‘ LEADER OF THE PACK’
Go- getter works out of Lachine condo
Mireille Chéry is a dynamo — a stunning, photogenic woman, whose speech is punctuated by long, hearty laughs. A go- getter who has worked at a variety of things in her 30- something years, she came to Montreal from Haiti as a child. Her early beginnings have made her very aware that not everybody is lucky enough to lead a privileged life.
A self- confessed “leader of the pack” even when she was in high school, she organized a number of events, raising money for charity — something that she has ended up doing full- time. Before getting to that stage, however, she studied business administration at CEGEP Rosemont. (“At that point I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do.”) Then, she went on to earn a degree at Hautes Études Commerciales, learning more about the world of commerce.
In between her studies, she frequented her local library, devouring books about administration, leadership, management, marketing and promotion — all the time holding down a part- time job at a major TV company. There her skills were recognized by a number of “great mentors” who swiftly promoted her from receptionist to a researcher and manager.
A stint with a couple of charitable organizations — Chez Toi and the Quebec Lung Association — followed, then she got involved in her first entrepreneurial enterprise, which was running an art gallery for young, struggling artists. Nowadays, Chéry is the CEO of F. I. S. H. Corporation — a foundation that provides “a roof and bed for all people in need.” She runs the business from her home in Lachine, a modern condo with an all- in- one living space. The walls are white and the floors and kitchen cabinets are chocolate brown with brushed steel handles. Her office is tucked away at the far end of the room, underneath a window.
Q How did you end up in Lachine? A One of the consultants on the board of F. I. S. H. happens to be in real estate and he heard about this place. He knew I was looking for somewhere that wasn’t too expensive, so he talked to one of the owners and negotiated a good deal — $ 210,000. That was in 2013.
Q Were you familiar with the area? A Not at all! ( Laughs.) To me, Lachine was in the boonies. To be perfectly honest, I’m a city woman. I love the noise, the electricity, the vibrancy. I miss that. I can’t stay one week in Lachine without visiting the city. I just can’t!
Q But you’ve got used to Lachine now? A Of course! The people I deal with on a daily basis — in the stores, the bank — all know me. It’s a great community. I’m only five minutes from the canal and I love that. In the summer, I take a picnic with me, sit by the water and read a book.
( We walk over to her home office where she shows me a map of the world on the wall, marked up with the countries she has been to and the ones she’d like to visit. Across from her desk is a sitting area with an electric faux fireplace, a white sofa and an extraordinary- looking coffee table, which is really more like a sculpture.
The surface, which is sunken in the middle and covered with an orange and white geometric pattern, is surrounded by squiggly motifs in a darker shade. The whole piece is ringed by a green pointy frame, which Chéry is quick to warn me, can hurt if you accidentally bump into it.) Q What an extraordinary piece of furniture! Where on Earth did you find that? A It’s made of metal, so it’s very heavy. It was one of the pieces I took with me when I was no longer involved in the art gallery.
( She shows me another art gallery souvenir, also acquired from one of her former exhibitors, explaining that instead of charging artists a hefty commission as most establishments do, she used to levy a modest fee and accept artwork in lieu of payment. This piece too is remarkable. Inspired by the events of 9/ 11, it is a giant canvas of a plane hovering over a cluster of high rises. It hangs by the open- plan kitchen that has a breakfast counter flanked by a pair of bright green bar stools.)
Q Those are jolly! Where did you get them? A I think it was Brault & Martineau or somewhere like that. They came in three, four, five pieces. I put them together myself. ( Laughs.) I sat on the floor with instructions, going back and forth, trying to figure out how to put them together. I drank a glass of wine. That helped!