Knowing that we don’t know everything
The trials and tribulations of the past year and a half have been a great source of motivation for me to do even more, even better… and even faster. Thereâs so much to accomplish to improve the reality of seniors that my audacity, my rigour andâto the great displeasure of my Executive Committeeâmy impatience were challenged. But, fortunately, I am by no means claiming to know everything. I know that Iâll always need to learn if I want to be able to do more, better and faster… but most importantly, well. To do this, weâve called on experts, amazing people whoâve seen and experienced more than we have, to guide us in our next steps. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to two members of Le Groupe Mauriceâs new Advisory Committee: David McAusland, a consultant with the firm McCarthy TĂ©trault and an internationally recognized lawyer, and Daniel Fournier, former President and Chief Executive Officer of IvanhoĂ© Cambridge.
 Iâm extremely fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional people who have a generous streak in them, who want to help others by sharing their experiences, whether good or not so good. As Daniel Fournier told us, with a smile on his face: âIâm going to share my mistakes with you, so you donât repeat them!â
What a blessing, isnât it, to be able to take advantage of all this wealth of information, and to feel, on top of that, that it is being shared wholeheartedly? Not only that, the Committee will push us, help us to go further into uncharted territory, in order to discover ourselves and grow even more. What I like is that our new committee is composed of professionals from different backgrounds, outside the world of retirement homes. Their contribution will be all the more valuable.
In this regard, David McAusland shared with us a very enlightening reflection. âWe live in a time when everything has become very complicated⊠and interconnected. Weâve experienced, through the pandemic, how what happens in China affects us, as well as what happens in Africa or anywhere else in the world. If we want to make a difference, we have an obligation to think about strategies that are inclusive and that will endure over time, that will allow us to adapt, to learn, to listen and, as much as possible, to have friends and allies who respect us. When people trust us, and we trust people, itâs amazing what we can accomplish.â
Accountability
We all have an impact on society. All of us. Individually, collectively and professionally. So itâs only natural that we make sure we do so with every ethical and responsible mechanism possible. But it takes modesty, openness and a willingness to change, to improve. As I wrote in a previous blog post, what will ensure our salvation in this unstable world is cooperation, altruism, mobilization, wonder and long-term thinking. All the VPs on the Executive Committee are delighted with the arrival of this Advisory Committee, which we fervently hope will enable us to move in this direction. Because, just like me, they have this thirst for learning to ultimately help others.
âWhen I met all of you on the Executive Committee and saw the dedication, the authenticity and the passion that drives you, it touched me, because I recognized myself in you. At this stage of my life, I want to be involved in projects that I can connect with, that will allow me to learn and give back what Iâve been lucky enough to receive. And then, when you see what happened during the pandemic, in addition to the growing senior demographic, you understand that what needs to be done is colossal. The work of Le Groupe Maurice is more than necessary and needs to grow to help even more people. Thatâs why it needs to be extended to other markets. The welfare of seniors and their quality of life is extremely important, which is all the more motivating for me,â said Daniel Fournier.
âIn my opinion, in our professional life, thereâs financial income and thereâs psychic income (PI),â said David McAusland. âItâs what you get from working with certain inspirational people or from facing challenges that allows you to grow. Itâs really important for me to surround myself with projects, people or companies that will give me that PI. Itâs in these situations that I feel valued, and thatâs what I find with you, at Le Groupe Maurice. Being part of this committee is motivating, because the context, the nature of the challenge, the values… all of this resonates with me. At 67 years old, I want to work with inspiring people, whom I respect and with whom itâs easy to communicate… with whom, even if the problems are complex, we can have fun. Thatâs what makes me feel like Iâm making a difference, and most importantly, learning.ââ
What I take away from David and Danielâs words, what reassures and inspires me even more, is that despite their great expertise, experiences and successes, their keen and intelligent eyes betray this immeasurable desire to know others, to learn from situations, to continue to be amazed. Iâm therefore even more convinced that no matter the profession, the life story… the age!, what makes us rich is the humility of knowing that we donât know everything.
 Luc Maurice
Since this article was written, a third person has been added to Le Maurice Groupâs Advisory Committee: France Margaret BĂ©langer, President, Sports and Entertainment of the CH Group.