History

BILODEAU Canada is the story of a passion, that of its founder Mario Bilodeau. From an early age, his father and grandfather introduced him to hunting, fishing, and trapping. By the age of eight, this interest had turned into a true passion. To perfect his hunting techniques, he observed and learned about the behavior of different species. It was also during this time that he discovered taxidermy and, with one of his cousins, stuffed his first animals.

Mario Bilodeau's professional career began in 1985. With jobs scarce in the 1980s and a desire to make a living from his passion, he teamed up with two friends to found his first business in Saint-Thomas-Didyme (his hometown). The company, Taxidermie M et M, specialized in the purchase and sale of raw fur and the creation of taxidermy pieces. Part of the workshop was converted into a store. Regular requests prompted the young entrepreneur to explore the field of clothing manufacturing, specifically fur garments, in order to diversify his activities.

Driven by his passion for nature, Mario developed extensive expertise in the fur trade and a deep respect for the wildlife he showcased. His early partners moved on, while new ones joined him. In 1990, he and his wife decided to leave their native village and settle in Normandin (a neighboring town). A shop-workshop was set up in the basement of their new home, while the garage was used as a fur dressing center. The following year, Mario purchased new premises. This tripled the work space and allowed him to redesign the shop.

The company now operated under the name Taxidermie Mario Bilodeau. The product offering diversified and the order book exploded. In addition to taxidermy pieces, the manufacture of fur items such as mittens, hats, and even coats was growing rapidly. This growth justified the hiring of new staff members. Longtime friends Marco Gilbert and Angelo Gagnon joined the team. Over the years, Marco became an expert in fur dressing and finishing, and Angelo became the head taxidermist. Through their work, they greatly contributed to the organization's reputation.

In 1997, BILODEAU Canada was officially founded. With the arrival of the new century, the company opened up to international markets and made its first export sales. Sales multiplied and products were exported to the United States, China, and many European countries, among others. The development of these new markets ensured steady growth for the company.

In 2003, collaborations began with the film industry and a number of contracts were secured, both in Canada and the United States. Over the years, the company developed its expertise and diversified its offering to this clientele. At the same time, BILODEAU Canada acquired and moved into its current premises. Formerly an agricultural cooperative building, it offers immense spaces spread over four floors. These will be gradually converted to accommodate the ever-growing number of employees.

During its first twenty years (1985-2005), the company developed its expertise and established its various departments. It gradually integrated the different stages of fur processing into its activities. It adopted the concept of sustainable development and used several of its strategies to improve its performance. Meanwhile, the number of employees grew from 3 to 35.

From 2005 to the present, the various departments have been refined, automated, and expanded, while the staff has become more specialized. The multidisciplinary composition of the work teams allows for the creation of unique, large-scale pieces as well as the mass production of clothing items. BILODEAU Canada employs more than 85 people who work to manufacture fur products. These products are distributed to more than 400 retailers across Canada and exported to 27 countries. Bilodeau Canada is the story of a passionate man who held on to a dream that became reality, and the story continues...

Since 2021, the company has been managed by three new shareholders, who have been well established for several years. Maintaining the same values, the company continues to grow year after year.