Presenter

Pasquale Cusano

Montecristo

Driven to be the best in any chosen field, not the biggest, Pasquale has had a formidable career as an entrepreneur establishing not only a world-class handcrafted jewellery firm, but also two world-class magazines. Growing up in the Tuscan countryside, Pasquale was part of a farming family that harvested olives for olive oil and grapes for wine. After the flood of the Arno River, Pasquale’s family immigrated from Florence to Vancouver in 1967.  With grade five formal education and no English skills, Pasquale worked hard at any job he could find around the city such as a baker and a labourer. Pasquale worked tirelessly for many years saving his earnings and investing in real estate.  By age 25, he decided to go into business with an Italian-Swiss watchmaker/jeweller learning the craft of hand-crafted jewellery-making at night and the retail trade during the day. He was a pioneer in those days presenting 18-karat Italian gold jewellery to Canadians who were used to 10-karat or gold plated cast molded product. “I have never sold merchandise on sale or by its price,” says Pasquale. “I have been simply educating people on quality for almost 40 years.”  With a desire to create a jewellery firm that could handcraft both simple elegant creations to large pieces, Pasquale ventured out on his own, in 1978, and established his own jewellery firm, Montecristo Jewellers. This year, Montecristo Jewellers celebrates 35 years of business and carries an international reputation as the leader in jewellery design, craftsmanship and customer service.Montecristo carries many exclusive watch and jewellery lines in addition to its handcrafted jewellery including Breguet, Girard-Perregaux, Harry Winston, Blancpain, Bulgari, Wellendorff, Chanel, Hermés, Pomellato, Corum, Mikimoto, Rolex and more. Montecristo employs about 30 individuals including his jewellers in the workshop and retail staff at three locations; its location at Oakridge Centre, the downtown location within the Credit Foncier building at Hastings and Hornby and Metropolis at Metrotown. In 2002, Pasquale was awarded the B.C. New-Canadian Entrepreneur Award in the Retail category by the Ethno-Business Council of B.C.In 2009, Pasquale was honoured as the Italian-Canadian of the Year by the Confratellanza Italo-Canadese. He was also on the board of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in 2002/2003 and has spent many years as committee member of various Italian regional clubs. Pasquale also ventured into publishing in 1998. Seeing a void in the Canadian marketplace for a premium environment that presents a dialogue on quality, Pasquale formed a team and launched NUVO magazine. Now in its fifteenth year of publishing, NUVO has established itself as Canada’s premier lifestyle magazine and has won various printing and editorial honours. NUVO was selected as the Best Overall Winner from 5,400 entrants as the Best-Printed Magazine in North America when it was awarded the Benny, the printing industry’s equivalent to the Oscar.   In 2008, Pasquale created MONTECRISTO magazine, Vancouver’s internationally inspired lifestyle quarterly. Celebrating its fifth year of publishing, MONTECRISTO presents the influential personalities behind the culture and creations of Vancouverites focussing on fashion, beauty, food, wine, travel, business, books, philanthropy music and more.

Become a TIGER 21 Member

Success is where we begin.
Submit Inquiry

Become a TIGER 21 Chair

TIGER 21 Chairs have achieved the kind of success most people can only imagine. Now is your opportunity to do even more – for you and for others.
Submit Inquiry