Pharmascience celebrated its 25th anniversary with a number of special events, including planting a Colorado Blue Spruce evergreen in front of the company’s building. Attended by over 1500 of employees and their families, this event remains one of the year’s most memorable. David Goodman, the company’s CEO, inaugurated the ceremony with the following speech :
TREE PLANTING & PLAQUE CEREMONY SPEECH
DAVID GOODMAN
What you are witnessing here today is what you, and many before you over the last 25 years, have helped build – one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in Canada. A company whose mission, from day one, was to offer quality medication, at affordable prices, to the greatest number of people - from coast to coast, and then from one continent to the other.
The majestic Colorado Blue Spruce evergreen that has just been planted for this special occasion will serve as a symbol of what Pharmascience stands for – the conviction that sustained growth can only happen when strong and vigorous roots are meticulously planted in fertile soil. Morris Goodman did exactly that 25 years ago. He did it with close collaborators such as Ted Wise and thousands of others, and all of you. As we all know, planting is only the beginning – a successful company is a lifelong labor of courage, of love, and a great deal of sweat!
This vibrant silver-blue tree, which was first discovered in Colorado, bears a lot of similarities to the essence of our company’s success: adaptability and versatility.
The Colorado Blue Spruce is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions and weather conditions, including ice storms – and for those of you who have spent a few years with us, you know what I am talking about – increased competition, difficult government regulations, and MG getting more and more impatient!
The Colorado Blue Spruce is, like Pharmascience, also versatile. Aside from being a great ornamental tree, its wood is used to manufacture paper, to build musical instruments and even planes – did you know that the Wright Brothers’ first aircraft was built out of spruce? Its leaves and branches can be used for spruce beer; and in survival situations spruce needles can be ingested or boiled into a tea to replace large amounts of Vitamin C – Early settlers used it as a preventative measure for scurvy.
Pharmascience’s versatility is found within and outside its walls. Within, we find over 1200 people with diverse backgrounds, ethnicity, and expertise, all working together to better serve the healthcare of millions of individuals, young or old, around the world. Outside of its walls, the company’s versatility is found in the wide range of its product offering, customer mix, and geographical distribution. Like the Blue Spruce, it is through your efforts and talents, and our leadership team’s vision that we will be “Growing Stronger Together” for years to come.
From thereon, I would invite you to refer to this resilient Spruce tree as “The Goodman Tree” in tribute to Pharmascience’s founder, Morris Goodman, whose resilience in this fast-changing industry is now the stuff of legends.
The inscription on the commemorative plaque, specially designed and hand-crafted, to mark this 25-year anniversary reads as follows:
“Growing Stronger Together”
The Goodman Tree is dedicated to the vision and leadership of Morris Goodman and to the employees who, over the course of 25 years, have contributed to the success of Phamascience.
Celebrating the past, present, and future growth.
We say a heartfelt…
“Thank you”
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25th ANNIVERSARY GALA
The company also hosted a gala evening in celebration of its 25 years in business, and invited hundreds of guests, including representatives of all Chain pharmacies, independent pharmacy owners, special guests including Mr. Normand Cadieux, Mr. Pierre Moreau, and government officials including the Honorable Irwin Cotler, Mr. Pierre Arcand, Mr. Alan DeSousa. The evening was a huge success and closed with none other than Andre-Philippe Gagnon, the renowned imitator/artist.
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FAMILY DAY
On September 14th, 2008, PMS held its Family Appreciation Day, celebrating our 25th anniversary with all employees and their families. Upwards of 1500 people attended, including children of all ages, to enjoy the games, prizes, petting zoo, food, and a very attractive take-home crystal memento for all participants. Welcoming remarks were made by Mario Deschamps and David Goodman. Dozens of employees volunteered their time to organize and host the many site tours, and to help animate the event at the main Royalmount site.
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GOODMAN CANCER CENTRE
Following the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Pharmascience, The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre was inaugurated on September 18, 2008 at McGill University.
The Centre, located in the new Life Sciences Complex on Avenue des Pins (corner Peel), will bring together more than 200 cancer researchers focused on the implementation and acceleration of innovative cancer research directions, translating biomedical discoveries into treatments and cures. In addition, the gift will support a Chair for the study of pulmonary cancer and the training of young researchers.
The Goodmans hope that one day cancer will be a disease of the past and they want to be part of making that dream a reality!!!
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HEALTH PARTNER INTERNATIONAL
Since 1995, Pharmascience has been working with Health Partners Int'ernational of Canada (HPIC), a non-profit medical aid and development organization operating in more than 60 countries worldwide. Pharmascience has donated over $22 million in products and the goal is to reach $25 million in donations during 2009, in commemoration of our 25th anniversary. “Our commitment to “creating the difference” is ensuring that our medicines are assisting people and communities at risk in the developing world,” said David Goodman, CEO of Pharmascience. “Pharmascience and our employees are proud of the opportunity to partner with HPIC in such a meaningful manner.” Pharmascience was the top donor of medicines to HPIC in 2008!