Luc Maurice

Dear reader,

We’re all caught up in the frenzy of our daily lives. But it’s when we stop and take a look around that we become aware… that we connect with others… that we open up to our environment.

That’s what happened to me over 30 years ago during a morning run. I noticed a seniors’ residence under construction that left a lot to be desired. It looked more like a prison. Is this what was in store for my parents and grandparents? It certainly didn’t meet the needs and aspirations of any independent seniors that I knew. I immediately felt a challenge. I was going to build residents that were the exact opposite of what I saw. Places where people would enjoy their retirement years like never before!

The adventure begins

Le Groupe Maurice is the leading designer, developer and manager of innovative residential retirement complexes since 1988. Although our purpose is to offer living environments that meet the needs and aspirations of today’s and tomorrow’s seniors, today the company has become much more than that. We’ve embraced the cause of seniors with such devoutness, that we have become the standard-bearer of better aging in Quebec society. Our efforts to denounce ageism even convinced us to create a Foundation.

Today, it makes me happy to see people come to life after moving into one of our residences. To see them smiling at our initiatives and being proud of our activism. It’s rare and so precious to feel all this happiness and joy in one place. That’s when I say to myself: mission accomplished, Luc.

Fortunately, or strangely, I never did things like everyone else. My journey is proof of that. After completing my studies at the Royal Military College of Saint-Jean and obtaining a bachelor’s degree in administration, I enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces. My dad was so proud. The experience was formative for me, but I quickly tired of following restrictive regulations. The future entrepreneur that I was to become seemed in a hurry… He wanted to build something. He wanted to be useful. But what? And how?

In 1978, I began pilot training in Saskatchewan, during which my desire to help others was revealed. Relocated to Edmonton, I led a team for the first time as chief pilot of a Canadian Armed Forces squadron. But I was just 29 years old. My whole life was ahead of me, and my mind was full of ideas to create something with my own hands.

I enrolled in an MBA program at the University of Alberta.

A path that didn’t follow a straight line

Fortunately, or strangely, I never did things like everyone else. My journey is proof of that. After completing my studies at the Royal Military College of Saint-Jean and obtaining a bachelor’s degree in administration, I enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces. My dad was so proud. The experience was formative for me, but I quickly tired of following restrictive regulations. The future entrepreneur that I was to become seemed in a hurry… He wanted to build something. He wanted to be useful. But what? And how?

In 1978, I began pilot training in Saskatchewan, during which my desire to help others was revealed. Relocated to Edmonton, I led a team for the first time as chief pilot of a Canadian Armed Forces squadron. But I was just 29 years old. My whole life was ahead of me, and my mind was full of ideas to create something with my own hands.

I enrolled in an MBA program at the University of Alberta.

And then, a surprise: I was called by the Governor General of Canada, Madame Jeanne Sauvé, who offered me the position of aide-de-camp. Naturally, I couldn’t refuse the opportunity, which allowed me to meet many influential people in the business world. This fueled my curiosity for entrepreneurship and my ongoing desire to bring my ideas to life.

Then, for a period of two years, I was the lead in charge of the Governor General’s Conference on Canadian Studies. Soon after that, I became Director General of Corporate Affairs at CANAC International until 1997.

Still… I couldn’t stop thinking about my retirement residence project, which I knew was so desperately needed. And so, Le Groupe Maurice finally came to life the following year! The freedom, independence, security, and socialization of the residents were my main initial objectives.

My desire is to offer you a plethora of possibilities for the enrichment and fulfilment of your retirement. I desire for you to dream, to create… to live the most wonderful and most exciting years of your entire life. And of all this, I want to witness it… as long as possible!

Executive President and Founder

It was during the winter of 1984 when I saw that sorry excuse for a retirement home while I was out running. It changed me forever. Shortly after, I decided to write my thesis on “Design Optimization for Retirement Homes”. It was now crystal clear: I wanted to find solutions to improve the quality of life for seniors.

In 1987, Gestion Dali Management was founded. This consulting firm designed and evaluated the development of retirement homes, although it ultimately wasn’t successful. Nevertheless, it allowed me to gain experience and above all, to conduct market research in 38 cities across Canada.