The Thomas Bellemare company we know today was originally incorporated in 1959.
The four Bellemare brothers, including Raymond, Gilles, Luc and Maurice, then took over the reigns of the company. It was the next logical step for a business that had started under their father, Thomas, and mother, Florence.
In those days, work mainly consisted of moving clients and building homes using concrete they would manufacture with a small mixer. And yes, the brothers did obtain the Yamachiche church foundation contract in 1959. The job required 13000 bags of concrete, or 13 trips to move the needed powder.
1959
The company builds a new and publicly-accessible garage under the B/A name.
1963
The company becomes a certified John Deere agricultural machinery dealer.
1966
As a loyal client of Louisville's Ciments Maski, they decide to buy the company. As concrete work begins to take up most of their time and effort, they see no option but to change their initial vocation. Agricultural machinery, home transportation and construction is left behind. Due to the seasonal nature of concrete manufacturing work, the company decides to focus on snow clearing. Snow clearing has, after all, been a substantial part of the business from the very beginning.
Armand Roy, father of Jean-Guy and Trois-Rivières-Ouest municipal councillor, witnesses the rise of the Bellemare brother and soon offers them the city's snow clearing contract. The brothers accept in 1959. Twenty-odd years of snow clearing for Trois-Rivières-Ouest follows, garnering considerable approval from the city's inhabitant. Alternating contractors have since been hired. During the same period in 1959, the company receives the excavation contract for the Trois-Rivières-Ouest shopping centre. They go on to clear the shopping centre's snow for the next 3 years.
In 1966, after purchasing Ciments Maski, they turn their attention to heavy machinery, acquiring a D4, a Cochshut 50 with a Massey Fergusson backhoe and a home-made shovel. A sturdy loader came with the package.
1970
Rapid expansion begins with the purchase of the company's first Poclain LC80. Maurice personally operated the vehicle for over 6 months at Trinity Bay in Sept-Iles.
1972
With their sights set on Trois-Rivières, the company builds the Trois-Rivières-Ouest industrial district's concrete plan in what had until then been an entirely rural area. There were no buildings, no La détente tavern, no Honda or Toyota dealer, no Baptiste touche à tout, no arena, no carwash, no boulevard des Récollets, no 55, no 40, no Trois-Rivières municipal garage and no co-ops. In short, there were nothing but trees. Even the Trois-Rivières-Ouest industrial district hadn't been built yet.
1974
With the Louisville plan becoming rapidly out-of-date, the company sets out to build a new one. It's the very same plan that stands there today.
1976
Having always looked favourably upon the Béton Laurentide factory, the Bellemare brothers buy interest in the company. This marks the beginning of bulk concrete transportation at Béton Laurentide, along with Ciments Maski in both Louisville and Trois-Rivières-Ouest.
1977
In 1977, the Yamachiche garage becomes far too small and must undergo a considerable expansion made all the more necessary by the rapidly advancing work that has been taking place at James Bay since in 1975.
1979
High-quality sand is needed for the company's daily concrete work. Sables des Forges is bought by the company.
In 1972, the company had set a goal for itself: To pay off the Trois-Rivières-Ouest concrete plan within ten years. To make this happen, they must put 110% into everything they do. In 1979, believe it or not, the goal is reached. The plan is completed and new goals are set.
1982
Bulk concrete transportation takes on substantial proportions. Let's not forget that everything had been carefully planned.
1986
With plenty of room in Québec for another crane company, the Bellemare brother conduct a market research into the idea, convinced that success would crown their efforts. Once again, the company awakes to a new dawn. Indeed, Thomas Bellemare continues to leave his mark on everything from the lowest foundation to the tallest bell tower.
If you were to take a drive through the heart of Québec with a few of the company's representatives, you would be surprised to discover the sheer number of places that continue to stand thanks to the Bellemare name.
With Noël St-Louis, we were the first to settle in the Bécancour industrial district. Henri Paquette and Constructeur St-Maurice soon joined in. The Place de Centre was completed by Thomas Bellemare under winter-time conditions. With Ovide Demontigny, the Jean Fréchette garage was completed on a 23rd of December in -30 degree weather. Consider the list: The aréna de poche, repairs on the Colisé, the Trois-Rivières library, the Canadian Tire store, the Coopérative, the coloured sidewalks, special excavations, special arrangements, the early use of silica fumes, concrete deliveries made by mixer aboard a tow-barge on Lac St-Pierre, stones installed in the St. Lawrence River by hydraulic shovel, concrete brought by helicopter, loading boats, the Trois-Rivières-Ouest arena, viaducts, sewers, roads and bridges. Nothing got away from us, with the exception of the Trois-Rivières municipal garage and the concrete barge at the Trois-Rivières pier.
In 1982, a jet sand factory was built. Today, bulk or bagged sand is delivered all over Québec and beyond.
Thomas Bellemare was the first and only entrepreneur to maintain winter roads in Yamachiche. The distinction lasted until 1982, after which Yamachiche never again hired the same company twice.
Thomas Bellemare performed maintenance on Pointe-de-Lac's winter roads for over 25 consecutive years, while a substantial number of years were spent clearing those of St-Antoine de Rivière-du-Loup.
No other company has ever been granted the snow clearing contract for highway 40 between St Barthélémy and Pointe-du-Lac. This was true when the highway opened, and it remains true to this day.
With over 125 employees, our team is proud to display all that has been built, fought for and won over the past decades.
