User:Gilles Desjardins Brigil

Gilles Desjardins, M.S.M. is the president and founder of BRIGIL, a construction company originating in the National Capital Region of Canada.

BRIGIL Construction
BRIGIL has established more than 8,500 housing units, 2,100 rental units and commercial buildings and 18,000 properties. The company currently employs 125 full-time employees and generates work for more than 1,000 individuals under contract. Visionary and passionate, Gilles Desjardins, M.S.M. humbly calls himself a "craftsman of finance."

"Over time, I learned that my primary clientele is my staff. They are the reason for our success, "he says. This achievement, which reflects his constant concern for the other, earned him recognition by the firm Aon Hewitt as "Aon Best Employers in Quebec" in 2013 and 2014, and "Aon Best Small and Medium Employers in Canada" in 2014.

Donations and distinctions
Gilles Desjardins, M.S.M. has been an outstanding contributor to the economic and social development of the National Capital Region of Canada since 1985. Throughout this time, millions of dollars have been donated by his company, BRIGIL, to more than 300 organizations.

While mobilizing the business community for good causes such as helping the victims of the tornado in 2018, Gilles was awarded in November of the same year the Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada in recognition of his philanthropic work in the National Capital Region of Canada.

He believes that to be successful in life is not everything - you still have to make a success of your life. "Giving is sometimes more fun than receiving. I was pampered by life, by my family. And the people of Gatineau and Ottawa trusted me, so I give back."

Personal accreditations

 * 2018 Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) by the Governor General of Canada in recognition of all his philanthropic work in the National Capital Region of Canada.
 * 2016 Induction to the Temple de la renommée des Gens d’affaires de la Capitale nationale du Canada
 * 2013 Laureate of l’Ordre de Gatineau

BRIGIL

 * 2017 Recipient of the Palm Diamant by the APCHQ
 * 2015 Recipient of the Palm Diamant by the APCHQ
 * 2015 Recipient of the Construction Trophy by ACQ Outaouais
 * 2014 Recipient of the Palm Diamant by the APCHQ
 * 2014 Brigil is named employer of choice (38th in Canada and 5th in Québec) by Aon Hewitt
 * 2013 Recipient of the Palm Diamant by the APCHQ
 * 2013 Brigil is named employer of choice (9th in Québec) by Aon Hewitt
 * 2012 Recipient of the Palm Diamant by the APCHQ

Personal life
In addition to his company and philanthropic involvement in the community, Gilles Desjardins, M.S.M. is incredibly dedicated to his family. He has two sons, Kevin and Jessy, with life partner Céline Bériault.

Early life
Gilles Desjardins, M.S.M. was born in Ottawa, Ontario on October 15, 1965, at Montfort Hospital. At the age of six months, he and his family moved from Eastern Ontario and settled in Pointe-Gatineau, Québec. As an adolescent, he was influenced by his father who had a successful car towing and used car sales business, Gabriel Desjardins. Gilles assisted with administrative tasks, managed client expectations and oversaw daily operations with his father. It was there that he developed a taste for entrepreneurship that lead him to initiate his own legacy at the age of 20.

To commemorate his family legacy and the respect he has for his father, Gilles named the company BRIGIL. BRI- taken from his father's name, Ga-BRI-el, and GIL- taken from his own name, GIL-les.