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The de Gaspé Beaubien family Foundation is known for its devoted commitment to the field of water, namely through its AquaHacking initiative. Pioneers of supporting families in business around the world, the de Gaspé Beaubien family has been involved in many important philanthropic endeavors over the last decades; some less publicized but just as noteworthy. 

Here are two interesting things that you may not know about the de Gaspé Beaubien family Foundation:

A commitment to Harvard Business School 

Did you know that the de Gaspé Beaubien Reading Room is at Harvard Business School?

The Room received this name in honor of the family’s 10 million dollars donation to the Historical Collections of the School’s Baker Library. This donation made it possible to completely renovate the Library in 2004, as well as preserve and add the most extensive collection of business history in the world. It is a key resource for scholars, researchers, and students. 

The collection includes thousands of articles, business files, newspapers, correspondence, research documents, rare books, ephemeral documents, and visual documents. These works provide documentary evidence which allows university students to study the theories, researchers, organizations, and important movements related to the field of business first hand. 

With the goal of pursuing their mission with families in business around the world, this donation made it possible to invest in this field of study and provide better tools and support to people who want to reach their entrepreneurial objectives of building a strong business and a strong family.

The de Gaspé Beaubien family has had a privileged relationship with Harvard Business School for several generations. Mr. de Gaspé Beaubien and the couple’s three children, Philippe III, Francois, and Nanon are all HBS graduates. Wishing to honor the family tradition of giving back to their higher education establishment, Nan-B and Philippe provided this generous gift. Additionally, they both served on the Dean’s Advisory Board from 1995-2000, and Mr. de Gaspé Beaubien was also a member of the Council of Canadians. 

A “Health for All” Community Program 

Did you know that the de Gaspé Beaubien Family Foundation has been very involved in the healthcare sector? 

The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation invested close to 3 million dollars and many countless hours of dedicated time into a pilot project with the CSSS Sainte-Agathe-Des-Monts: the “health for all” community program. 

This initiative’s objective was to improve the relationship between the leaders of the healthcare system and the doctors. Through this involvement with a local establishment, the Foundation wished to closely support the development of the particularly complex environment of a local healthcare system. Its involvement consisted of targeting actions leading to the improvement of the daily operation of the establishment by using co-gestion principles. Improving human resource processes and the patients’ positioning were at the heart of the actions put into place for this community program. 

The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation had established a program in several phases which involved coaching activities, co-development between medical and administrative management directors, consolidating the welcome and integration of the doctors in the CSSS, an introduction to the co-gestion model, as well as workshops for doctors in positions of leadership. The global objective consisted of mobilizing the care teams through the implementation of the various phases of a brand-new co-gestion model. 

This partnership provided the public establishment with the Foundation’s well-established expertise in management and the help of experts from the professional and academic fields. 

Unfortunately, the pilot project never came to term; everything had to be stopped when CSSS’s became CISSS’s. The structure of the project was based on a CSSS principle and the change would mean restarting the entire process from the beginning. 

With its renowned expertise in the business and entrepreneurial fields, the de Gaspé Beaubien family contributes to supporting initiatives that favor sustainable social development. By keeping their values at heart and encouraging entrepreneurial philanthropy, they contribute to the longevity of the projects they get involved with. 

At the end of the annual AquaHacking Challenge, the participants, organizers, mentors, and everyone involved in this initiative can finally say mission accomplished! The Covid-19 pandemic affected the initial planning of the pivotal events of the 3 competitions; the semi-finals and finals had to be carried out virtually in order to respect preventive hygiene and social distancing measures. The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation is proud of the resilience and flexibility displayed by participants and organizers alike. 

“An important year is coming to an end, and in spite of the pandemic all of the 2020 AquaHacking Challenges were able to be carried out virtually. I want to congratulate the AquaForum team as well as our partners for making the challenges possible even during this crisis.” – Dominique Monchamp, Senior Advisor, Fondation de Gaspe Beaubien.

Two Finals Disputed Virtually 

The two last finals of the AquaHacking Challenges took place last September and October. The five teams from Lake Winnipeg and Atlantic Canada, made up of students and young professionals, presented their innovative technological solutions to a panel of five judges with expertise in business, technology, and water science. 

Over the past year, the finalists developed technological solutions to help tackle critical freshwater issues, namely microplastics, the management of water and land in agriculture, clean drinking water in remote locations, and investments into watersheds. 

“In spite of the pandemic, I have been impressed to see that 15 new solutions relative to issues with water in Canada have been developed. It is thanks to the dedication, determination, and expertise of each of its participants that the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation realizes the impact of its support in the development of solutions through its mentoring. Congratulations to all of the finalists!” – NAN-B, President, Fondation de Gaspe Beaubien. 

The Winners of the Atlantic AquaHacking Challenge

On September 18th, the finalists’ rankings for the Atlantic Canada AquaHacking Challenge were announced following the virtual final which was broadcasted on the IISD’s Facebook page. 

The 5 finalists are:

• 1st Place: Clean Catch Baits wins the grand prize of 20 000$ in seed funding with their innovative solution to tackle issues relating to microplastics in fishing. 
• 2nd Place: Well Warriors wins 15 000$ with their online platform created to make the evaluation of the quality of well water more accessible and less expensive. 
• 3rd Place: WIDE wins 10 000$ in funding for their innovative water treatment system which aims to provide clean drinking water to rural and indigenous communities in a sustainable and accessible way while respecting their culture. 
• 4th Place: ExTech MIP wins 2 500$ for the development of a new technology to simplify the sampling of organic contaminants in well water using a low-cost device. 
• 5th Place: What the Well also wins 2 500$ for their solution relating to the issue of private well security. 

The Winners of the Lake Winnipeg AquaHacking Challenge

On October 20th the virtual final of the Lake Winnipeg AquaHacking Challenge was live broadcasted on the IISD’s Facebook page. 

We would like to congratulate the 5 finalists:

• 1st Place: Particuleye Technologies wins the grand prize of 20 000$ in seed funding with their innovative project which contributes to the classification and quantification of microplastics.
• 2nd Place: LasIr Nutrient Technology wins 15 000$ with their solution which provides more precision to fertilization techniques.
• 3rd Place: Typha wins 10 000$ for the development of Eco responsible packaging made from cattails in order to contribute to the fight against single-use plastic and eutrophication. 
• 4th Place: Water Secure wins 2 500$ for their innovative water testing solution. 
• 5th Place: Abbatek also wins 2 500$ for the development of an algorithm which helps to fight against microplastic pollution. 

With the year 2021 fast approaching, the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation will continue to support AquaForum in their phenomenal involvement in the preparation of the next competition destinations which will be announced very soon. The circumstances are continuously changing, and we will continue to adapt our initiative’s activities to the uncertainty created by Covid-19. 

Watch the Lake Winnipeg and Atlantic Canada finals again now!

In March 2020, the sudden of the COVID-19 pandemic turned everyone’s lives upside down. Quebec, along with the rest of the world, put everything on hold, in an attempt to flatten the curve of the virus, and therefore lessen its impact. For Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien, that meant pushing “pause” on a lifelong dream.

After five years of investing themselves into a cause they valued above all others, they made the heartbreaking decision to put a temporary halt to the activities of the “Club of Intrapreneurs”.  

Full of emotion, Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien shared the story of how this entrepreneurial initiative came to be, and some of the lessons they’ve learned along the way on this adventure of a lifetime.

A Family Story

It was during one of their customary walks around their property that Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien started talking about legacy. They asked themselves, and each other, what they wanted to leave behind, both for their families and for future generations of people they’d never meet. They knew they wanted to make a lasting difference in their society. This desire first led them to create the Business Families Foundation (BFF) over twenty years ago.  

Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien dreamed of helping all young people access an education, regardless of means. She wanted every person coming of age to have the chance to become contributing members of society. Years earlier, Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien had told her husband about meeting a friend when she was at university. This friend had the opportunity to attend their mutual school because of just such a foundation Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien’s grandfather had created years earlier. Her friend’s story had a big impact on Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien. It really brought home to her the importance of making a difference.

As for Mr. de Gaspé Beaubien, he’d known that he wanted to start his own business since he was a boy. After all of his years of experience, he’s no stranger to the difficulties of entrepreneurship in Quebec. There’s no doubt that he’s seen it all. What he wanted to do more than anything was to help not only the other young aspiring entrepreneurs in their family get their businesses off the ground, but those who were not part of the Gaspé Beaubien family as well. He wanted them all to be able to benefit from what he had learned as he built his business.

It was from these two dreams that the idea of ​​setting up the Club of Intrapreneurs (CI) was born.

The Club of Intrapreneurs (CI) Project is born

The primary objective of the Club of Intrapreneurs (CI) was to help members of future generations of the Gaspé Beaubien family, as well as all other interested persons, to establish themselves in the long term as a business, foundation or even philanthropy in Quebec.

 Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien traveled around the world. They were searching for an interesting and intelligent model by evaluating programs already up and running, established within families abroad. They were looking for both guidance and inspiration.

They found what they were looking for after 5 years of research, when they met the Mulliez Family in France. Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien were very inspired by the concept of governance put in place within their families. It’s one that allows the entrepreneurial spirit to be easily passed along to its members

Development of the Club of Intrapreneurs (CI) Initiative

When Nan-b started working with the young participants in the AquaHacking initiative, she was amazed by the great ability they had for finding solutions to water issues. What they didn’t have, she realized, was the ability to run a business well. These young people needed knowledge, and help.

 “Canada is great in education, theory and research, but we are terrible at putting these lessons into practice and making them successful businesses. “- Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien

 Noting that in Quebec and Ontario, only 10% of start-up businesses survive, Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien then asked themselves how they could help these entrepreneurs.

After much observation and thought, they called a family meeting, with all the children and grandchildren. They asked everyone, “When do you think you will be ready to apply for a loan and support to launch your business? This financial loan will be accompanied by a system that will support young entrepreneurs with mentoring and coaching. “

Their response was unanimous: not before 5 to 10 years. Together, they concluded that it would be interesting to expand the framework of their family to include people who are not family members, but who share the same values ​​and who could be potential partners. This idea would be a great way to test the support system and uncover its strengths and weaknesses.

With the help of their valued collaborators, Jean-François and Caroline, they interviewed more than a hundred potential candidates. Only two candidates were selected to participate in Phase 1 of CI.

The chosen Intrapreneurs had to meet the following two conditions in order to obtain support from the foundation:

1. Form an advisory committee that will hold monthly meetings for encouragement and with the goal of surpassing themselves.
2. Get training and attend coaching sessions with the goal of building a network of other experts and professionals.

The Club of learning, headed by Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien, developed to help meet the second condition. She participated in their meetings, held every 4 to 6 weeks.

The key to the success of the Club of Intrapreneurs was the establishment of this continuous support system alongside the efforts of the Intrapreneurs. Their openness to mentoring and coaching was also a determining factor. This partnership with the family allowed them to feel supported and guided.

The Temporary Interruption of the Club of Intrapreneurs (CI)

 Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis caused the majority of entrepreneurs to lose their customers. Investments also plummeted. The Club of Intrapreneurs was forced to collaborate with other families in order to survive, since it required so much capital to operate.

What will happen to the world after the virus? No one knows, but it seems certain that the world of entrepreneurship will never be the same. In this period of uncertainty, the Gaspé Beaubien foundation had to make the painful decision to halt the Club of Intrapreneurs. After all of the blood, sweat, and tears they had invested in this project, it was a heartbreaking choice to have to make.

The founders are used to solving problems. For them, every problem has a solution. But the reality is that with COVID-19, the only solution is the vaccine. It’s basically impossible to run such an innovative program without being able to be physically present and actively working with the collaborators. The only solution to protect family members from potential contamination was therefore to put the initiative of the Club of Intrapreneurs on hold.

“A page is turned, but the chapter is not finished. Once a vaccine is available, we will be ready to act. “- Mrs. de Gaspé de Beaubien. 

For Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien, this is not the end of the Club of Intrapreneurs. It’s only a setback, and an interruption of Phase 2. They have every intention of picking up where they left off once it’s safe to do so.

Lessons learned

Despite this difficult period, the founders of the initiative and their team have grown from their memorable 5-year adventure. The lessons learned are worth more than the time and money that have been lost in recent weeks. Among these is one lesson in particular, namely, the importance of making an effort to earn financial aid and support. The principles of work and perseverance will remain at the heart of the initiatives of the Gaspé Beaubien foundation and will be passed onto future generations.

 “We could never regret this experience. More than ever, we are convinced that this formula of the Club of Intrapreneurs is the key to solving the problems faced by young entrepreneurs today. “- Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien.

The second lesson articulated by Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé is to initiate young people interested in entrepreneurship very early on. It is essential to prepare them at a very young age, even before they decide to start their own businesses, in order to give them every chance to succeed.

From now on, Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien aims to share all the knowledge accumulated within the framework of the Club of Intrapreneurs to the entrepreneurs of the AquaHacking project. In addition, this experience will serve as a potential pilot for the youngest members of the family.

Hope for the Future

For the past 5 years, Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien have worked tirelessly to promote their values ​​and the project across Quebec. Their goal was to expand the reach of this support system nationwide.

For them, it is high time to start forming an entrepreneurial culture that will last. The club was the best solution to the entrepreneurship problems of Quebec and Canada. After spending 50 years helping families around the world, they are convinced that this is the best system currently in place to help people realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

“What I want to say to people is: Never give up. There is always hope, there is always a way to succeed. As long as you believe in yourself and are ready to work, you will succeed. This is what we did with Expo 67. We proved to ourselves that we were able to do something in Quebec and it was one of the biggest exhibitions in the world. It was done here, with our people.” – Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien.

 Mr. de Gaspé Beaubien wants to see other families, the government and other institutions join this system to make it last. Through its determination and passion, the Gaspé Beaubien foundation was there to start the initiative of the Club of Intrapreneurs, but it can’t keep it going alone. All in all, this experience has helped pave the way for the future of entrepreneurship in Quebec.

 “There is always a future. Always. As long as you are healthy, you can succeed and persevere with your ideas. For the moment, this is a setback. Afterward, though, we’ll keep going forward. “- Mrs. de Gaspé de Beaubien.

Business families are at the heart of the Canadian economy, generating 48.9% of private sector GDP and accounting for 63.1% of all domestic private companies. They have always faced common challenges that directly impacted not only their leadership role in our communities, but also their generational sustainability.

Supported by several partners, the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation created the Business Families Foundation (BFF) in Canada more than 30 years ago. Its goal was to help, support and encourage business families all over the world. the de Gaspé Beaubien family is thrilled and proud to see their initiative carry on, thanks to a strategic merger between the BFF and the Family Enterprise Foundation.

The Family Enterprise Foundation (FFE) is the product of this union. It comes into the world at a pivotal time, when the global economy is still recovering from the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than ever, family businesses need to seize every opportunity to contribute to the economic recovery, and to benefit from all the support and resources such a foundation can offer.

Business Families Foundation (BFF): A legacy rich in learning

Having a heart for helping Quebec and Canadian entrepreneurs along with their desire to sustain their family business for future generations led Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien to develop the Business Families Foundation over 30 years ago. Ever since then, they have developed a unique concept based on many years of involvement, both in terms of research and the development of support and mentoring resources with family businesses.

These types of resources were scarce when they began this work, with only legal and financial writings and services available to family businesses. They wanted to do more, not only for their own children, but for other families as well. They wanted to be able to pass along not only legal and financial information, but also other resources crucial to creating a successful family business, such as dealing with the importance of family dynamics, the notion of ownership and a philosophy of support between family members.

Their experience in setting up a large family media business encouraged them to join other entrepreneurial families. Thus, their support has not only helped these “learning families” and made them more self-reliant but has also contributed to an economic boom.

“We are very pleased and greatly reassured by the continuity of our family entrepreneurship support project. After investing more than 30 years of our lives in the Business Families Foundation, knowing that this project will continue over time is music to our ears. We wish the FFE a long life.” – Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien.

Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien will now serve as honorary members of the Board of Directors of the Family Enterprise Foundation (FFE), while continuing to serve as Presidents of the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation. They devote their time and energy to philanthropy through their Family Foundation.

Imparting their wisdom and knowledge and serving others remain their passions and are at the heart of everything they do.

About the FEF (Family Enterprise Foundation)

As the unified voice of family businesses in Canada, the Family Enterprise Foundation (FEF) is a charitable organization focused on providing educational and other resources for the research and sustainability of these family businesses. It promotes the success and longevity of Canadian family businesses on a national scale.

As a representative of Canadian family businesses, the FEF develops tailored training and specialized educational tools, some of which also train and certify family business advisors.

Conclusion

The successful merger of the Family Enterprise Foundation heralds a bright future for entrepreneurial families and their businesses. The mission of supporting, assisting and encouraging business families will ensure their sustainability and harmony for generations to come.

Mr. and Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien are convinced that it is through the support of organizations such as the BFF and the FFE that research can be conducted to better understand the challenges faced by family businesses in Canada and the opportunities available to them. Mr and Mrs de Gaspé Beaubien will continue to put all their heart and passion for family entrepreneurship into the FFE, alongside their dear partners and valued collaborators.

On June 25, the B.C. AquaHacking Challenge Virtual Grand Final was held. Organized in partnership with Aqua Forum and the OBWB, the virtual event was once again a great success.

After months of work, research and mentoring sessions, the five finalist teams presented their best solutions for addressing water issues in British Columbia. The judges and participants voted for their favourite solution, and then the winners were announced.

 “We are very proud of the new cohort, which joins an already-impressive cohort of alumni. These young people are brilliant, and we are delighted to see that the solutions presented are constantly evolving in terms of complexity and quality. Once again, we would like to congratulate them on their wonderful work”, said Madame de Gaspé Beaubien.

Winners of the AquaHacking B.C. 2020 Challenge

1st place: Ozero, of the University of Sherbrooke (Québec), won the $20,000 grand prize in seed funding for its innovative solution to the problem of invasive mussels.

2nd place: UBC Okanagan’s GAPSS (Gravity Assisted Particle Separation Systems) in Kelowna received $15,000 for its stormwater contamination solution.

3rd place: Above Atlantis, of UBC Vancouver and Simon Fraser University, received $10,000 in funding to address flood risks.

4th place: UBC Okanagan Elite, in Kelowna, received $2,500 to fight stormwater contamination.

5th place: UniteAG, of the University of Victoria and Queens University of Toronto, also received $2,500 for its idea for tackling stormwater contamination.

About Ozero

Ozero is the brainchild of a team of mechanical engineering graduates who are working to preserve the water quality of Québec’s lakes. Olivier Liberge, Ozero’s co-founder and communications director, said his team was working on a new ballast washing technique to combat invasive zebra mussels as part of their bachelor’s degree when they learned of the AquaHacking Challenge in British Columbia.

“We chose the project because we care about lake issues in Québec and Canada. We know that water is a precious resource, and we want to work together to preserve it”, he said.

Concrete results

For Gaspé Beaubien’s family, the end of the competition is always a highlight.  For them, seeing their funding make a real impact in the search for innovative solutions and the training of these young hackers is incredible.

“For any donor, being able to see the results of their commitment is very motivating. Our family is very proud to support this initiative”, Madame de Gaspé Beaubien said.

Upcoming AquaHacking Events

The AquaHacking B.C. Challenge is one of three programs in Canada this year. The next finals will be held in Atlantic Canada (September 18, 2020) and Winnipeg (October 14, 2020). 

Watch the AquaHacking 100% virtual challenge grand final here: (https://bit.ly/3i4KL6g) 

We were at the beginning of March. The British Columbia Aqua Forum team was working hard to deliver the first AquaHacking semi-final in western Canada. Preparations were well underway. More than 25 teams were expected and nearly 200 people had confirmed their presence in Kelowna to attend this landmark event of the competition.

However, something of global significance was to upset the plans: the pandemic.

On March 17th, 2020, the government announced a ban on assembly. 5 days before the event, the team had to quickly make a decision for the next steps: cancel the semi-final, or try to adapt the competition virtually. It was, after all, a major step in the journey of participants who had been working on their technological solution projects for several months.

With the current COVID-19 epidemic, Aqua Forum and its partners had made sure to adapt their plan quickly. Indeed, the whole team had to be reactive to follow the directives of health officials and governments.

A Change of Course at High Speed

The Okanagan Water Board and Aqua Forum have shown exemplary technical agility in dealing with the situation by performing a 100% virtual pivot for this event. The adaptive capacity of the entire organization has been exceptional. To this end, in just five days, the organizers have accomplished the feat of adapting the event and making it a 100% virtual semi-final.

The de Gaspé Beaubien family could not be more proud of all the stakeholders as well as the different regional teams. “I couldn’t be more proud to see the adaptive capacity of the teams in such a short time. I would like to thank each of the teams and all of our partners for their colossal efforts in this time of crisis.” Said Mrs. de Gaspé Beaubien.

A 100% Virtual Semi-Final

The live broadcast on Facebook and the use of other videoconferencing technologies helped keep the original programming safe and responsible. The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation believes that, despite the critical global situation, we must maximize the use of technologies. It is also important to continue to focus on environmental programs.

In addition, the 27 AquaHacker teams from across Canada presented their solutions to the judges via virtual rooms. There was a virtual lounge for those who were waiting their turn, including videos, quizzes and much more. The 15 judges also agreed to continue the adventure in webcasting and the invaluable sponsors that all contributed to the continuation of the plan virtually.

The de Gaspé Beaubien family would like to congratulate the OBWB team for their openness to venture into this sudden change. Through their audacity, they demonstrated the feasibility of a 100% virtual challenge and thus, saved the AquaHacking initiative and its future. Now, all that remains is to make constant improvements to the next semi-finals in Winnipeg and the Atlantic.

To ensure the streaming quality of the challenges and thereby standardize the brand image of AquaHacking, Aqua Forum has mandated the firm TKNL which will ensure the production of virtual events on a national scale. This is a collaboration that looks promising!

Technology for Everyone

While the safety of participants has been ensured by adapting the event virtually, the situation also demonstrated that, despite social distancing, it is possible to continue efforts aimed at saving the country’s fresh water. This virtual event also contributes to increasing the scope of the AquaHacking challenge worldwide. This technological innovation is an interesting format of the AquaHacking competition.

The Winning Teams of our First Virtual Semi-Final

In a virtual science fair-style event, the teams presented their solutions to the members of the jury.

The 5 finalist teams for the AquaHacking British Columbia semi-final are:

• Atlantis (Vancouver)
• Ozero (Quebec)
• Elite (Kelowna)
• Hydrodynamic Labs (Kelowna)
• Agricultural Decision Support (Victoria and Toronto)

Upcoming AquaHacking Events

The AquaHacking British Columbia Challenge is one of three programs taking place in Canada this year. The next semi-finals will take place in Winnipeg on (June 10th, 2020) and Atlantic Canada on (June 18th, 2020). In addition, the grand finale of the AquaHacking British Columbia challenge will be held on June 25th to finalize this adventure that the 5 finalists have been living for almost a year now.

While currently, no one can predict how the next few weeks will unfold, the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation has full confidence in the adaptive capacity of the Aqua Forum team and ecosystem.

To watch the 100% virtual semi-final, click here.

It’s with great pride that the de Gaspé Beaubien family foundation attended the official launch of the AquaHacking Lake Winnipeg Challenge on January 31st. Live from the DisruptED event at the RBC Convention Center, high-profile speakers had the chance to share their in-depth knowledge of innovation, creativity, artificial intelligence and the human side of technology.

It’s Time to Take Action with AquaHacking

It is clear that the state of Canada’s water is in danger. Lake Winnipeg, one of the largest freshwater rivers in the world, is no exception. Since the preservation of water quality is a priority for the de Gaspé Beaubien family, it went without saying that supporting a Challenge that would aim to preserve and improve the water of this region through sustainable actions and changes aligned well with the Foundation’s goals.

IISD, an Important Ally

This new edition of the Challenge is presented by IISD (International Institute of Sustainable Department), a local management partner based in Winnipeg for over 30 years. The primary mission of this institution, made up of researchers from around the world, is to conduct research on climate and water issues. Through research, analysis and international expertise, IISD identifies and defends sustainable solutions. By joining the AquaHacking Challenge, the organization becomes a launchpad for the development and deployment of concrete and innovative actions for freshwater issues.

AquaHacking stakeholders are very excited about this collaboration. “We are proud to be associated with this great organization, IISD, and we are very excited to energize the technology sector with new initiatives in the Manitoba region, whose technology sector is currently in full swing.” Said Dominique Monchamp, senior advisor to the de Gaspé Beaubien foundation.

An Inspiration for the Next Generation

The family was delighted to welcome a member of the AquaHacking alumni community, Dr. Robert Liang, CEO and founder of WaterPuris, as a guest of the conference and Lake Winnipeg AquaHacking Challenge Kick-Off. Dr. Liang presented his technology developed during the AquaHacking 2018 Challenge. His presence was a real inspiration for the next generation of young hackers.

The next generation is a precious source of inspiration and innovation for the de Gaspé Beaubien family. This is why AquaHacking recruits and encourages new players to think about issues related to freshwater. The Challenge teams are made up of committed and creative minds, students, water researchers, developers, designers, scientists, programmers, engineers, technology enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs. A common motivation unites these individuals with distinct areas of expertise, namely the undeniable concern for the fate of Lake Winnipeg and its ecosystem.

5 Reasons to Participate

The five water issues associated with the AquaHacking Lake Winnipeg Challenge were officially revealed to participants at the DisruptED conference. Participating hackers can access informative webinars that describe each of the issues by water experts. These videos explore the issues in detail and assist participants in their selection of the subject they will address  during the Challenge.

The 5 water issues 

During the AquaHacking Lake Winnipeg Challenge, hackers are tasked to develop exciting and innovative solutions for the following five issues:

• Water management on agricultural land: Providing agricultural producers with solutions to increase their profitability in a sustainable manner while reducing the amount of phosphorus that is found in Lake Winnipeg.
• Preserving fish health: Developing strategies to remove drug residue from wastewater before it ends up in Lake Winnipeg and methodologies to assess fish health without having to kill the fish being tested.
• Protecting ecosystems from plastic: Looking for ways to better understand how microplastics end up in Lake Winnipeg.
• Access to drinking water in Aboriginal communities: Advancing innovative and economical solutions to allow northern communities to test the quality of their drinking water supplies.
• Financing a healthy Lake Winnipeg: Developing new financial tools to help concerned citizens easily invest in the protection of Lake Winnipeg and be able to follow the impact of their investment.

 Supporting positive change

In closing, it is with this vision that the de Gaspé Beaubien family launched the AquaHacking Challenge in 2015. The fate of tomorrow’s world must be taken in hand today.  We all have a responsibility as Canadian citizens. The family believes in the innovative and inspiring talent of young Canadians and is honored to witness the growth of the 17 startups active to date since the launch of the AquaHacking Challenge 5 years ago.

Aqua Forum announced this week that the Freshwater Conservation Challenge will be held in Kelowna, British Columbia.

In collaboration with the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) and Aqua Forum, this sixth edition of the AquaHacking Challenge represents an opportunity to share complementary expertise such as business, science, engineering and technology in order to tackle real issues and make a concrete difference.

A Succession Initiative for the Next Generation

AquaHacking was born from a challenge given to the fourth generation of descendants of the de Gaspé Beaubien family in order to perpetuate the family’s philanthropic lineage. The younger generation responded with one voice, to which eminent specialists then echoed. Everyone agrees that water conservation is a huge issue in North America.

Today, the proof is made beyond any doubt that young Quebec entrepreneurs can develop inventive and practical solutions to help preserve the immense natural wealth of freshwater in Canada.

A challenge For Complex Issues

Aqua Forum trusts the Okanagan Basin Water Board to successfully complete the AquaHacking challenge in the Okanagan Valley region of Kelowna. The issues submitted to young entrepreneurs were unveiled on October 29th, 2019 and are as follows:

1. Contaminants in Stormwater: Finding a way to improve water quality in Canadian lakes and rivers by reducing stormwater contamination.
2. Residential / Commercial Use of Outdoor Water: Addressing a solution to reduce the amount of water used outside BC homes and businesses.
3. Community Flood Damage and the Need to Communicate Flood Hazards: Considering a solution to reduce damage to homes, businesses and infrastructures while improving flood risk communication to communities.
4. Prevent and Mitigate the Effects of Invasive Zebra and Quagga Mussels: Determining a way to prevent infestation and avoid potential damage from invasive mussels.
5. Access to Clean Water in Aboriginal Communities: Advancing pathways on improving access to clean water for aboriginal communities in British Columbia.

Students and entrepreneurs from across Canada are of course invited to take part in the competition and propose innovative solutions to the issues.

A Matter of Great Pride

It is an immense source of pride for the Gaspé Beaubien family to see AquaHacking expand at the national level. The protection of the environment and the success of young Canadian entrepreneurs have been at the heart of the Family Foundation’s mission for a long time.

From November 15th to 17th, Charlevoix will host the first-ever Families Summit of Minds in North America. This joint initiative of the Monthly Barometer and the Business Families Foundation (BFF) will bring together entrepreneurial family members, investors, opinion leaders and change-makers to reflect together on the key issues that today’s businesses are facing.

Inspired Exchanges in an Inspiring Setting

The three-day summit aims to stimulate discussion and reflection on many aspects of the entrepreneurial reality of today and tomorrow, in a relaxed and positive atmosphere. Participants will have the chance to enjoy the enchanting natural environment of Charlevoix while taking part in the great brainstorming that will revolve around three main themes: family enterprise, macroeconomics and geopolitics, and well-being.

• On Thursday, November 15th, participants will have the opportunity, among other things, to attend discussions about the impact of physical well-being on a good decision-making, the importance of purpose, intrapreneurial mindset, as well as the duality between wealth capture and wealth preservation.
• Friday, November 16th, will offer a variety of outdoor and experiential activities followed by discussion sessions and a selection of theme dinners to deepen reflection on certain topics. The big panels of the day will focus on original investments, the role of culture in family business, how to think about the long-term in an era focused on instantaneity as well as women and leadership.
• On Saturday, November 17th, on the closing day of the summit, participants will have the opportunity to attend various thematic lunches followed by the final panels on the impact of the migration crisis on family businesses and the role of these families, as well as responsible investment in family businesses.

The full program of the summit is available on the website of the Families in Business Foundation.

A Family Matter

The Business Families Foundation (BFF) is an initiative of the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation. The BFF is dedicated to supporting family businesses of all sizes on an international scale. Although the de Gaspé Beaubien family has made the decision to leave governance in the care of other highly competent families, it remains actively and financially involved with the BFF. Indeed, always committed to the success and evolution of family businesses, de Gaspé Beaubien continues to act as trusted advisors for the BFF.

As an expert in family entrepreneurship, Nan-B de Gaspé Beaubien will be participating in a panel discussion on Friday, November 16th about leadership and women alongside Rachel Kiddell-Monroe, Marie Pier Germain and Françoise Gagnon. A strong advocate of women’s business, she will discuss the involvement of women in family businesses and the impact of their inclusion on the performance of these companies.

The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, which comes from a long tradition of family businesses, is proud to invest in ensuring the long-term success of family businesses. According to the vision of the de Gaspé-Beaubien family, it is through hard work, study and collaboration that family businesses can be helped to prosper and to carry out ambitious projects that impact small and big communities.

The Gaspé Beaubien Foundation is proud to support the very first AquaHacking Fest. On September 27th, the AquaHacking Fest will be held at the “Grand Quai de Montréal pavilion”for the grand finale and fundraising of the AquaHacking 2019 challenge. The finalist teams’ solutions will be presented at this gathering and will raise funds to contribute even more to the innovation and the conservation of freshwater sources. Everyone can enjoy the culinary delights of local food trucks as well as a concert by Quebec rapper Koriass while dancing to the rhythm of DJ Manifest’s music.

Innovate to Protect

This year, six teams entered the grand finale of the AquaHacking contest and will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative clean technology solutions to sustainably solve five major issues affecting the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence watershed. The finalists each received $ 2,000 in funding early this summer to fine-tune their solutions, plus an all-expenses-paid expedition to Elbow Lake, Ontario to meet with various industry stakeholders.

The challenges for which teams must propose clean, sustainable and marketable solutions this year are:

• The contamination of rivers by salting;
• Flooding;
• The pollution caused by disposable wipes and micro plastics;
• The public awareness regarding the use of municipal water.

The team finalists will have the chance to win financial support of up to $ 25,000 for the development and marketing of their solutions:

1. The Green Stop (Montreal, QC, Toronto, ON): Intelligent and fast water stations designed in a sustainable manner to encourage the use of refillable water bottles.
2. Bello Water (Montreal, QC): Reinventing the distribution of drinking water by providing sustainable alternatives to plastic water bottles through a simple technical solution supported by an application.
3. Droplets (Oshawa, ON, Montreal, QC): Building public confidence in regards to municipal drinking water with innovative IBM Watson artificial intelligence.
4. Clean Nature (Quebec City, QC, Victoria, BC): Prevent excess road salt through an adapted artificial intelligence (AIM) model based on real-time weather conditions.
5. Chemistry UdeS (Montreal, QC, Sherbrooke, QC): Fight microplastics with an additional lint filter that catches microfibers that pass through the air filters on dryers.
6. Salt-Ed (Montreal, QC): Reducing saline water contamination with road-sanding equipment that is easy to implement, inexpensive and requires no large-scale testing.

Concrete Commitments

In the spirit of cooperation for the conservation of water, Nan-B de Gaspé Beaubien took the initiative to invite an additional panel to discuss concrete solutions on a larger scale. The representatives from the main political parties,who will take part in the federal elections in October 2019, will participate in the AquaHacking Fest event in a debate on concrete political actions they are ready to commit to if they are elected.

The co-chair and matriarch of the Gaspé Beaubien Foundation also launched a petition calling on all political parties to include in their election platform a commitment to extend the restriction on single-use plastics to bottled water and all beverages, except in case of emergencies, before December 31st, 2022.

“My husband and I founded AquaHacking and launched the AquaHacking Challenge in order to create solutions to the most urgent water problems. We need your help to protect our water bodies from plastic waste by ensuring that the proposed restrictions on single-use plastics be also applied to the bottled water and the beverage industry. Canada must play a leadership role in protecting water. – Nan-b Gaspé Beaubien, co-chair and matriarch of the Gaspé Beaubien Foundation.

The Gaspé Beaubien Foundation is proud to invest in concrete and ambitious projects to stimulate Quebec’s entrepreneurship as well as technological innovations serving the conservation of the environment and freshwater sources. For the Gaspé Beaubien family, it is in focusing on ingenuity and the desire to improve the world in which we live that we are able to achieve great things.