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Saint-Justin Sparkling Mineral Water
Meet Nicole Lelievre
When we first approached her to find out more about her natural mineral water, we found authenticity and a real product that is every bit the equivalent of European waters, with a Canadian family standing behind it. This is the very best of sparkling natural mineral waters from one of the world’s cleanest environments – Canada’s mountains.
The spring was discovered in 1895, in a small village called Saint-Justin in the county of Maskinonge, Quebec. For the last century, villagers had been coming to the spring because of its digestive qualities as well as for the taste of the water. The spring had had several previous owners who had simply called it Justin.
Enter paediatrician, Dr. Paul Dagenais-Perusse. Aware that Canada had several water springs, Dr. Dagenais-Perusse had been searching for a water source with very specific criteria for years. Analysis of the spring confirmed all the qualities that the doctor was looking at for mineral water: namely, a high level of bicarbonate (HCO₃) and the possibility that the water be bottled at the spring itself, directly from the ground to the bottle. Forty years ago, Dr. Dagenais-Perusse bought the Justin spring in 1971. Office General des Eaux Minerales Limited was incorporated shortly thereafter, with its head office in Montreal. In 1974, the name was changed to Saint-Justin, the village in which the spring is located.
Saint-Justin natural mineral water originates from Canada’s lower Laurentian Mountains. Water travels from the wild virgin side of these mountains to the village of Saint-Justin. Layers of clay, sand and gravel naturally filter the mineral water. The spring is located 50 meters below ground, in an area naturally protected against any contamination or oxidation for over 100 years. While underground, the water gets enriched with minerals, most particularly bicarbonate, an element beneficial to the digestive system.
Office General des Eaux Minerales Limitee (OGEM) is first and foremost a family business operated by the doctor and his wife; after the doctor’s death in 1994, his widow Nicole Lelievre assumed the direction of the company. Since then, the company has continued to increase its sales by expanding its distribution network all over Canada and by introducing lines of flavoured mineral water. It has also started exploring abroad markets and is looking for further growth in this area.
Saint-Justin is presently the only mineral water in Canada bottled directly at the spring in glass bottles. True to its tradition, it is sold exclusively in recyclable glass containers.
Saint-Justin is on a par with all best-known international brands. Connoisseurs find it to be incredibly smooth and refreshing. Most of all, it is appreciated for its light sparkle as well as its digestive qualities.
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Sparkling Mineral Water
