important in my life, and who take up a lot of room in it. It’s also the fifth Father’s Day I’ve lived without my father, who also took up a lot of room in my life.
Our family company became a member of CAFE in the 1980s, and I attended a few of their events with my father. I thought it was great that there was a place where people openly discussed situations and questions we were living through in our family.
I saw in my father a spirit of cooperation with the members of his PAG (Personal Advisory Group) as he tried to develop systems at home to better integrate “family” and “business.”
I recently became an affiliate member of CAFE, but I have no official position with them, so I’m able to speak without restriction and without bias.
I know that the activities of a group like CAFE have a lot of potential to help business families in the ROC (Rest of Canada) as well as in Quebec. I know that there are organizations in Quebec that work in related fields.
I know that in Quebec, things are always different, and I dare say I understand a bit why that is.
But having recently spoken with CAFE’s senior leaders, including the Chairman, the Vice-Chair, the Executive Director, etc., I can say that there is an openness to coming back to Quebec, and I believe they are all ready to look at every option.
When I think of the “other organizations,” there is CIFA at HEC, and there is also the Groupement des Chefs d’Entreprises. There are surely others I don’t know about yet. Maybe CAFE should explore alliances with groups like these?
But in Quebec the language question always comes back, and for good reason. Yet when the will is there, language is no longer a major obstacle, especially knowing that the vast majority of participants are bilingual (especially in Montreal).
I’ve also noticed more and more bilingual meetings in other organizations. That is, occasions where people go back and forth among themselves in English and/or French, without feeling obliged to translate, knowing that everyone (or almost everyone) has understood.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who changes the channel during political speeches so as not to have to listen to an interpreter.
Two last ideas, and maybe they could be combined. CAFE’s Executive Director had mentioned to me the possibility of starting again in Quebec with a PAG, and seeing where we could go from there.
The second idea is mine, and it comes from the field of agriculture. I don’t know much about it, but I know that the UPA (Union des Producteurs Agricoles) is present all over Quebec, and they have a committee in every region.
But on top of that, there is an “English” committee. I know because my father was a member for years.
What if CAFE came back with one or more PAGs, in English, to start? In the meantime, alliances with other organizations could also be explored?
Maybe we’ll see another case of “if you build it, they will come.”
