The case of the Cinéma Pine in Sainte-Adèle should be dealt with in management schools when it comes to business transfers.
The third generation is now at the helm of the family business, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The story of the Pine Cinema could be filmed. In 1925, Armenian refugees fleeing the genocide settled in Sainte-Adèle to farm land they had acquired in mid-winter after riding the P’tit train du Nord.
It was rock country. Regardless, with a few boards and a lot of willpower, they started a fruit and vegetable business on the edge of Route 11 (now Route 117).
For Aurora’s hand
After the war, Philippe (Phil or Vram) Fermanian courts a village beauty, Aurore, who replies that she will only marry him if he builds his cinema, a dream he has harbored for years. In 1948, the pine tree was inaugurated in the presence of the village’s notables, including the mayor, Pierre-Henri Grignon, who wrote “The beautiful stories of the lands from above”.
A few decades later, The Pine will show Charles Binamé’s “Séraphin” to great acclaim.
father and son
Phil and Aurore will have two sons, including Tom, who will take over at the age of…14. The family lives in the Marquise and Tom accompanied his father to the film distributors when he was 5 years old. By the time he was 11, he knew how to pop popcorn. He learns to use the projector on milk crates, like in the film Cinéma Paradiso. You can get to the screening booth from the living room by opening a door.
Tom buys the family cinema in his 21st year.
“I never had a disagreement or a big disagreement with my father,” explains Tom. He always told me that I make the decision. Let’s say he gave me enough rope to hang me, but I never took it all! »
As a child, Tom Fermanian understood that when you work for the family business, you can’t complain. It’s just okay to help. The whole time.
“It’s in my blood, but I had to earn my shoulder pads,” he continues. There is always room for innovation. But before we change anything, we need to know how it works. »
Tom Fermanian was still very young and had a lot of scope. His father trusted him.
“He told me that if I had any doubts about something, I just had to talk to him about it,” he says. I did the same with my husband. »
Tom and his wife Geneviève ran the family business with great skill for more than 40 years. They had a son, Perry, and a daughter, Michele.
The son and the grandson
Perry has gradually taken over the helm in recent years. Today he is the boss.
“I started when I was 13 and earned my parents’ respect,” he reveals. You know I have the ability to be effective. »
The latter briefly worked for a soft drink retailer before returning to the family business.
“It allowed me to understand how an SME is run in different sectors of the economy. I have seen many leadership styles. Some companies are well run, others are pathetic. »
The key to success, according to Perry, is communication, both in business and in love.
“My father and I talk to each other all the time, we consult. If one of the two proposes a project and the other has doubts, we explain ourselves. My father always tells me his opinion and I give mine. Even though I’ve proven myself, he knows I won’t make crazy decisions. »
Tom Fermanian adds that he taught his son the DNA of the industry.
“I respected my parents, as was customary in my day. Today I have the respect of my son. But from now on it’s him who leads the show! »
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