Some believe there is no chance, only destiny. That’s precisely what led Annabelle Chénard and Emilie Fortin to take over a business. Here is the story of Annabelle and Emilie, notaries, tax specialists, and genuinely likable people.
After studying law at Université Laval and completing a master’s in notarial studies at Université de Sherbrooke, Annabelle was planning the next phase of her life when someone told her about Julie Lebreux and her notarial practice in Estrie.
By Annabelle’s account, the meeting between the two women was more like a coalescence. That was when she realized that the profession of notary and tax specialist, focusing on estate planning, was the career she wanted. As a result, Annabelle articled in notarial law with Ms. Lebreux’s firm and started working as a notary. She went on to obtain a master’s degree in taxation and has been practicing full time as a notary and tax specialist ever since.
As for Emilie, she worked at the firm as a summer student before starting her master’s in notarial law, followed by a master’s in taxation at Université de Sherbrooke. And, of course, Emilie and Julie Lebreux’s meeting was just as decisive, and a partnership plan was formed.
But the two women were like ships passing in the night: one was completing her studies while the other was working full time, and vice versa, such that Annabelle and Emilie almost never met in person.
Ms. Lebreux turned out to be an incredible mentor for the two young women. She also spotted an uncommon complementarity in her new employees and saw an opportunity to take the relationship between them further.
Because, you see, Ms. Lebreux was waiting for uncommon talents to whom she could transfer her knowledge and whom she could coach until they were ready to take over the practice. For her, it was clear: these uncommon talents were Annabelle and Emilie.
Plus, experience showed that Annabelle and Emilie were as in synch as she had hoped. A formidable trio had been formed, without them even realizing it. There is no chance…
As you may have guessed by now, Annabelle and Emilie couldn’t have been more interested in taking over Ms. Lebreux’s notarial practice.
A gradual, planned succession
You don’t take over a business at the drop of a hat. You have to prepare. The three colleagues worked together for a year before making the official decision. It was one of those situations in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Under these conditions, it was clear that it was worth the effort. Annabelle and Emilie were in their element, Ms. Lebreux was delighted with how they complemented each other, clients loved the new dynamic… in short, the stars had aligned. In 2022, the firm LEBREUX CHÉNARD FORTIN, notaries and tax specialists, was born. Under the watchful eye of Julie Lebreux, the new partners were laying the foundation for their future.
And that is indeed the advice Annabelle has for anyone who wants to buy a business. “Be thoughtful about it […] it’s a big step […]; it’s like a marriage! It’s important to take your time.”
What about sustainable development?
While they were delighted with the opportunity to take over a business, Annabelle and Emilie wanted to put their own touch on it and gradually make changes to the corporate culture. They started thinking about sustainable practices they could introduce in a business such as theirs.
In fact, as shown in our View on Integrating Sustainable Development in Business, 1 in 3 entrepreneurs still haven’t integrated sustainable development to their business. One of the main obstacles is the impression that sustainable development doesn’t apply to their field.
In reality, implementing a culture focused on sustainable development is possible in any field. Annabelle and Emilie understood this and wanted to do their part to reduce their environmental footprint.
But how?
Annabelle and Emilie were already sensitive to environmental issues, so it was a natural step in their professional journey. However, they realized that opportunities for reducing the environmental footprint weren’t so easy to identify in a business like theirs.
To get things rolling, they made a list of what could be improved in the business, and what could be improved in their personal consumption habits. This is how they decided to adopt the reflex of asking themselves, “Do I really need it?” or “Can I reuse something I already have?” before making personal or professional purchases.
Plus, they decided to replace the envelopes they were using with envelopes made from recycled materials and bought a water cooler and glasses they wash rather than offering clients bottled water.
Annabelle and Emilie also took the time to meet with staff and inform them of their environmental convictions and commitment. Employees were encouraged to make choices in line with these convictions when making professional purchases.
More recently, they have been working on saving energy. And rather than moving, with all the costs and resources that involves, they decided to optimize their existing workspace.
That’s how simple it can be! No need for big plans to make a big difference!
You may be thinking that small businesses can’t have a big impact. Our View on Integrating Sustainable Development in Business shows that this is a myth. Even the smallest businesses can have a significant impact on sustainable development.
Annabelle and Emilie have also understood that businesses with a sustainable development culture have better financial performance and more easily attract and retain employees.
Of course, it’s an ongoing effort. There is always room for improvement. But Annabelle and Émilie have decided to take it slow, respecting the needs and capabilities of everyone in the firm.
With this incredible spirit of collaboration, Annabelle Chénard and Emilie Fortin approach their profession with care and authenticity, all while demonstrating the utmost in professionalism. It’s a winning combination!
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Thanks to the engagement of invaluable partners: Économie Québec, through its agent Investissement Québec, the Government of Canada, National Bank, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Fondaction, Evol has a large envelope to support, through conventional loans, businesses with inclusive, diversified ownership that generate positive social and environmental impacts in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG).