DOMINICA — Coulibri Ridge, a sustainable, off-grid eco-resort in Petit Coulibri, Dominica, has announced the tragic passing of its founders, Daniel Langlois, and his partner Dominique Marchand.
According to Dominica News Online, Langlois, a Quebec new-media entrepreneur and philanthropist, and Marchand had been missing for a few days before being found in a burned-out car in Dominica, their adopted home.
Three suspects have been detained by police and are being questioned.
Coulibri Ridge, which Langlois and Marchand opened in October 2022, issued the following statement:
“With profound sadness and heavy hearts, we announce the tragic passing of Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand in Dominica. The entire community on the island is in mourning following a devastating incident on Thursday, November 30.
“Daniel and Dominique were trailblazers in so many ways, most recently as founders and operators of Coulibri Ridge Resort. Their commitment to sustainability set a standard in the tourism industry, and their passion for the environment and helping others has touched the lives of many who experienced the magic of Coulibri Ridge. Their legacy will continue to live on through the efforts of The Daniel Langlois Foundation, the Resilient Dominica Project (REZDEM), and the Humane Society of Dominica.”
A candlelit vigil will be held later this week for the couple, reports CBC News.
A passionate environmentalist
Langlois and Marchand spent more than 20 years engaging in research, environmental testing, infrastructure building and community engagement prior to opening Coulibri Ridge, the Caribbean’s only fully-off-grid luxury resort.
The inspiration for the resort began in the 1990s when Langlois was travelling the world for business. Noting the contrast between wealthy and poor communities, he questioned why so much electrical power and water was made available to travellers, hotel guests and the wealthy, while local communities often lived with limited access to resources primarily produced by burning fossil fuels. So he set out on a mission to improve the lives and livelihoods of those in vulnerable communities through sustainable practices like solar energy and rainwater collection and filtration.
Coulibri Ridge
A software pioneer
Before operating Coulibri Ridge, Langlois worked in the film industry, founding SOFTIMAGE in 1986. The company’s software helped advance digital technologies, particularly 3D computer animation techniques used in many blockbuster movies such as ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Titanic,’ ‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Harry Potter’ and more.
When SOFTIMAGE went public in 1992, Langlois negotiated a merger agreement with Microsoft, which triggered a global consolidation of the computer graphics software industry.
With the success of SOFTIMAGE, Langlois created the Daniel Langlois Foundation in 1997, a private philanthropic charitable organization, in an effort to further develop and foster the convergence of art and science in the fields of technology.
