Our values
Innovation & Excellence
The Brio team never hesitates to go beyond expectations in pursuit of excellence; this corporate philosophy permeates the success that the firm has known since its launch in 2009 and is backdrop for the achievements that contribute fully to the reputation of the company.
In April 2016, Brio Strategies was selected as a finalist in the Small / Medium Business of the year category at the Regroupement des gens d'affaires (Chamber of Commerce) Gala.
About the owners
Bernadette Sarazin has over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, project management, change management, governance, communications and marketing. She graduated from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa with a specialization in Marketing and Finance - 1998 (Cum Laude).
In 2000-2001, Bernadette acted as Director of Sponsorship for the Jeux de la Francophonie, where she managed a team of 7 employees, 150 sponsors worth more than $ 18 million.
From 2002 to 2009, Bernadette linked her passion for the environment and communications by joining Environment Canada as Senior Communications Advisor. She provided strategic communications advice and signed some ministerial speeches for the pollution prevention team.
Since 2009 and as co-owner of Brio Strategies, Bernadette has been primarily responsible for strategic communications/marketing, transformation, change management, business plan development, hiring and supervision of employees and suppliers and contractors and the realization of various management projects for the firm.
From 2012-2018, Bernadette served on the Board of 94.5 Unique FM as Vice President. She helped build a strong business plan for the financial stability of the radio station and played a key role in the development of management processes and tools such as rules and regulations, as well as the 2017-2020 strategic planning. Bernadette was also a key spokesperson for the #BilingualOttawa initiative, a group that obtained the official bilingualism for the City of Ottawa in December 2017. On occasion, Bernadette acts as a speaker and does corporate and events animation.
She was recognized as “A Woman Leader” by Vanier Muséoparc in September 2016, “Citizen of the Year” by ACFO Ottawa in February 2018 and is a recipient of the rank of “Chevalière de l'Ordre de la Pléiade” of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, Ontario Chapter, for the year 2018.
Bernadette is currently completing a the Osgoode Hall LLM program, with a specialization in Privacy and Cybersecurity.
Martine Dion has already more than 20 years of experience managing local and national projects, teams and events. She graduated from the University of Ottawa in Education in 1996 (Magna Cum Laude) and the Baccalaureate Concentration French Language in 1995 (Cum Laude).
Martine began her career in the private sector at Encounters with Canada, a Canada-wide student exchange program in which she contributed extensively from 1996 to 2008. As Program Director, she developed additional thematic weeks in the areas of environment, sports, medicine and health.
Her position has also allowed her to work with various organizations including UNESCO, Veterans Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the National Capital Commission.
Martine has created national exchange programs that allow hundreds of students and teachers across the country to participate in memorable events such as: Soiree ‘99 in Newfoundland & Labrador, 400th anniversary of Quebec City and Democracy 250 in Nova Scotia. Her expertise also allowed her to represent Canada abroad as Youth Delegation Leader, including in 2000 during a pilgrimage to South Korea with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada and many veterans and at the Rencontre internationale de la fraternité de l’UNESCO in France in 2001.
Since 2013, Martine is Administrator of the Résidence de La Cité. In her role, Martine has maintained the management of the well-established processes of previous years while incorporating her vision of a modern and welcoming Résidence. She strives to evolve the services offered taking into account the context to always be able to respond with professionalism and efficiency to the needs of all clients of the Résidence.
In other words, her achievements are impressive:
• a fundamental technological modernization (WIFI, Website, Social Media, security system);
• an increase in rental income;
• a reinvented strategic marketing plan;
• a complete renovation of the building; and
• all in all satisfied clients.
Martine is also very involved within her community. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Fondation Franco-ontarienne as Secretary and chairs the Events subcommittee.