Lynda Bouvier feels inspectors at Quebec’s language office are overreacting to the name of her company.
Bouvier is the founder and president of Party Expert, a well-known costume and party accessory retail store that has been in business for more than 20 years but is suddenly in the crosshairs of l’Office québécois de la langue française for its registered name. “It’s a brand name, it’s a trademark, it’s a registered trademark. They challenged us already and now they’re challenging us again,” Bouvier told Global News.
Bouvier says the OQLF challenged her company’s name 10 years ago but she got a certificate of compliance. Now the issue is resurfacing again.The issue began when Bouvier applied for a permit with the City of Brossard for new signage at the company’s future store in the Dix30 shopping district.In a press release, Brossard officials wrote that they recommended Bouvier verify with the OQLF before any permit is issued and that’s when the problems started for Bouvier.