Rimouski's unique geographical location as the biggest city on either shore downstream of Quebec City, its exceptional maritime vocation and its most hospitable facilities make it an ideal venue to host all types of events. With more than 85,000 people living in a radius of 50 kilometres, this city is influential in all of Eastern Quebec, the North Shore and New Brunswick, in part due to the high quality of the public and paragovernmental services that have offices here, but also because of the dynamic business community that maintains a close relationship with such a vast region.

Through the years, Rimouski has hosted recurrent sports events of provincial, national and international scope. More than 70 teams meet annually for one of the two provincial minor league hockey tournaments. This is also the case for other sports events such as the Provincial Volleyball Tournament, with its ever-growing number of participating teams, and the National Soccer Tournament, which requires the participation of an impressive number of volunteers to oversee the safety and security of more than 1000 children. Rimouski regularly hosts well-known events that require a skilled and knowledgeable organization, including the QMJHL Annual Meetings, the Jeux d'hiver du
Québec (Quebec Winter Games), the Firefighter Combat Challenge, the Grand Tour (cycling) and the tourist industry’s prestigious golf tournament, which will be held in Rimouski in 2009. All of those events take place here because of the hospitality expertise that we have acquired over the years. Large-scale business events are also commonly held in Rimouski. For example, in 1993 and 2003 the ACFAS (Association francophone pour le savoir, the francophone association for the promotion of science) Annual Convention brought more than 3000 researchers, professors and students to Rimouski. We can count on many valuable partners to carry on our tradition of hospitality: the City of Rimouski with its remarkable collaboration, the community stakeholders, the Rimouski Tourism Bureau which has more than 25 years of experience in organizing great events, and all those involved in welcoming visitors (hotels, restaurants, media, suppliers). Not to mention all the attractions of our beautiful region. Those are just a few of our many assets.

Because of the vitality of its residents and the concentration of governmental offices serving all of the Bas-Saint-Laurent area, Rimouski is known as the regional capital and the leader of our regional economy. Several important businesses have also established their headquarters in Rimouski, such as TELUS Québec and Hydro-Quebec Matapedia Region.

Rimouski is also called the “Oceanographic Capital” and the “Maritime Technocity”. There are a number of educational, research and technology transfer institutions which the scientific community can count on: the Institut Maritime du Québec, the Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, the Centre de recherche sur les biotechnologies marines and the Institut Maurice Lamontagne. These are perfect examples of the collaborative scientific and technical network specializing in all aspects of the study of the oceans that is centered here in Rimouski.

The educational sector is also well represented in Rimouski. Students from the Bas Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, the Côte-Nord and from all parts of the country attend secondary and post-secondary institutions including the Commission scolaire des Phares (regional school system), the Centre de formation professionnelle Rimouski-Neigette, the Cégep de Rimouski, the Conservatoire de musique du Québec and, of course, the Université du Québec à Rimouski where many undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs are offered.

Just beyond the limits of downtown Rimouski, you can find nature and take part in many physical and sports activities. Whether it's an excursion to Saint-Barnabé Island, golfing, sea kayaking, fishing or hiking or, in winter, alpine skiing, crosscountry skiing or sail-skiing on the ice of the bay, Rimouski can fulfil the wishes of the most demanding sports fans. The cultural scene is also very diverse. Concerts presented by the Orchestre Symphonique de l'Estuaire, the FestiJazz International de Rimouski, the Carrousel International du Film and the Salon du Livre de Rimouski (book fair), all bring artists and performers from Quebec and all over the world to Rimouski.

Reach for the Stars
Since the dawn of time, sailors have followed the stars to guide them to safe harbour. We, the people of the majestic St. Lawrence River, which we affectionately call the sea, invite you to join us in reaching for the stars. The paths of our four honorary presidents – Sidney Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier, Michel Ouellet and Brad Richards – all stars of the National Hockey League, have crossed that of the Rimouski Oceanic. Each in their own way, these players have contributed to the team's past - by their outstanding performances, to its present - by their continued commitment to the community, and to its future - by wishing Rimouski success in hosting the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup Tournament. This success, of course, will be that of all the stars from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) who will draw on their inner strength and energy to reach for new heights and go as far as their talent will take them. Finally, there is no doubt in our minds that this success will also be that of the members of our community, the enthusiastic people whom you will meet in these pages, who will work tirelessly to make the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup Tournament an experience to remember.

Hugues St-Pierre
Chairman of the Organizing Committee

Hugues St-Pierre is the current Chairman of MAXXAB, a management consulting firm that he founded in 2006 following a thirty year career within TELUS Québec in Rimouski. Recognized for his management qualities and his diverse experience related to the management of publicly traded or privately owned companies, he is appreciated for his leadership based on respect, team work, goal-setting and thoroughness.

Over the last eight years, he was Chairman and Executive Officer of Telus Québec whose head offices are located in Rimouski. Among other achievements, he engineered a partnership program with the Quebec Government which generated $500 million in investments and created 800 jobs in the province. Furthermore, he created a program for the expansion of TELUS Québec activities throughout the province of Quebec, which increased revenues from less than $300 million in 1998 to almost $500 million by the end of 2004.

Mr. St-Pierre has been involved as Member of the Board and Consulting Member of many organizations and still sits on some boards. He is involved in many community causes and fundraising campaigns. For example, in 2005, he was honorary president of the fundraising campaign for the renovation of the historic archbishop's palace of the Rimouski archdiocese. Executive Commitee members

He is vice-president responsible for strategic development for the project to establish a palliative care facility in Rimouski, the Maison Marie-Elisabeth. He is also the chairman of the TELUS Community Investment Committee, which donates half a million dollars annually to more than 80 community organizations in the province.

Sidney Crosby, captain of the Pitssburgh Penguins, was the Oceanic’s first pick in the 2003 QMJHL draft, and he was a dominant player during his first year. He established a new rookie record by finishing with the most scoring points in his first year of play at the age of 16. He played for two seasons and attracted the attention of fans and many media organizations. He won thirteen QMJHL and ten CHL trophies and he led the Oceanic to the Memorial Cup Finals in 2005. On the international scene, he won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2004.

In 2005, he was selected first in the NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. After only two seasons in the National Hockey League, he has won the Art Ross Trophy (the player who leads the league with most scoring points), the Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player) and the Lester B. Pearson Award (Most Outstanding Player voted by fellow members of the NHL). He is also the youngest player in the history of the NHL to have scored 100 points in a single season. Sidney is very attached to Rimouski and comes by every year for the Oceanic Training Camp.


Vincent Lecavalier, center for the Tampa Bay Lightning and captain of his team, was born in L'Île-Bizard, Québec. He played two seasons with the Oceanic, '96-'97 and '97-'98. The first player selected in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, he won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Lightning. That same year, he won the gold medal with Team Canada at the World Cup Tournament and was named MVP of the Tournament. In 2006-2007, he won the Maurice Richard Trophy as leading goal scorer in the NHL. Through the Vincent Lecavalier Foundation, he helps minor league hockey and sick children. Vincent is still very involved in Rimouski.


Michel Ouellet, of the Manitoba Moose, learned to play hockey in his hometown of Rimouski. He played four seasons with the Oceanic (from 1998 to 2001) and won the 2000 Memorial Cup with Brad Richards. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (124th) by the Pittsburgh Penguins, he played for the Penguins organization until 2007, when he became a free agent. He then joined the Tampa Bay Lighting, where he reunited with his old team-mates Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier. In October 2008, Michel Ouellet is exchanged to the Vancouver Canucks organization. Michel is very involved in the Rimouski community and a foundation has been named after him. He supports many causes dedicated to helping young people in the Rimouski area.


Brad Richards, of the Dallas Stars, is a great hockey player. He holds many records and has won many awards. He played three seasons with the Oceanic (from 1997 to 2000). At the end of his final season, he joined his team-mates in lifting the Memorial Cup and was awarded six individual trophies. In 1998, he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning (64th). In June 2004, he won the Stanley Cup as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. In February 2008, the talented forward is exhanged to the Dallas Stars. Brad is very attached to Rimouski and never fails to mention it when given the opportunity.

Chantal Pilon
Event Manager

Ms. Pilon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations from Laval University and has over 15 years experience in sales, tourism and marketing communications. Before joining TELUS, she worked for several years in the tourist, sales and marketing industries for the Quebec City Tourism and Conventions office and for several hotels including the Château Frontenac.

Ms. Pilon started working for TELUS in the year 2000 as a Consultant for Marketing Communications and shortly thereafter, was promoted to Sector Director of that department. For six years, she was responsible for sponsorships, donations, events and business & consumer advertising for TELUS Québec. In February 2006, she was given the mandate of creating a new department at TELUS Québec, Loyalty & Retention, which is responsible for field marketing activities for the entire wireline consumer market.

Chantal is dedicated to her community. She is presently President of the Board of Directors for the Association of mentally handicapped persons for the chapter of Rimouski and has been a member of the TELUS Community Board since its inception in October 2005. She has also served in the past on the executive committee of the Rimouski Chambre of Commerce and 2 years as president of the annual Gala.