September 2022

Quebec’s largest truck dealer acquires Tardif Diesel in Estrie
GLOBOCAM PURSUES ITS QUEBEC EXPANSION

Quebec, September 20, 2022 — GLOBOCAM, Quebec’s largest heavy truck dealership network, announced today that it has acquired Tardif Diesel in Estrie, an established family business, which specializes in the sale and repair of Freightliner and Western Star heavy trucks. The acquisition of Tardif Diesel, which was founded in 1981 by Mr. Gaston Tardif and Mrs. Gaétane Plamondon at Ascot Corner, enables GLOBOCAM to strengthen its brand and to expand its presence in the province.

Customers at the rebranded Estrie site, which will be known as GLOBOCAM Estrie, have been adapting smoothly to the transition which began in July, as has the rejuvenated team and its new general manager, Dominique Beauregard. “With more than 20 years of experience in management positions, including 15 years as General Manager of heavy truck dealerships, Dominique is the perfect person to lead this team of experts,” said Maxime Boyer, GLOBOCAM’s Vice-President and CEO.

“We are pleased to be able to better serve our customers with this acquisition in Estrie and to simultaneously strengthen our brand. The addition of Dominique to the team, who is an experienced manager in the field, will enable us to extend and standardize GLOBOCAM’s service into another region of Quebec and to attract additional talent,” said Mr. Boyer.

“I am very proud to take on the General Manager role, to be part of the GLOBOCAM family and to contribute to its growth and expansion. Customer service has always been my first priority and I intend to maintain that focus going forward. For example, this transaction enables the GLOBOCAM Estrie team to make available new Freightliner trucks directly in the Estrie region,” said Dominique Beauregard, GLOBOCAM Estrie General Director.

“Tardif Diesel is a family business that has built up a solid team and a more than three-decade long track record. These include approximately thirty professionals who are experts in their fields and passionate about what they do. The human side of GLOBOCAM and its vision of service care are strong selling points in attracting new talent. I’m excited to see what the company that was started and built by my parents will be able to accomplish in terms of growth during the coming years,” says Mr. Jean-Marc Tardif, President, who had taken over the family business in recent years.

A PLAN THAT CONTINUES
GLOBOCAM stepped up its growth trajectory rapidly after it acquired dealers in Quebec City and Lévis in 2016, and in the Beauce region in 2021. With this new acquisition, the company now has more than 500 employees across the province spread out in eight locations. GLOBOCAM continues to make considerable progress in its objective of delivering 2,500 trucks per year by 2025. The company’s continuous improvement strategy means that it is always on the lookout for business opportunities, ways to expand its service offering, and to better serve its customers.

ABOUT GLOBOCAM
GLOBOCAM which was founded in the Saint-Laurent borough in Montreal, in 1994, has grown over the years into Quebec’s the largest network of heavy truck dealerships. It’s team of more than 500 professionals spread out over eight dealerships, enables the family business to market a broad range of new Freightliner and Western Star trucks, used trucks of all brands, and to offer complete repair and complete maintenance offerings related to these vehicles. GLOBOCAM also operates an extensive parts department and a financing arm.

A world premiere
Theobroma Chocolat launches a first organic, plant-based, Zero sugar chocolate

Quebec (Canada), September 15th, 2022 — Theobroma Chocolat, recognized for its organic chocolate products, is innovating once again through the global launch of Yummy Zero Sugar, a new plant-based, zero sugar, organic chocolate. Social manufacturing has been a key cornerstone of innovation efforts since this Canadian company, which was founded in Quebec, began operations. Two years ago, Theobroma Chocolat challenged its R&D team to create a Zero sugar, nutritious, and delicious-tasting chocolate, and a line of complementary protein chocolate snacks. It took lots of hard work: but mission accomplished!

“Yummy Zero Sugar is an indulgent healthy alternative which provides consumers with low to zero sugar options. Our delicious alternatives complement our current collections and align with our quest to be a delicious force for change. We don’t say no to sugar. But we focus our energy on creating healthier indulgence that are fun, care about you, the planet and your eating habits,” says Jean-René Lemire Theobroma Chocolat’s co-president, and co-founder.

Theobroma Chocolat is targeting a growing demand. According to research conducted by Sugarwise, an international certification authority that assesses sugar content in foods and beverages, and Strategy, a consultancy, in 2010, 39% of Canadian consumers said that sugar content was an important criterion that they took into account when selecting foods. By 2017, that number had jumped to 69%. In 2020, fully 72% of Canadians said that low sugar content was a priority and nearly 80% of those surveyed said they wanted to reduce their sugar intake. Experts say that consumers are now taking in 10 times the amount of sugar recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Our Yummy Zero Sugar products won’t fix everything. But they will help consumers meet World Health Organization recommendations! The ingredients have been carefully chosen, are certified organic, and deliver on the same promise as all Theobroma products: pleasure first, enjoy! Yummy Zero Sugar has a rare flavor profile that matches that of dark chocolate with sugar while surpassing the traditional no sugar added chocolate experience. Theobroma Chocolat has achieved this goal with its range of premium certified organic products,” says Josée Vigneault, the company’s co-president and co-founder.

The products Minis with flavours Coconut and Special Dark.

A Canadian and a world premiere
Yummy Zero Sugar is made with an organic and natural sweetener that is rich in vegetable fibers. This fiber derives its content from cassava fibers. These fibers differ from the current sugar-free or sugar-controlled confectionery products that are available on the Canadian market, which use synthetic sweeteners that are hard on the digestive system, and which mask the creamy taste of chocolate.

Theobroma Chocolat will introduce its Yummy Zero Sugar product line to major industry players at the upcoming Canadian Health Food Association Natural Organic Wellness (CHFA NOW) exposition which will take place in Toronto on September 17th and 18^th, 2022. The Quebec company also made the short list of confectionery innovations, with its organic plant-based sugar-free chocolate, which were highlighted at the 2022 Sweet Snack Expo in Chicago.

“CHFA NOW is a great venue that Canada’s natural, organic and wellness products developers can leverage to introduce new offerings. We look forward to meeting innovators who are breaking boundaries at this important event,” said Aaron Skelton, CHFA NOW’s President and CEO.

Theobroma Chocolat’s new Yummy Zero Sugar line is available online at www.theobroma.com . The new collection will be launched in October in Chicago, a city which bills itself as “the candy capital of the world.” Shortly after that the products will be available throughout the United States.

About Theobroma Chocolat
Theobroma Chocolat was founded in 2008 in Quebec by Josée Vigneault and Jean-René Lemire. The plant was built around our vision of Getting Smarter Together. Each product that we make must respect the five commandments in our “Chocolate Charter.” These include: Pleasure first, enjoy it! We care about our planet! We care about you and future generations! We say no to artificial flavors! We say no to GMOs!

Theobroma Chocolat is a recognized leader in the North American organic and fair-trade gourmet chocolate industry. We are constantly on the lookout for innovations that promote sustainable development and a taste for happiness. The products of our Quebec based company are available throughout Canada.

2022 Philanthropic Contest

$500,000 IN DONATIONS FOR CHARITIES SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Quebec City (Quebec), September 14, 2022 – On the strength of the contest’s success the last five years and the important contributions made to Canadian communities, iA Financial Group is bringing back its Canada-wide philanthropic contest for the sixth year. From September 14 to October 14, iA is inviting charities that have a mission, or a component of their mission, dedicated to supporting people with disabilities* and their communities by answering the question, “What would you do with a donation of $100,000?”  The charities with the most inspiring submissions will share a $500,000 donation to develop their projects or continue their missions.

“At iA, we support and celebrate diversity and encourage inclusion. Our differences make us unique, and even stronger. It’s these values that have motivated us to support Canadian charities providing assistance to people with disabilities and their families this year. We’d like to invite all organizations that meet these criteria to enter,” said Denis Ricard, President and CEO of iA Financial Group.

The organizations, working in the health, education, environment or social services fields, will be grouped into four geographic regions (Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Northern Canada/Atlantic Canada) in order to guarantee a fairer distribution of donations across the country.

THE VOICE OF THE PUBLIC
At the end of the contest entry period on October 14, a jury will pick three projects from each geographic region which will be presented to the public on November 1. iA Financial Group will then invite the public to vote on the projects they find the most inspiring. The winners will be announced on December 5.

The charity that receives the most votes in each region will receive a grand-prize donation of $100,000. The remaining finalists will each receive a donation of $10,000. iA Financial Group’s 8,500 employees will also vote on their favourite charities, which will each receive a special donation of $20,000.

Full contest details and the complete list of eligibility criteria are available at
donations-contest.ia.ca/community.

• September 14 to October 14: Submission period for Canadian charities
• October 14 to November 1: Selection by the jury of the 12 projects to be presented to the public
• November 1 to 24: Public vote for the projects that inspire them the most
• Week of December 5: Announcement of the winners

The first edition of the contest was held in celebration of iA Financial Group’s 125th anniversary in 2017. Since then, the company has held an annual contest, with a new theme every year, in order to help as many charities as possible. In the 2021 contest, a total of $600,000 was donated to charity organizations across the country supporting the health and wellbeing of children.

About iA Financial Group
iA Financial Group is one of the largest insurance and wealth management groups in Canada, with operations in the United States. Founded in 1892, it is one of Canada’s largest public companies. iA Financial Group shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols IAG (common shares) and IAF (preferred shares).

*Motor, physical, sensory, mental or intellectual disability, chronic illness, developmental disorder.

A $300 million+ investment
A MAJOR NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN KIRKLAND

Kirkland, QC, September 6, 2022 – Rosefellow, a leading real estate developer, and the Town of Kirkland announced the construction of three energy-efficient LEED-certified buildings in a $300 million+ project aligned with the city’s industrial and sustainable development plan. This major industrial project, which favorably positions the municipality in western Montreal’s economic development landscape, will be located on a prized 1.3 million square-foot lot in its northwest sector.

Work will begin in the spring of 2023 and take place over a period of one year on this signature project inspired by thoughtful and sustainable design characteristics that align with the City of Kirkland and Rosefellow ‘s desires to create a high-end cutting edge industrial hub.

The acquisition by Rosefellow of this city-owned lot represents a major gain for the company. “We are setting the bar high! We will use 100 years of combined experience to build an exceptional project that will make Kirkland shine on a national scale. This high-end industrial development will attract some of Canada’s most renowned tenants. We would like to thank the city for the trust they placed in us, and above all, for believing in Rosefellow’s vision,” said Mike Jager, Rosefellow’s co-founder and co-owner.

These new facilities, coupled with the retention basin and stormwater network recently built in the area align perfectly with the Town of Kirkland’s industrial and sustainable development plan.

“We are very pleased with this collaborative venture with Rosefellow,” said Michel Gibson, Mayor of Kirkland. “The development of this prized property in a quality urban environment is part of the municipality’s strategic vision of consolidating a cutting-edge industrial and commercial sector, on both sides of the Highway 40. This prestigious industrial project, endowed with high-quality architectural and landscape harmonization, will shine throughout the region and across the province.”

A COVETED PIECE OF PROPERTY
The new development will be built in Kirkland’s industrial zone, a prestigious site located in the Western part of the island of Montreal, at the corner of Highway 40 and Boulevard Saint-Charles. This strategic location, which is in close proximity with the REM transportation hub, is accessible by car and public transit and will enable future investors, tenants, distributors, and employees to pursue their activities on the island of Montreal.

Rosefellow will install a wall not far from the residential area located near the new industrial campus in order to preserve neighboring residents’ safety, sight lines, and tranquility. The wall’s precise location remains to be confirmed.

Rosefellow has headed several large-scale industrial real estate projects during the past year. These include construction of a cold storage warehouse for Congébec in Mascouche, a new Nespresso distribution center located in Pointe-Claire, and an industrial hub in Casselman, Eastern Ontario, where Ford Canada has rented out space.

The new development will be located in the Western part of the island of Montreal, at the corner of Highway 40 and Boulevard Saint-Charles.

ABOUT ROSEFELLOW
Rosefellow is one of Montreal’s leading real estate development firms with over 20 million square feet of industrial and multi-residential projects under development in Quebec and Ontario. Rosefellow designs, builds and manages buildings that push the boundaries of sustainable innovation at every opportunity. The company is responsible for the recent completion of the Cent-Onze residential rental project in Saint-Laurent, which is scheduled to open in the fall 2022, as well as several industrial buildings in the Montreal region and in Ontario.

ABOUT TOWN OF KIRKLAND
Kirkland is a young and dynamic city located in the heart of the West Island of Montreal whose territory extends over an area of 9.64 km² and which serves a population of 20,081 inhabitants. Kirkland’s ease of access, proximity to essential services and the quality of the services it offers residents and corporate citizens who choose to call Kirkland home, are all attributes that make Kirkland the vibrant city it is today, a great place where to live, work and play.