Club BRP Montréal, BRP’s biggest event of the company’s 70-year history, ended after the general public had the chance to test the products and visit the BRP showroom at the Palais des congrès over the weekend. A Career Fair was also held within the showroom to recruit bilingual professionals for positions in Canada and abroad.
In addition to the 4,000 dealers, distributors, media and employees from around the world that BRP had invited to its commercial fair, the company provided free access to the showroom at the Palais des congrès, free demo rides at the Ultimate Playground site, and free outdoor concerts on popular Crescent Street.
BRP displayed its R&D capabilities and surprised everyone by introducing a concept vehicle of an electric side-by-side vehicle, a solar cart, a gyrocopter, and even a flight simulator and a kart simulator to demonstrate the many uses of its Rotax engines.
The Palais des congrès showcased all of BRP’s 2012 products including the Sea-Doo boat line-up featuring an updated 150 Speedster model and introduced a new touch-screen infocentre for its intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) system. For its Sea-Doo watercraft segment, BRP launched its new T3 lean-in hull design and Ergolock seating, and expanded its intelligent Brake & Reverse (iBR) system in every category.
“I was not going to buy many Sea-Doo 210 Challenger and 210 Challenger S boats with the single Rotax 4-TEC 1.5 L power package,” admitted Derek Ennis of the Enn’s Brothers dealership in Winnipeg, Manitoba, “until I rode them on the demo course.”
BRPs Can-Am off-road product lines grew with new models and technologies designed to enhance the riding style of every fan. Featured for the 2012 launch was a completely redesigned Can Am Outlander 1000 ATV with its unrivalled engine performance delivered by a new 976 cc Rotax V-Twin power plant. This year’s side-by-side line-up expanded with the Can Am Commander 1000 Limited package, the most luxurious side-by-side vehicle in the industry. BRP’s successful on-road vehicle, the Can-Am Spyder roadster, was refined with new colorations for the sport and touring lines.
“One of the main reasons for Club BRP was to give our dealers, distributors and invited media a chance to understand our company better. They had the chance to visit our facilities in Valcourt; they gained a better understanding of BRP, of what makes us tick,” said José Boisjoli, president and CEO. “Throughout the week our employees did an outstanding job to greet and help our guests. They overcame exceptional logistical challenges so we can say “Mission accomplished!””
“I’m very pleased to be a part of this Club and I have learnt so much. I appreciate seeing the loyalty and passion of the BRP workforce,” said Andrew Wagner, General Manager of Marine & Engineering Division, a BRP distributor from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. “I will remember this Club – Valcourt and Montréal – with great warmth. I am proud to have been a part of Club BRP.”
“The most memorable moment was the pride and passion I felt when all BRP employees stood up and recognized the dealer and distributor networks during the private concert at the Bell Centre,” added Ennis of the Enn’s Brothers dealership in Winnipeg, Manitoba. “I am proud to be a BRP dealer!”
BRP was certified BNQ 9700-253 from Takt-etik, Québec’s leading sustainable development consulting firm, who assessed set criteria for the management of eco-responsible events, including food services, and water, waste and transportation management. BRP will offset the carbon emissions from its Ultimate Playground site and will ensure that the demo site is restored to its pre-Club condition.
