HISTORY

SHAPING YOUR
WORLD

and the story
of Trudel

Our story begins with the dream of one man: William Trudel. He was a young police officer, but he aspired to lead one of the largest real estate companies in Canada, built on bold new ideas and the power of people.

In the early 2000s, William bought his first apartment. With only $1,500 in savings from jobs washing dishes and driving a used Chevrolet Chevette, he was hardly what you would call a mover and a shaker, but he was determined and was not afraid of hard work. He forged his vision of reality with his own two hands. Renovations, rentals, acquisitions, and sales quickly followed. By the age of 25, he owned dozens of residential units and stood out thanks to his innovative ways of creating value where others saw none.

In 2008, William knew the time had come to accelerate his business growth, so he founded Trudel Immeubles, a company specialized in acquiring, developing, and growing commercial, industrial, and office properties. At the time, he saw opportunity in the global economic crisis and pivoted toward the asset types with the most potential for growth. This marked the beginning of the company’s first major phase of accelerated growth.

Along the way, his brother Jonathan Trudel, a career police officer like him for over 15 years but also a communications expert, joined the venture. Jonathan took on responsibility for communications, marketing, social acceptability, and government relations. Simon Métivier, who had a way with numbers (and was also a former dishwasher at the same restaurant as William), quickly signed up too, taking on the company’s financial and administrative functions. This trio of partners, with William as president, became the driving force behind the company’s exceptional expansion.

With both hands on the wheel, William went on to launch several other fully integrated companies specializing in property management, security, and construction. He surrounded himself with a seasoned executive team driven by the power of people. The Trudel name soon gained strong visibility across the Quebec City region, making headlines with major transactions and the acquisition of strategic, high-potential sites.

THE FOLLOWING YEARS WERE FILLED WITH GROWTH.

2018. Acquisition of the Fleur de Lys Shopping Centre for $60 million. It was the first time in history that Fleur de Lys had Quebec owners.

2019. Acquisition of First Capital Realty’s Quebec portfolio: 28 properties for $165 million, the largest real estate transaction of the year in the province.

2022. Reorganization of the Trudel companies, full buyout of partners in redevelopment sites, and acquisition of the Dorchester block.

Despite this phenomenal growth, William Trudel and his company remain grounded and focused on serving the community. Each year, the company supports causes that matter to them. Notably, William has served as honorary chair of the Québec Ville en Rose campaign for the past five years, helping raise over $1.25 million for the Breast Disease Centre at the CHU de Québec teaching hospital. His parents Johanne and Alain are also deeply involved in these charitable efforts.

As the son of a police officer and an elementary school teacher—both of whom still live in the family home near his Beauport headquarters—William still remembers his humble beginnings and how important it is to be available for his team and fellow citizens. Each week, he takes his car (thankfully, a more modern one today) to visit the company’s properties and chat with tenants—most of whom he knows by name. He also considers the 150+ employees working across the Trudel entities as part of his extended family.

Trudel’s future is bright. The company aims to surpass $1 billion in valuation by 2027 and is already ahead of schedule, having exceeded $500 million in 2022. With the largest redevelopment projects in Eastern Quebec in its capable hands, the company is poised to redefine best practices in an industry that is typically more staid. Thanks to the values of innovation, integrity, and excellence embodied by its president, William Trudel, the coming years will be an exciting journey for the entire team of professionals writing Trudel’s story day by day.