Message from the Chairman of the Board

Happy Anniversary!

The Association will celebrate a landmark anniversary on June 6. Crossing the threshold of 85 years in operation is quite the feat for an organization such as ours. Along with the Chambre de commerce de Montréal and the Union des producteurs agricoles, we are among the oldest professional associations in Québec.

In other words, the ARQ has navigated through all of the industry’s struggles, whether rationing during the war, the development of a culinary offering during the Expo, the debate over “bring your own wine,” or, more recently, the updating of regulations governing alcohol sale and service. The ARQ has made undeniable progress in improving conditions for industry operators and it remains committed to this mission. 85 years after its official inception, the ARQ is more relevant than ever as it continues to be the voice of those who trust it to address the pressing issues facing the industry. Think about tip sharing, the labour shortage, and even the scourge of “no-shows.” While the future will undoubtedly deliver more topics of interest, rest assured the ARQ will take on these endeavours on behalf of Québec’s restaurant industry!

I can therefore confirm that the ARQ has a robust infrastructure allowing us to continue upgrading our service offering, such as adding new discounts and rebates on products or services, developing an even stronger purchasing program, and providing seasoned government representation. There are projects already underway for the next few years.

I assure you, the future is looking better than ever!

Hugues Philippin Chairman of the Board of Directors 2022-2023