MAURICE BRASSARD


My father, Maurice Brassard, studies at the Flax School and graduates in 1941.

In the same year, he is appointed as manager of the Cooperative Flax Factory at a salary of 60 dollars a month.

Because of the economic collapse of the flax market after the war, the cooperative closes its factory. In 1945, he founds a company
“La Filature Plessis” with three of his friends.

In 1955, a serious disagreement with the other shareholders gives him no choice but to leave the company. A few weeks later, he goes to the United States and buys two 60-inch carding machines. With two employees working in an old shed, he subcontracts for wool blanket makers from Beauce.

The raw material received involves large size spools of yarn. At first, my mother and grandmother weave with that yarn but as it goes, there is more and more of it accumulating in the basement at home. Eventually, my parents have the good idea of advertising in the “Bulletin des Agriculteurs” which was very popular at the time in rural areas.
My father buys supplementary machinery, adding to the two carding machines to double and roll up the yarn.
In 1959, my parents enlarge our home on St-Charles St. to operate a modest store in the basement. In 1972, with the help of family members, he builds a large garage behind the house. The two carding machines are destroyed and he moves the doubling and winding machinery to that garage.

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MAURICE BRASSARD ET FILS INC

In 1977, having to deal with a fast progression of sales, Maurice and Jeannette (my mother) ask Diane (my wife) and me to come and help them.

At that point in time, Maurice Brassard et Fils is founded. Being a graduate at the School of Textile in St-Hyacinthe and having always worked in that line of business, that was a natural opening for me. Diane, being a nurse, didn’t have any objection in changing her career plan.

Maurice looks mainly after the winding of the yarn; Diane is at billing; Jeannette is in charge of the store and I prepare the shipping of orders.

It doesn’t take long to conclude that our specialty is selling weaving yarn through mail orders. “Post Office”

We also sell “Nilus Leclerc” looms, but the sale of weaving yarn is our lifeline. We print a price list in English as well to expand our territory.

In 1980, we build a small factory (50’ by 72’), including a shop on Simoneau St. Four employees keep busy at winding the yarn.

In the 80s, people generally practice weaving quite a lot. We take advantage of the habit and increase our offer of products and very rapidly our catalog is the most complete in the country.

Maurice passed away in 1994

In 1995, we buy Nilus Leclerc de l’Islet and its technology. It takes a few weeks to move in all the material and machinery to Plessisville. Nilus Leclerc becomes Leclerc Looms Inc. and is set up in rented space creating three jobs. Every wood part is made by a subcontractor in Plessisville as well.

Since yarn and loom sales follow a constant increase, it becomes evident that the space we need for our business is not appropriate. Fortunately, in 2001, we can find an opportunity and acquire a 25 000 sq.ft. 2-story building.

This place allows a much larger shop, a more functional yarn winding department and approximately 10 000 sq. ft. for Métiers Leclerc.

Also, in 2001, after studies in textile and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at Laval University, our son Étienne joins the enterprise.

Winding department

In 2007, Stéphanie (wife of our other son Jean-François) also joins our project and is in charge of billing and customer service.

Our mother Jeannette passed away in 2010