Event open to all
FORAC celebrates its 20th anniversary this year! In 2002, a partnership was born between academics and industry to accelerate innovation and expertise within the Canadian forest sector. Over the years, FORAC has distinguished itself as a training and innovation center.
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to celebrate with us on May 31, June 1 and 2. The first two days will take place at the Manoir du Lac Delage for a series of conferences, followed by an industrial visit on the last day. We will have the pleasure of welcoming leaders from the forest industry and academia. You will find the preliminary program attached.
This congress will cover very different aspects such as the history of FORAC, serious and educational games, the future of forest products, Sweden's forest industry and more. Two very interesting panels are planned: an industrial panel bringing together high-ranking people who will discuss the challenges facing the forest industry, as well as a panel bringing together former FORAC students who will explain to us how their time at FORAC marked their career.
Program
Tuesday May 31st
8h30 – Greetings
Speech by Minister Dufour.
9 h 00 – De la forêt à l'université: l'impact du FORAC
Sophie D'Amours, rector, Université Laval
Jonathan Gaudreault, professor in the department of computer science and software engineering, Université Laval
Jean-Marc Frayret, professor in the department of mathematics and industrial engineering, Polytechnique de Montréal
10 h 30 – Supply chain development in Swedish forestry - From EU-regulations to automation
Gert Andersson, Program Manager - Operations System, Skogforks
Mikael Rönnqvist, professor in the department of industrial engineering, Université Laval
11 h 30 – L’avenir passe par la jeunesse d’ici et d’ailleurs: Bien formée
Robert Beauregard, professor at the department of wood and forest sciences, Université Laval
13 h 30 – L'industrie du futur et ses modèles: la Silicon Valley de demain, c'est la forêt!
Yan Cimon, professor in the department of management, Université Laval
15 h 00 – Panel des industriels
Animators: Nancy Gélinas, dean of the faculty of forestry, geography and geomatics, UL & Luc LeBel, professor at the department of wood and forest sciences, UL
Panelists:
- Maxime Cossette, Corporate vice president, Fibers, biomaterials and sustainability, Kruger
- André Gravel, CEO, Gestion Solifor inc.
- Frédéric Lebel, CEO, Groupe Lebel
- Stéphane Renou, CEO, FPInnovations
- Hugues Simon, President Wood products, Resolute forest products
- François Tardif, Chairman of the Board, Maibec
18 h 00 – Banquet
Wednesday June 1st
8h30 – Greetings
9 h 00 – Digital training approaches for wood supply management – developments and opportunities
Dag Fjeld, professor at the department of forest technologies, SLU
Philippe Marier, research professional, FORAC
10 h 30 – Atelier de réflexion sur l’avenir de l’industrie forestière
Animators: Daniel Beaudoin, professor at the department of wood and forest sciences, UL & Philippe Giguère, professor in the department of computer science and software engineering, UL
Panelists:
- Annie Beaupré, General manager, Fédération québécoise des coopératives forestières
- Francis Charette, Manager, Digital transformation, FPInnovations
- Frédéric Dufour, Directeur général de la connaissance forestière, Ministère des forêts, de la faune et des parcs
- Luc Duval, Operational efficiency coordinator, Produits Forestiers Résolu
- Pascal Gagné, President and Director of strategic development, Groupe PG
- Nicolas Meagher, Fiber sourcing manager, Domtar
13 h 00 – Optimiser, numériser et décarboniser la foresterie
Shuva Gautam, professor at the College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin
Eric R. Labelle, professor at the department of wood and forest sciences, UL
Evelyne Thiffault, professor at the department of wood and forest sciences, UL
15 h 00 – Panel des leaders de la relève : des gens et des idées pour l'avenir du secteur forestier
Animators : Luis Antonio de Santa Eulalia, professor at the School of management, USherbrooke & Nadia Lehoux, professor at the department of industrial engineering, UL
Panelists :
- Foroogh Abasian, Data modeling scientist, FPInnovations
- Jean-François Audy, professor in the department of management, UQTR
- Maha Ben Ali, Professor at the department of mathematics and industrial engineering, Polytechnique
- Mathieu Bouchard, general supervisor, Produits forestiers Résolu
- Élaine Mosconi, professor at the school of management, USherbrooke
- Mustapha Ouhimmou, professor at the systems engineering department, ÉTS Montréal
- Vanessa Simard, PhD student in industrial engineering, UL
Thursday, June 2nd (FORAC members only)
8h00 – 16h30 – Industrial day: Field visit
The field visit will take place with Groupe Lebel in Charlevoix.
Transportation between the university campus and the place of visit is included in the registration price. Lunch is not included during the visit. Please bring your own lunch.
The detailed schedule is available here.
Inscription
We will have the opportunity to offer you a hybrid formula, either face-to-face or online. You will find below the different early-bird and regular registration costs.
| Early Bird until april 30th |
Regular - in person | Regular - online | Students |
| 2 days | 215$ | 165$ | 100$ |
| 1 day | 130$ | 100$ | 65$ |
| May 31st banquet | 65$ | n.a. | 65$ |
| Industrial day | 45$ | n.a. | 45$ |
| Regular pricing until May 15th |
Regular - in person | Regular - online | Students |
| 2 days | 325$ | 250$ | 150$ |
| 1 day | 195$ | 150$ | 90$ |
| May 31st banquet | 100$ | n.a. | 100$ |
| Industrial day | 70$ | n.a. | 70$ |
Accommodation
You can reserve your room at the Manoir du Lac Delage via the website or by phone at 1 888-202-3242 (toll-free) and benefit from the preferential event rate until April 30, 2022, by mentioning or entering the code 339058. The cost is $209 per night.
Complete address of the Manoir du Lac Delage: 40 Av. du Lac, Lac-Delage, QC G3C 5C4
Transport
A shuttle service for students will be available to get to the Manoir du Lac Delage from the Pouliot Pavilion. More details will be available in the coming weeks.
Essay competition for students
Would you like to publish your first article? FORAC invites you to write an article (max. 1,200 words) on a theme of your choice relating to the forest industry and stand the chance of being published in the Forest World. The winner will be announced at the banquet on May 31st, 2022. You have until April 30th, 2022 to send your article to evenements@forac.ulaval.ca to submit your application.
Thank you to our sponsors
Main partner
Major partners
Associated partners
For any questions, contact the organizing committee at evenements@forac.ulaval.ca.
Your organizing committee
Luc LeBel
Nadia Lehoux
Luis Antonio de Santa Eulalia
Sophie Bélanger-LeBel
Émilie Lachance