South Shore Furniture chairman Guy Laflamme dies at 74

Michael Knell -- Furniture Today, August 23, 2011

Guy Laflamme

SAINTE-CROIX-DE-LOTBINIÈRE, Quebec — Guy Laflamme, chairman of case goods producer South Shore Furniture, who built his company into one of Canada's largest furniture manufacturers, died Sunday, surrounded by his family. He was 74.

Laflamme succeeded his father, the late Eugene Laflamme, who had founded South Shore in 1940, as the company's managing director in 1970.

Guy Laflamme immediately expanded the production capacity of the Ste-Croix factory with the acquisition of Morrissette & frères, based in nearby Laurierville. In 1978, South Shore expanded again with the acquisition of another Quebec furniture maker, J.W. Kilgour Ltd. of Coaticook.

Over the years, all three factories have been expanded to make South Shore Furniture one of this country's largest furniture producers. The still family-owned and managed company specializes in ready-to-assemble and assembled adult, youth and baby bedroom, home office and home entertainment furniture.

"Guy Laflamme dedicated his entire life to the expansion of South Shore Furniture," the company said in a statement.

Laflamme also was involved in the Quebec business community, serving as president of the Quebec Council of Employers from 1994 to 1999, and was a member of the United Nation's Organization for Industrial Development, serving as its Quebec director in 2002.

In the 1970s, he served two terms as mayor of Sainte-Croix de Lotbinière. He also was involved in the Canadian Armed Forces reserves and was active in a number of community and charitable organizations.

He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance in 2005.

He is survived by his wife, five children and 15 grandchildren. His son Jean Laflamme is president and CEO of South Shore Furniture.

Condolences will be accepted by the family this Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Centre funéraire d'Aubigny, at 154, rue du Mont-Marie in Lévis, Québec.

Funeral services will be held at the Notre-Dame Church of Lévis (18, Notre-Dame St.) at 11 a.m. Friday.

The family requests memorial donations be made to La Fondation de la Maison Michel-Sarrazin, www.michel-sarrazin.ca; Le Noël du Bonheur, www.noeldubonheur.com; or Fondation Général Roméo Dallaire, www.romeodallairefoundation.com.