Alan Ulsifer, OD.

CALGARY, ALBERTA, Canada— FYidoctors, one of Canada’s largest eyecare providers based here, and Marchand Giguère Group, a family optometry business located in Quebec for more than 80 years, have announced their agreement to merge. A private, optometry-owned eyecare company, FYidoctors currently provides ophthalmic products and services with over 450 optometrists servicing over 280 locations between its corporately owned locations and Vision Source Canada locations.

Marchand Giguère and its affiliates, a company spanning three generations of optometrists, now has 70 optometry locations under various banners including 16 independent clinics that are also joining the group to merge with FYidoctors.

While both parties have signed binding letters of intent, the deal is scheduled to close in December 2014. This is FYidoctors first entry into the Quebec market, Ulsifer told VMail.

About the merger, Dr. René Marchand, optometrist and president of Marchand Giguère, said, “I feel a great satisfaction joining our family business to the FYidoctors group. We have seen many businesses in my generation sell to a financial interest in recent years. Becoming a partner in FYidoctors allows full continuity of our business toward a fourth generation of optometrists, offers us great opportunities for growth, and keeps our business under the guidance of optometry.”

Dr. Alan Ulsifer, founder and CEO of FYidoctors, said, “I am proud to be working with the doctors at Marchand Giguère. Our company was founded on doctors helping doctors lead industry change versus being reactive victims as in many other world markets. Despite the regional differences in our two groups, we are completely aligned in our desire to ensure doctors remain strong leaders in the industry. With this merger, we now have the largest footprint in Canada, and that bodes well for the future of our doctors in defining the Canadian eyecare landscape. I have tremendous confidence in Dr. Frédéric Marchand in leading our Quebec platform.”

According to Dr. Frédéric Marchand, optometrist and vice chairman of Marchand Giguère, “Joining FYidoctors is the ideal option for optometrists who want to stay in control of their destiny. With the consolidation and change happening in Quebec’s market, the opportunity to join forces in this new business model for optometry is, in my view, the best option for all professionals dedicated to patient care. The 16 independent clinics already joining our new group are a sign that our doctor-owned company offers the best prospects for eyecare professionals.”