From homeless to entrepreneur, Saguenay’s inspiring journey

From homeless to entrepreneur, this is the inspiring journey of a Saguenay citizen who wants to give hope and prove that with determination, it is possible to build a business from scratch.

Fred Simard has come a long way.

“I may have a unique past, I’ve lived on all sides of the coin, I’ve lived on the street, I know what it’s like to have the clothes on your back, it feels like it’s part of my journey,” co-affirms -Cidre Jolie Rouge owner.

He lived on the streets of Montreal for almost a year, but these were not the only dangers he faced.

“It has evolved over time, when you start from nothing, you are not afraid to take risks. I have worked at LaFlam for 11 years. My journey has led me to not judge anyone,” he said.

The Saguenay citizen decided to roll up his sleeves and go into business. For two and a half years, he was the head of a regional organization called Ceedre Joli Rouge, in which he owned the air.

“My level of creativity helps, I build clients with things I’ve experienced,” says the entrepreneur.

Fred Simard has a lot of projects in mind and other companies could soon come to light.