From homeless to businessman, this is the inspirational journey of a Saguenay citizen who wants to give hope and show that with determination it is possible to start from scratch and build a business.
Fred Simard has come a long way.
“I may have a special past, I’ve seen all sides of the coin, I’ve lived on the streets, I know what it’s like to only have clothes on your back, it feels like part of my journey,” he confirmed Co-owner of Cidre Joli Rouge.
He lived on the streets of Montreal for almost a year, but those weren’t the only pitfalls he faced.
“It has evolved over time, when you start from scratch you are not afraid to take risks. After that I worked at Laflamme for 11 years. My journey made me not to judge anyone,” he said.
The citizen of Saguenay rolled up his sleeves and decided to go into business. For two and a half years he has been at the helm of Cidre Joli Rouge, a regional company that has the wind in its sails.
“My creativity helps, I make customers with things I’ve experienced,” said the businessman.
Fred Simard has many projects in mind and other companies could see the light of day very soon.