MONTREAL (19 October 2009) - Décocentre Bouvreuil has been named the Accents Meubles' "retail member of the year" by Cantrex. Presented during the group's recent conference and exposition for its Quebec members, it was one of three retailers to be recognized for their contributions to the group.

Owned by Julie Grégoire, Décocentre Bouvreuil is a single unit operation in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

Meubles Yvan Piché, based in Labelle, Quebec was named affiliate member of the year.

Ameublement Larochelle of Victoriaville was named the Expert Appliances member of the year for Quebec. Larochelle is also an Accent store.

(From left to right) Monique Deshaies, Richard Deshaies, Daniel Vallée, Nicole Deshaies from Accent Meubles Victoriaville are seen here being presented the Expert Appliances "Best Retailer" award for 2009 at the recent Cantrex regional conference. Looking on at the far right are Isabelle Dugas and Denis Corbeil of Cantrex.

Cantrex also recognized three of its suppliers for their contributions to the furniture, appliance and bedding division's efforts in Quebec during 2009. The vendors' award recipients were chosen by the members, who voted in a survey conducted the group.

Selected by the members for their ‘Show Stopper' award was Literie Giddings of Granby, the producer of Therapedic branded mattresses in Quebec.

The ‘Best Team' award for a vendor went to motion upholstery specialist El Ran while the ‘Innovation' award was presented to the Sommex division of Spring Air Canada.

Approximately 160 people attended the awards evening, which was held to close the group's Quebec regional conference.

The keynote speaker for the conference was former Quebec premier Bernard Landry, now an economics professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, who presented his assessment of the economy in that province.

More than 50 vendors also took part in a mini-trade fair during the convention, covering almost 30,000 square feet of exhibit space. The group reported that approximately 70 member stores - about 60% of the Quebec membership - attended the show and placed orders with the vendors.

Cantrex president Alain Masse (left) presents the "Affiliated Retailer of the Year" award for 2009 to Yvan and Julie Piché, owners of Meubles Yvan Piché, based in Labelle, Quebec.

Cantrex president AlaCantrex president Alain Masse (left) is seen here with Valerie Stranix and Aulin Monette of Spring Air Canada/Sommex, winners of the group's "Innovation" vendor award. Looking on (at right) is Jean Favreau, Cantrex vice president of furniture, appliances and bedding.