Credit AGM MCL
Students and entrepreneurs from across Laval were honoured on April 27 during the 28th edition of the Défi OSEntreprendre Laval Gala, where 20 prizes totalling $10,100 were awarded, according to organizers.
The event brought together participants from primary school to college, as well as startup founders, highlighting projects across the school, student, business creation and established business categories.
The gala was hosted by Caroline De Guire, CEO of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Laval.
Event organized in under ten weeks
Earlier this year, the chamber announced it would take over coordination of the Laval edition of the competition.
According to De Guire, the 2026 gala was organized in less than ten weeks, representing a logistical challenge. She said the success of the event reflects the ability of Laval’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to mobilize quickly to support emerging talent.
She also highlighted the work of her team, including Khadija Solgui, director of programming and event experience.
The gala was organized in collaboration with the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de Laval, responsible for the school component, and the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Laval.
Path toward the provincial stage
Regional winners do not automatically advance to the provincial level. Some must first complete interviews to be selected as finalists.
Those selected will be invited to the Quebec-wide gala in Quebec City, where national winners are announced.
Local artist among winners
Among the recipients was Laval comedian Serge Yvan Bourque, who received an award for the organization Productions Invraisemblables in the social economy category of the business creation stream.
The award was presented by the Mille-Îles, MNA Virginie Dufour.
Credit AGM MCL
School category winners
Several student projects were also recognized:
- Primary Cycle 1: Lil’ Lemons: Lemon-Aid for the Hives, John F. Kennedy Elementary School
- Primary Cycle 2: Marché de Noël, École Marc-Aurèle-Fortin
- Primary Cycle 3: Photo du Boisé, École du Boisé
- Secondary Cycle 2: Hors du sol, École Mont-de-La Salle
- Adapted education and adult sector: Coco Fuego, Centre de qualification professionnelle et d’entrepreneuriat de Laval
Additional jury favourites were awarded to projects from Laval Senior Academy and Mont-de-La Salle.
Student and business categories
At the college level, SeeTheMotion from Collège Montmorency received top honours.
In the business creation category, winners included Coffret Moody, Lajoie Conseil, Profyle, RESET Développement personnel, Académie Addas and Zineb TherapiCo.
The “Développement durable” special prize was awarded to PRAC+ Conseil, while Profyle also received the Scientific Chief’s award.
In the “Réussite inc.” category, which recognizes established entrepreneurs, the prize went to O’Citrus.
A province-wide initiative
Défi OSEntreprendre has been active across Quebec since 1998 and includes four main streams: school, student, business creation and business success.
According to organizers, more than 300 local coordinators are involved across the province’s 17 regions, supporting participants from early-stage ideas to established enterprises.
