From the surveyor to our water engineers and infrastructure specialists, each of our departments is characterized by its unique synergy, with members whose personalities are as varied as their expertise.
At lunchtime, the team gathers in the kitchen, and you’ll find a bit of everything. Our developers conversing in binary, our surveyors discussing in Meridian degrees, and our engineering experts chatting about the Leaning Tower of Pisa. When you hear contagious laughter or a lively voice from the back of the office, it’s likely one of our cheerful accountants joining the group!
With her own unique energy and good humor, today we meet Linda Simard, a senior accounting technician at Can-Explore for 7 years, and in a senior role for 4 of those years. She is one of our longest-serving employees, leading her four-member team in the company’s accounting department, and brings a total of 17 years of experience in the field.
A Journey Without Stops
In school, Linda was that friend who was involved in every possible committee. If there wasn’t a committee, Linda would create one. She completed her accounting diploma at Cégep Garneau in Quebec in 2008. Her boundless energy and management skills made her stand out. She completed a program that allowed her to swiftly gain professional experience in the field alongside her studies (internships). It’s no surprise she didn’t have to search long before landing her first job.
Before joining Can-Explore, Linda managed accounting and administration for a small construction company with as much flair as Tom Cruise flying a plane in Top Gun. After 10 years juggling two roles—both for the construction company and a CPA firm—Linda gained valuable expertise in the field. Her experience with the construction firm allowed her to specialize in the construction sector and understand its intricacies deeply. Meanwhile, her work at the CPA office provided her with a broader financial perspective, managing multiple clients in parallel.
After her maternity leave, she realized it was time to fly toward new horizons. She felt the call for renewal, seeking challenges, movement, and a company where she could continue to grow. She then landed at Can-Explore, a young and rising company with ambitions as great as her energy.
A Thriving Company for a Restless Accountant
Managing the administration of a rapidly growing small business was the perfect opportunity for Linda to leverage her innate logistics and management skills. Following her heart and with a bit of boldness, Linda dove headfirst into the adventure at Can-Explore alongside the young founders, Louis Légaré-Lapointe and Olivier Lefebvre, as well as the third shareholder, Tom Tardif.
“I had some doubts about joining Can-Explore; it was nearly still a startup back then! I had two kids and about ten years of experience, so I wanted something that fit well for me but also offered new challenges. I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this, but I was still hesitant when I picked up the call from Can-Explore, and it was my intuition that finally said: Yes, I’m in!”
“I often ended up with a bunch of invoices that needed approval. Instead of shouting back and forth, I’d sit on a small chair and place my laptop on the corner of Linda’s desk. We’d tackle them together! We developed a method where Linda handled creating the invoices. Those are fond memories, and we still use the methods we developed together 7-8 years ago!”
—Patrick, Infrastructure Director at Can-Explore and the company’s longest-serving employee
A Playground to Match Her Dynamism
To be happy, Linda needs action and teamwork with colleagues. The operational aspect of her work at Can-Explore quickly resonated with her. In her 11 years with the company, there has indeed been a lot of movement. The company now has over 150 members, and Linda has witnessed much of this evolution alongside Patrick, our Infrastructure Director and senior member.
The Architect of Gatherings from Day One
From the moment she joined Can-Explore, Linda quickly took the lead with the company’s event committee. With her unifying energy, she brings social activities to life like no one else. When asked why she is the ideal candidate for the committee, her management skills and precision are immediately highlighted by her colleagues.
Whether it’s around the barbecue on the Quebec office terrace, gathering by a pool table with a beer, or enjoying a morning office brunch, the atmosphere is warm and Linda is always nearby to ensure everyone feels welcome. Every year, over a hundred employees gather for holiday celebrations and again during the Can-Ex Fest event. This spring event offers a day dedicated to exchanges, where each department shares their biggest achievements of the year and discusses future prospects.
Linda’s Unique Toolbox
At Can-Explore, each department has tools specific to the experts’ work. In geomatics, these include ultra-precise scanners, drones, and total stations. In Linda’s department, what particularly catches the eye is this artifact from the past placed right in front of her on her desk:
An authentic printing calculator, yellowed with age.
“Ah yes (laughs)! My famous calculator, it sure gets people talking! It’s a tool from my first accounting job. Back then, everyone had one, and it made quite the noise in the offices! But it was practical; we used it to check ourselves! Of course, now software can handle most of that work”, says Linda with a smile.
Linda with her calculator in her office
For a Gen Z member born with a smartphone in hand, the device might seem quite intriguing. When I asked if her calculator is connected to her computer, Linda replied that it’s actually plugged… into the wall. No battery, no network. Yet, like an avid gamer talking about their beloved clicking keyboard, Linda speaks about her calculator’s keys with the same sparkles in her eyes. Watching her demonstrate, her lightning-fast calculation skills become evident. If there were a button-pressing competition, Linda would likely be the judge.
Balancing Work and Family: A Well-Calculated Equation
For Linda, balancing work and family life isn’t a significant concern. Thanks to the flexibility of remote work offered by Can-Explore since the pandemic, she can be more available for her children, like cutting out commute time in traffic. If an emergency arises, she doesn’t necessarily have to come into the office on a Sunday to catch up; she can do it in the evening or whenever suits her best. And, of course, like all moms, Linda’s hobbies become a bit like her boys’, who play a lot of sports. She happily joins them in their activities. Finally, after prioritizing her personal projects and cherished circle, Linda never says no to a cozy evening in her robe with whatever time she has left!
When Creativity Replaces Invoices!
Accounting work sometimes involves chasing invoices, and occasionally the team receives quite original explanations when an invoice is missing.
“Instead of a gas receipt, we’ve received a photo of the gas pump (laughs)! Obviously, that doesn’t work. We’ve also gotten a photo of a lined sheet of paper with a note: ‘I don’t have a receipt.’ It can be very creative (laughs)! It rarely happens, and it’s never meant to be unhelpful. So we laugh about it and help them find something that works.”
Beyond Numbers: Linda’s Human Impact at Can-Explore
In conclusion, Linda perfectly embodies the team spirit and vibrant dynamic of Can-Explore. With her precision, contagious humor, and ability to bring colleagues and friends together for memorable events, she has truly shaped the face of the finance department and beyond. Her career demonstrates that with passion, one can not only excel in their field but also inspire and uplift an entire professional community.
As Linda continues to navigate between numbers, events, and shared laughter, she remains a valuable figure for her colleagues and a model of commitment and balance, both professionally and personally. At Can-Explore, Linda is much more than an accounting technician; she is an ally, a mentor, and above all, a treasured friend.
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