The industry mourns the passing of Princecraft’s Marcel Dubois 

May 28, 2024

Last week the Princecraft dealers received a letter regarding Marcel Dubois that said,

“It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that today we announce the passing of a cherished member of the Princecraft® family. Marcel Dubois, an iconic figure of the company, left us Wednesday, May 15th, at the age of 76, after succumbing to a battle with cancer. 

Marcel Dubois was an integral part of the company for decades and remained deeply attached to Princecraft® to this day. He made his annual appearance at dealer meetings, no matter where they were held. Despite retiring in June 2008, he was eager to maintain his collaboration with us and continue to live within the Princecraft® family. For Marcel, Princecraft® represented much more than just a business; it was the result of his tireless efforts for over 25 years, a true culmination of his career and a part of himself. 

Marcel began his career with the company in 1982. At that time, he worked for Alcan, which owned Princecraft®, but the company seemed to stagnate, without prospects for growth.
 
In 1985, Marcel Dubois and Jacques Daneault both worked for the company. At that time, as Alcan sought to divest Princecraft®, they seized the opportunity and personally acquired the company, giving birth to Produits Nautiques Altra. At that moment, the two men did not fully grasp the challenges ahead. However, looking back at Princecraft®’s history today, it is undeniable that they succeeded in their endeavor. 

Princecraft®, a Quebec-based SME, revolutionized the aluminum watercraft market in North America. It was thanks to Marcel and Jacques that the first square-chine aluminum boats were introduced to the market, with the sole purpose of conquering it. Due to limited resources, the two men were never able to patent this new design, which quickly drew attention from competitors to their innovation. Also in 1985, Princecraft® launched a new line of pontoons, followed seven years later by the introduction of the deck boat

Marcel accomplished remarkable work that propelled Princecraft to the renowned status we know today. He had a clear vision: to create a thriving business in the marine industry, all from Princeville. He poured his heart and soul into this company, as well as into the well-being of his employees. Providing job opportunities to people through his work was his absolute priority. 

Marcel retired in the fall of 2008, after over 25 years of service. He worked tirelessly to make Princecraft® a strong and innovative company in its field. He invested thousands of hours in the company to ensure unparalleled sustainability for the brand. Princecraft® has undoubtedly been a huge part of his life, and we will always be grateful to him for everything he has accomplished throughout his career. Marcel leaves us an exceptional legacy that will continue to guide our actions and vision for years to come. 
 
Outside of his commitment to Princecraft®, Marcel was deeply involved in the community for over 40 years, whether as chairman of the board of the Hôtel-Dieu d’Arthabaska, involved in various organizations such as the CIUSS-MCQ, the Bois-Francs et de l’Érable Chamber of Commerce, and many others. He was a pillar of the healthcare community in the Bois-Francs et de l’Érable region. Indeed, from 1992 to 2004, he led the Hôtel-Dieu d’Arthabaska hospital, then continued his involvement from 2004 to 2015 with the CSSS d’Arthabaska-et-de-l’Érable. He then served the CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec, first as a board member from 2015 to 2018, then as Chairman of the Board until 2021. He played a crucial role in the realization of several healthcare projects in the region, including the expansion of the Hôtel-Dieu d’Arthabaska. He was a man with a big heart, driven by the desire to give back to his community. His legacy within the community will continue to live on through the numerous projects and improvements he initiated. 
 
Therefore, it is with great difficulty that we attempt to find the words to express the profound sadness accompanying this terrible news. We wish to take a moment to extend our deepest condolences to Marcel’s family and friends during this challenging time.
 
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 30 from 1 PM to 5 PM and from 7 PM to 10 PM as well as Friday, the day of the funeral  from noon at Gregoire & Desrochers funeral complex 1300 Notre-Dame East Street in Victoriaville.  The funeral will be celebrated this same day Friday, May 31, at 2 PM in the church of St-Christophe-d’Arthabaska. https://www.gregoiredesrochers.com/avis-de-deces/8761/marcel-dubois