The branches of a great family tree
The GDS family
From left to right: Mr. Guildo Deschênes, Mr. Sylvain Deschênes, Mr. Georges Deschênes and Mr. Frédéric Deschênes.
Established in 1947 by Mr. Georges Deschênes, founding president, Groupe de Scieries GDS (GDS) has become one of the most important companies of the forest product processing industry in Lower St. Lawrence and the Gaspé Peninsula.
Mr. Guildo Deschênes retired from his previous functions and Mr. Sylvain Deschênes, CEO, is now managing the company. For some years now, Mr. Georges Deschênes and Mr. Frédéric Deschênes represent the 4th generation of the Deschênes family to join the ranks.
GDS generates more than 500 direct and indirect jobs, and is entirely managed locally, since the head office, the administrative centre and the sales office are in Dégelis, Témiscouata. GDS operates three sawmills in the towns of Grande-Vallée, Marsoui and Pointe-à-la-Croix, a wood-drying facility and a wood pellet plant in Lac-au-Saumon and a secondary wood processing plant in Matane.
GDS operates in several areas of the forest products industry, including logging, sawmilling and related activities, the production of wood pellets from sawmill by-products, lumber preparation, secondary wood processing to manufacture specialty products, and the sale of all its products.
