Time Has Come To Commemorate Depanneurs, Mirrors Of The Quebec Society
For the past few years, the Atlantique Convenience Stores Association (ACSA) has been organizing a C-store Day on August 30th.
This friendly event is an opportunity to bring together elected officials, retailers and the community to raise funds for a local charity.
Yesterday, the event took on a national scale, with several regions following suit.
In Quebec, QCSA President Michel Gadbois met yesterday with Jean-Lesage MP André Drolet and Provisions Ste-Odile’s owner Praful Manek for a fundraiser to the benefit of the Children’s Wish Foundation (see video here).
However, the need of highlighting the presence of depanneurs in Quebec is evident in view of their fragility.
Besides, depanneurs have become, over the years, true mirrors of the Quebec society.
Their dynamic evolution integrates all social currents:
- the increasing presence of newcomers, especially the Chinese community;
- the confrontation of two business models at the antipodes, namely the hyper-integrated channel versus the independent owner;
- the struggle between the freedom of choice of adults verses the public health prerogatives dictated by unelected officials;
- the resilience of proximity retailing against the domination of the automobile;
- the increasing and overwhelming burden of regulation and its many perverse effects on the market;
- and of course, all types of consumption fashions and trends, from ecigarettes to spinners.
The fact that the word “depanneur” is now official part of the English language also denotes a vibrant trait of Montreal’s culture, that of a unique blend of Francophone, Anglophone and Allophone cultures.
Taking into account the major economic contribution of the industry with its 55,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout Quebec, the National Assembly would be fully justified in adopting a “National Day of the Depanneur”, the objective being to simply recall the important role and place that this small friendly business occupies in our lives.
It would also be an opportunity to bring together all the industry players to commemorate the event for what the industry is doing best: a great “open house” operation throughout the day!
August 30, in this regard, seems an excellent candidate. To be continued!
