As part of the Portraits of merchants & professionals of Côte-des-Neiges project, we invited Zeineb Khalfallah (@zeineb_conscience on Instagram) to join us in our visit of 11 businesses of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges who have participated in the project.

Meet Richard, Nathalie and Jean-François | Portraits of merchants and professionals of Côte-des-Neiges

Learn more about your merchants and professionals of the Côte-des-Neiges district! // Let’s meet with : Richard Trottier, Nathalie Tremblay and Richard Laviolette, Partners of Marché Jean-Brillant

Who doesn’t know the famous Jean-Brillant market? Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The market feeds many residents in Côtes-des-Neiges and more!

For the citizens of the neighborhood, as well as those who live in the surroundings, this magical place is the perfect spot to fill up on vitamins.

We had the chance to meet the Co-owners of the Jean-Brillant market, Richard Trottier and Jean-François Laviolette, and the manager Nathalie Tremblay who warmly welcomed us.

Since 1982, the Jean-Brillant market has played an important role in its customer’s daily life by offering them quality products.

“It’s a lively district and the clientele is diversified. This is what pushed the founders of the market to set up shop here”, said Richard.

Since the market is only open during the summer months, residents are often sad to see their favorite farmers leave during the winter. However, the joy is always felt when it opens in the spring!

Richard told us about the time a kindergarten class gave them a poster to thank them for their services: a memory that moved him deeply.

“The whole class came to give us the sign at the end of the season. It was funny”, he shared with eyes shining with passion and pride.

“When we reopen the market to start the season, we get a lot of love from customers. We occupy an important place in their daily lives and that is priceless”, said Nathalie.

“We come in after the harsh Quebec winter and we bring sunshine back into people’s routines”, added Jean-François.

What makes this place attractive, apart from the large choice of fruits and vegetables offered on the market’s stalls, is its cheerful and welcoming staff.

Nathalie makes sure that everyone who works there feels at home while training them to give the best possible service to customers.

“For me, the market employees are my children! I usually tell my team that we will always be there for them. It’s important to us that the staff feels fulfilled”, she said.

Moreover, the family spirit that reigns in the market makes it so that the owners rarely encounter problems with recruitment.

For our interviewees, Côte-Des-Neiges is a magical place, effervescent and alive, where they feel at home.

For me Côte-des-Neiges is :

Lively (François)

Magic (Richard)

Effervescent (Nathalie)

Writer-journalist: Zeineb Khalfallah

Photographer: Gaelle Leroyer

Artistic direction : Félicia Balzano (SDC Côte-des-Neiges

Complete the experience by visiting the free exhibition on Promenade Jean-Brillant from September 8th to December 5th, 2022. Info: here

ABOUT THE PROJECT: 

Given the great success of its project «Portraits of Merchants and Professionals of Côte-des-Neiges» in 2021, the SDC Côte-des-Neiges is proud to present the second edition of the initiative through an exhibition as well as interviews. This project is aimed at putting residents in touch with businesses on the territory of the Société de développement commercial (SDC) Côte-des-Neiges. Through a series of portraits capturing the essence of 11 businesses, meet 17 owners and managers of local businesses. This social and cultural project is intended to be a real encounter with the human behind the professional. In this second edition, you will discover women and men, young professionals and experienced entrepreneurs, all from different cultures and backgrounds, providing a wide range of products and services. What do they all have in common? Their love for Côte-des-Neiges. Discover the exhibition on the Promenade Jean-Brillant and extend the experience online thanks to the heartfelt interviews carried out with each one of them.

Under the artistic direction of Félicia Balzano, general manager of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges, this project is an initiative of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges and made possible with the collaboration of the Maison de la culture CDN and the borough CDN- NDG.