Paul-Émile Gallant (July 17, 1944 – September 13, 2011) was a Canadian entrepreneur who invented the Puzz-3D three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles.[1] He is also credited with inventing both the Wrebbit Puzzle Machine, which is now known as the Puzzle Shots Factory, and the Perfalock flat foam puzzle.[2]
Gallant was born in Edmundston, New Brunswick.[1] He initially began his career in the music industry, which lasted approximately eighteen years.[1] Gallant worked for Trans Canada Musique, CBS Records (a division of Sony Music) and the CBC.[1]
Gallant switched careers and began working in the toy industry in the late 1980s.[1] He began working on a new concept for the traditional puzzle, but involving 3D solutions inspired by commercial design.[1] Gallant reportedly completed his prototype for what would be called Puzz-3D after one year of design.[1] His new Puzz-3D puzzles, which often could be built into models of actual buildings and other landmark structures, could be placed on display indefinitely after completion. He founded his own company for Puzz-3D, which he called Wrebbit Inc., and launched his three dimensional product line at the Canadian Toy & Hobby Fair in 1992.[1] The logo for Wrebbit became an easily identifiable frog.
Gallant spearheaded the expansion of Wrebbit and its keystone toy, Puzz-3D, throughout Canada and elsewhere in the world. The Puzz-3D product line was made in Canada, but sold in more than forty countries worldwide.[1] Approximately thirty million Puzz-3D puzzles were bought by global consumers by 2000.[1] Irwin Toys purchased Wrebbit in 2001. However, Irwin Toys went out of business in 2002 and Gallant once again became the owner of Wrebbit and Puzz-3D.[1] Gallant sold Wrebbit and its product lines to the international toy manufacturer, Hasbro, in 2005.[1]
Gallant was awarded the Canada Export Achievement Award in 1995. The following year, he became the recipient of the Canada-America Business Achievement Award in 1996.[1] In 2008, Gallant was inducted into the Canadian Toy Industry Hall of Fame.[1]
Gallant died on September 13, 2011, in Laval, Quebec, at the age of 67. He was survived by his three children, ten grandchildren and two sisters.[1] His wife, Françoise, died in 2010.[1]