From homeless to entrepreneur, this is the inspiring journey of a Sagweni citizen who is willing to give hope and prove that with determination, it is possible to start from nothing and build a business.
Fred Simard has come a long way.
“I may have a special past, I’ve lived all sides of a coin, I’ve lived on the street, I know what it’s like to just wear clothes on your back, and it feels like it’s part of my journey,” confirmed fellow Cedar-owner Julie Rouge.
He lived on the streets of Montreal for about a year, but these weren’t the only pitfalls he encountered.
“Over time I have evolved, when you start from nothing you are not afraid to take risks. Then I worked at Laflamme for 11 years. My journey has led me not to judge anyone.
The Saguenay native rolled up his sleeves and decided to get into the business. For two and a half years, he was at the helm of Cidre Joli Rouge, a regional company with the wind in its sails.
“My creativity level helps me, I get clients with things I’ve experienced,” said the entrepreneur.
Fred Simard has a lot of projects in mind and other companies could see the light of day very soon.
“Music guru. Incurable web practitioner. Thinker. Lifelong zombie junkie. Tv buff. Typical organizer. Evil beer scholar.”
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