Historical
Looking towards
a better future
As meteorology is an important input in the protection of forests, the Ministère des Ressources naturelles (MRN) wanted, in the early 2000s, to equip itself with a system that would make it possible to: acquire meteorological data, have the data go through quality control, and use the data to feed models used for the protection of forests that produce fireweather indices for forest fire monitoring and protection against insects.
Thus in 2001, the MRN acquired a license to use software developed by the University of Oklahoma with the aim of increasing the performance of forest protection organizations against insects and wildfires.
MRN employees learned how to operate the software and how to use it to its full potential until 2008. The system had to be operated independently since its technology was not supported by government infrastructure. This is why in 2008, the MRN decided to install the software on the premises of the Society for the protection of forests against insects and diseases (SOPFIM) in order to ensure its development and find private partners.
A small team made up of MRN employees and consultants is formed to carry out an experimental phase in the agricultural sector, as part of a four-year agreement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). This experience has attracted major clients such as Hydro-Québec and Rio Tinto, which are added to AAFC and the MRN. During this experience, this small informal group operated in the premises of the SOPFIM with loaned furniture and equipment. The accounting and financial transactions were handled by the SOPFIM.
It was in January 2013 that Solutions Mesonet inc was created and incorporated as a non-profit legal entity (NPO). The founding members are the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP), Hydro Québec and Rio Tinto Alcan. Solutions Mesonet shared the premises of the CRAAQ for almost 4 years before moving to 450, avenue Saint-Jean-Baptiste in 2017.
In the fall of 2014, the Financière agricole du Québec (FADQ) mandated Solutions Mesonet to install its first fifteen stations of the Agri-risques project. In May 2015, FADQ became an official member of Solutions Mesonet. To date SM has installed more than 130 weather stations spread across Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) licenses the Agrometeo platform. Fire index generation services are in place to serve the governments of Prince Edward Island of New Brunswick.
Following the announcement of the state of health emergency throughout the territory (March 2020), the decision to adopt a permanent telework formula is adopted by the Board of Directors in order to ensure the safety of employees as well as continued operations.
Establishment of a meteorology and forecasting department.
Development of new meteorological products which address several known issues.
