The funeral of businessman Bernard Lemaire, one of the founders of the Quebec company Cascades, will be celebrated this Thursday at 3:15 p.m. at the Basilica of Saint-Frédéric in Drummondville.

The family of the deceased will receive advance condolences from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the JN Donais Funeral Complex on Lemire Boulevard in Drummondville.

On Wednesday, many friends of Mr. Lemaire’s family, as well as active and retired Cascades employees, attended a celebration of life for the businessman, who died Nov. 8 at Centerxpo Cogeco in Drummondville. most recently at the age of 87, his home in Kingsey Falls.

Bernard Lemaire leaves to mourn his partner, his daughter and two sons, seven grandchildren and his brothers and sisters.

Bernard Lemaire was born in Drummondville. In 1960, he joined the family scrap recycling business, Drummond Pulp and Fiber, before founding Papier Cascades in Kingsey Falls with his father and brother Laurent three years later.

Bernard Lemaire held the presidency of the company for almost 30 years before handing it over to Laurent Lemaire in 1992. During these three decades, he initiated Cascades’ expansion strategy in North America and Europe.

Cascades’ current management describes him as a visionary, generous and charismatic man who convinced countless people to help make the company a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of waste management solutions, sustainable packaging and hygiene.

Quebec Premier François Legault described Bernard Lemaire as a great entrepreneur and visionary, a symbol of Quebec’s international rise in the business world.

Bernard Lemaire was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1988. In 2002 he was awarded Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor by the French President.