Benoit Caron has accumulated nearly 35 years of experience in business development and management, with almost 30 years specifically focused on cooperative development. He is widely recognized for his involvement and expertise in creating and fostering cooperatives that address economic and social needs while emphasizing their consolidation. Benoit has played a significant role in the recovery and revitalization of national sectoral organizations. His exceptional qualities as a manager, developer, and entrepreneur, along with his effective communication skills, particularly as a speaker, have established him as a leader and a respected figure within the cooperative movement.
The principle of “bringing together” has become a guiding motto that Benoit strives to apply in all aspects of his life. After completing studies in administration, law, and communication, he established himself as CEO of the Coopérative de développement régional Québec-Appalaches and the Confédération québécoise des coopératives d’habitation, demonstrating his commitment to the cooperative movement. For the past fifteen years, Benoit has served as CEO of the Fédération des coopératives de paramédics du Québec. Additionally, he holds executive positions within the Réseau de Coopération des EÉSAD and a Mutual Prevention in Occupational Health and Safety. In 2011, Benoit founded the Consortium coopératif québécois de services fédératifs to promote intelligent resource utilization. In 2014, he co-founded the Consortium de ressources et d’expertises coopératives, which serves as a shared services center for collective enterprises in Quebec. In 2018, he further established the Fédération québécoise des coopératives de santé.
Driven by his unwavering dedication and belief in the transformative potential of cooperatives, Benoit emphasizes the importance of mobilization to establish the cooperative model as a solution that meets the needs of communities, empowering all individuals involved to exercise their decision-making power. In recognition of his contributions, Benoit was bestowed the title of Trusted Personality in the mutualist and cooperative sector by the Institute of Trust in Organizations (ICO) in 2017. He serves on various boards of directors, including the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité (CQCM) and the Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI). Moreover, he holds the chairmanship positions in the Conseil régional des partenaires du marché du travail de Chaudière-Appalaches, the Table des fédérations sectorielles québécoises, as well as the Maison de la Coopération et de l’Économie Solidaire de Québec.
Within the Consortium, Benoit assumes the role of CEO and acts as the primary liaison with public decision-makers. Leading by example, he ensures that the Consortium finds tailored solutions to meet the specific demands of its members.