Remembering Frantz Vancol: Entrepreneur Extraordinaire

Frantz Vancol made his mark on Montreal as one of the most dynamic entrepreneurs and community advocates coming out of the Black and Caribbean community in this city. He died in his sleep on March 6, at the age of 77.

Among his many business ventures was Les Jeunes Romantiques chain of hairdressing salons, the Quisqueya line of tropical flavored soft-drinks and Tropico Incorporated, a wholesale distributor of tropical consumer products (food and cosmetics), which was the exclusive distributor of specialized lines of hair and beauty products such as TCB, DRULA and AK-100.

In addition to his business ventures, Vancol was relentless in his dedication to both the English and French Speaking sectors of our community. At the time of his passing he was vice-president of the Round Table for the Celebration of Black History Month.

He served for many years on the organizing committee of Carifiesta, organizers of the annual Black and Caribbean carnival parade and was also involved with the Miss Black Quebec organizing committee.
He was also an ardent lover of sports and served as vice-president of the Racing Soccer Club of Montréal-North

Vancol born to a Cuban family in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, fled the political instability of his homeland to stay with relatives in Liberia, Africa in 1969.
He immigrated to the United States to study Civil Engineering at the New York Staten Island College but diverted to studying Business Administration at Geneva Business School and Cosmetology at the Wilfred Academy in New York.

He was recruited by Holiday Magic Cosmetics in New York to serve as their general distributor and marketing instructor a position that took around the world teaching sales techniques to technicians.
While in New York, he established Young Romantic Beauty Salons.

Vancol came to Canada in 1979 as an immigrant investor and launched the beauty salons here.

He setup his dream project, manufacturing the Quisqueya line of tropical flavored soft drinks after securing a loan from Mathieu Da Costa Business Development Corporation in the 1990s.
In addition, he worked for many years as a real estate broker in the Greater Montreal area

Vancol also found the time to tutor students with learning difficulties and taught languages to new immigrants. He organized multiple conferences on hairstyling and cosmetology.

He was named Business Man of the Year 1998 by Mayor Pierre Bourque and awarded the Jackie Robinson Award by Montreal Association of Black Business Persons and Professionals (MABBP).
In 1998 he was recognized in “Who’s Who in Black Canada: Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada: A Contemporary Directory” by Dawn P. Williams

Funeral services for Frantz Vancol will be held on March 23, at Malachy Catholic Church 5330 Clanranald Avenue, Montreal with a viewing at 10am followed by the main service at 12pm followed by a reception.

Remembering Kathy Onyx Long

The community is mourning the passing of Kathy Onyx Long on Tuesday, March 14. Kathy was a long-standing entrepreneur who ran her hair and beauty salon in Cote des Neiges and the west island.
The Trinidad born go-getter was also a mentor to many young men and women and she was an avid supporter of each and every community group.
On-line tributes are flowing for a dynamic woman who touched the lives of many
Montrealers.