When Mélanie Cagnon found a summer job at La Ronde amusement park in 2000, she did not think that it would be the starting point of an international career. And yet, she is currently International business manager of Grupo Luso Pirotecnia, the 2008 Portuguese entrant to the Montreal International Firework Competition which performed one of the largest shows in the competition history on July 12th (see our report here).

ʺI began to work here in 2000. I was in charge to welcome foreign pyrotechnicians and to organize all logistics about their stay in Montrealʺ remembered Ms. Cagnon in an interview with PyroPlanet, shortly after the pyrotechnic performance of her team. She had no previous ambition to work in the firework industry. ʺI was like all Montrealers: I had watched fireworks displayed in this competition from the south shore, north shore and Jacques-Cartier bridge. I had not missed many shows, but I had never come to La Ronde before my job here.ʺ

She started to think about job opportunities in the pyro during the summer 2001. All Cagnon's contacts with various teams visiting Montreal were so many precious keys in her bunch. In 2002, Grupo Luso Pirotecnia came and fired its first show in Montreal. That year, the Portuguese firm got more than a Silver Jupiter. ʺLuso's people were looking to expand their international market and I known several people among their foreign customersʺ.

Then, she moved to Portugal and had to take up some challenges. Beyond the language issue, she had to face up to a different culture. ʺOnce I arrived to Luso, I got a position of manager. I had to manage a team and the most important challenge was to adapt myself to another organizational culture.ʺ Now, her main tasks are to develop new projects and to promote Luso's products and services. Grupo Luso Pirotecnia is a dynamic company involved in several international projects. In addition to Montreal, the Portuguese team has been contestant in most major firework competitions, like those held in Cannes and Macao. Early this summer, Luso took part in the International Fireworks Festival in Bucharest, Romania. In August, it will be involved in another competition in Poland.

Though Mélanie Cagnon spends most of her working time in an office, she is also a pyrotechnician. She was involved in the design of the display presented this year in Montreal, a first experience of this sort for her. ʺIt was very special to do this for a show performed at home.ʺ

The inclusion of a Quebecker in the Portuguese team has not gone unnoticed. One of the most popular Montreal newspaper devoted an article to Ms. Cagnon the day of the competition and, just before the display, at the time of the introduction of Luso team by the master of ceremony Michel Lacroix, the audience became especially vocal as her name has been pronounced. Only 8 years after her first experience at La Ronde, it was her turn to be welcomed to the most prestigious firework competition.

Text and photo: Frédérick Bastien