In 1998, Patrice Pouliot bought the company his father had founded. The CEO of Assurances Pouliot & Associés hasn't looked back since!

“My father was my mentor and showed me the way forward. Ever since I took over as CEO, I made it my duty to grow the family business and be worthy of his confidence,” says the RCCAQ's new chair.

Mr. Pouliot is embarking on his new mandate with a sense of optimism, knowing that he can count on the support of his spouse and partner, Céline Garon, as well as the team of brokers at his firm.

Entrepreneurial career

Over the years, Patrice carved out an enviable reputation as a broker, particularly in the areas of life insurance, general insurance and risk management. Not content to rest on his laurels, he also acquired solid experience creating new products for mining operating and exploration companies, in addition to manufacturers and exporters.

Patrice uses his advisory, consulting and teaching skills to foster business development in the Chaudière-Appalaches and Quebec City regions. In terms of community involvement, he is the founding member and vice-chair of the Sainte Justine Investment Fund, a business incubator that seeks to host and assist local start-ups.

A born entrepreneur, Patrice draws inspiration from his home region of the Beauce, the business-friendly heartland to which he is particularly attached.

Professional commitment

Well aware of the issues and challenges facing the brokerage sector, Patrice has played a very active role in the industry, joining the RCCAQ's board in 2013 and serving as secretary/treasurer since 2015. Since 2014, he has been on of the RCCAQ's representatives with the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC). More recently (August 2018), he joined the AMF's advisory committee on certified representatives' practices.

Today, Patrice is maintaining his professional commitment as RCCAQ chair at a time when the organization has reached full maturity. Following a period in which the brokerage sector had to grapple with a number of crucial issues, its legal framework has now been modernized, including specific brokerage provisions designed to allow all stakeholders to grow.

“The legislation in question led to some tense debates in our own back yard at times. Still, we remained united and the RCCAQ's representatives defended the brokerage sector, regardless of the preferred business model, based on a notion that we all share and agree on: entrepreneurship. That's what the RCCAQ is all about. That's the source of our strength. It's what makes us a credible partner and an essential player.”

Challenges

Patrice intends to draw on the RCCAQ's unity, strength and credibility to meet the many challenges that are sure to arise in the future. For one thing, there is a new political landscape in Quebec, which means more lobbying-related responsibilities. But foremost in Patrice's mind are the breath-taking technological, social and economic developments that have impacted the brokerage sector's work methods and commercial activities and will continue to do so in the future.

“Change has become a permanent part of our lives. Nowadays, who can survive without a smartphone? But things are also changing at warp speed, and we can't afford to get left behind,” he points out.

For Patrice, inaction is not an option. Meanwhile, the path forward is clear: we need a bold vision and a proactive attitude. We also need to make the right decisions and take steps today to define what the brokerage sector will look like and what it will mean to be a broker in the future.

With the support and encouragement of the board and the permanent staff, the new chair is firmly committed to staying the course, which also means listening to RCCAQ members' concerns, reflections and ideas. "We're stronger when we all work together as a team," he insists.

In his acceptance speech at the RCCAQ's recent annual convention, Patrice emphasized how important it is for members to take part in the RCCAQ's various committees. “When brokers get involved in our initiatives, we can share our ideas and the different realities we face in our industry. Each meeting with an industry stakeholder is an opportunity to communicate the complexity of the issues we face. Our members' active participation enhances the RCCAQ's lobbying efforts and helps us to defend their interests more effectively.”

Patrice is also a firm believer in continuity: the RCCAQ will keep on representing all of its members and all of its broker entrepreneurs.

He offers these concluding remarks: “Diplomacy, conviction, commitment, determination and patience: those are the qualities I'm known for. I plan to put them to good use during my mandate as we move the RCCAQ forward. I am proud of the role I have been entrusted with, and I intend to earn the trust that has been placed in me."