Christie Innomed fosters innovation and caring

With his recent appointment as president and CEO of Christie Innomed Inc., Nicolas Vachon is stepping into the role once held by his grandfather, Robert L. Vachon, who founded the Québec-based health care company in 1954.

“It’s both exciting and humbling to carry on my grandfather’s legacy, while also recognizing how much the world has changed in the last 70 years,” says Vachon.

Those changes are apparent within Christie Innomed, an innovative medical technologies and service solutions company which entered the marketplace as a film and chemistry distributor. Today, the organization is focused on advanced technologies and software solutions designed to enhance patient care delivery and improve health care outcomes.

As the company’s technological offerings have evolved, so has its work culture.

“Today, our employees are truly at the heart of everything we do,” says Vachon. “We’ve built a culture that prioritizes listening, collaboration and mutual respect. We strive to create an environment where employees feel empowered, their voices are heard and their contributions are valued.”

The company recently updated its vision statement to focus on core values such as inclusivity, trust, agility and sustainability.

Inclusivity is about celebrating an increasingly diverse workforce and ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect, says Vachon.

Trust, he adds, forms the foundation of work relationships, while sustainability is about being a responsible corporate citizen and giving back to the community.

As for agility, Vachon says it’s how the company remains a leader in meeting the rapidly evolving needs of the health-care sector.

“Our partners and customers depend on us to deliver solutions that enable the best possible care for patients. Employees who succeed here are those who not only understand our mission, but are genuinely inspired by it.”

One of those people is Maria Sampaio, who joined Christie Innomed as vice-president, culture and talent, three years ago.

“I joined because what they do, and how they do it, really resonates with me,” says Sampaio. “We are in a caring industry and this is a company that also cares for its employees by being inclusive, transparent and giving people the opportunity to share and act on their ideas.”

Sampaio also appreciates that Christie Innomed puts an emphasis on giving back to the community.

As part of the company’s annual Christmas parties over the past three years, employees have donated some 150 new toys to a local children’s charity in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, where Christie Innomed is headquartered.

Since 2021, the company has also donated close to 100 refurbished laptops to 45 local organizations and an ultrasound machine to Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World).

Employees are given a paid day off each year to volunteer, which they’ve done with great enthusiasm.

“I really enjoy seeing our people being active in giving back to, and engaging with, our community,” says Sampaio.

As the daughter of parents who immigrated from Portugal, Sampaio says one of the most gratifying parts of her current role is helping newcomers adjust and succeed.

“I understand the challenges they face. Being able to make it easier for someone to get their first opportunity in Canada is a great privilege.”

For Vachon, the biggest satisfaction of his own leadership role is two-fold.

“I appreciate having an impact in the health-care world, by helping deliver the best possible solutions and services,” he says. “I’m also proud of the programs we offer to help develop and cultivate high potential individuals in the company. The leaders who emerge will help drive our mission forward.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers winners, published April 8, 2025 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.