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                                  EXHIBIT 10.9


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THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT entered into as of January 1, 1999

BETWEEN:                          MARC D'AMOUR, resident and domiciled at
                                  2653 Rowel Drive, St-Lazare, Quebec, J7T 2A1

                                  (hereinafter referred to as the "Executive")

AND:                              WOOD WYANT INC., a corporation incorporated
                                  under the Canada Business Corporations Act

                                  (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation")

     WHEREAS the Corporation desires to continue to employ the Executive,and the
Executive desires to continue such employment, upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual covenants 
and agreements herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, 
the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the 
parties, intending legally to be bound, hereby agree as follows:

1.   EMPLOYMENT

     The Corporation hereby continues the employment of the Executive as the 
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation 
commencing January 1, 1999 (the "Employment Date").

2.   DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE

     The Executive shall devote his full time and attention to, and use his 
best efforts to promote, the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall 
perform duties and have such responsibilities as are customarily performed and 
enjoyed by persons employed in comparable positions, subject, however, to the 
direction and control of the board of directors of the Corporation.

3.   TERM

     3.1  The initial term of the employment of the Executive pursuant to this
          Agreement shall be a 3 year fixed term (the "Initial Term"), beginning
          on the Employment Date;

     3.2  The Executive shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement any time
          by giving prior written notice of three (3) months;






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     3.3  The term of employment of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement
          shall be automatically renewed for 1 year (a "Renewal Term") upon the
          expiry of the Initial Term and on each anniversary of the Employment
          Date thereafter, unless the Corporation gives notice of intention not
          to renew:

          (i)   in the case of the Initial Term, 6 months prior to the expiry of
                the Initial Term:

          (ii)  in the case of a Renewal Term, 3 months prior to the expiry of
                such Renewal Term.

     3.4  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall terminate
          immediately in the event of:

          (i)   the termination of the employment of the Executive by the
                Corporation with Cause;

          (ii)  the Permanent Disability (as hereinafter defined) of the
                Executive;

          (iii) the death of the Executive;

          (iv)  the dismissal of the Executive without Cause by the Corporation
                during the Initial Term or a Renewal Term; or

          (v)   the resignation of the Executive in connection with a Change in
                Control of Wyant Corporation in the 3 months following such
                Change in Control due to (a) a significant reduction in his
                duties and responsibilities, (b) a significant reduction in base
                salary or (c) a relocation to a city which the Executive does
                not accept;

          provided that, in the case of termination due to an event described in
          paragraph 3.4(iv) or 3.4(v), the obligation of the Corporation to pay
          the amounts set out in Section 5.1 and Section 5.2 and to provide the
          benefits set out in Section 10 shall survive such termination.

4.   SALARY

     4.1  The Corporation agrees to pay the Executive for the services rendered
          by him as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the
          Corporation in accordance with this Agreement, and the Executive
          agrees to accept as compensation a base salary at the annual rate of
          $195,000 in lawful money of


















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          Canada, payable in equal bi-weekly instalments, less deductions and
          withholdings in accordance with the Corporation's usual payroll
          policies and applicable laws.

     4.2  The base salary for each year of the term of this Agreement after the
          first year shall be subject to annual review and adjustment by the
          board of directors of the Corporation.

5.   SEVERANCE

     5.1  Notwithstanding Sections 3.1 and 3.3, the Executive shall be entitled
          to receive, as severance compensation, for a period of 12 months
          following:

          (i)   the dismissal of the Executive without Cause by the Corporation
                during the Initial Term or a Renewal Term:

          (ii)  the resignation of the Executive in connection with a Change in
                Control of Wyant Corporation in the 3 months following such
                Change in Control due to (a) a significant reduction in his
                duties and responsibilities, (b) a significant reduction in base
                salary or (c) a relocation to a city which the Executive does
                not accept; or

          (iii) the non-renewal of the employment of the Executive following a
                notice by the Corporation of its intention not to renew such
                employment in accordance with Section 3.3;

          the payment of an amount equal to his base salary immediately prior to
          such termination payable in equal bi-weekly instalments, less
          deductions and withholdings.

     5.2  The period of 12 months referred to in Section 5.1 will be increased
          to:

          (i)   15 months upon the Executive attaining ten years of employment
                with the Corporation from the date of first employment with the
                Corporation; and

          (ii)  18 months upon the Executive attaining fifteen years of
                employment with the Corporation from the date of first
                employment with the Corporation.

6.   BONUS COMPENSATION

     In addition to the compensation described in Section 4.1 and Section 4.2
above, the Executive shall be entitled to bonus compensation on an annual basis
at the discretion of the board of directors of the Corporation.


     
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7.   BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

     7.1  The Executive shall, during the Initial Term and Renewal Terms of 
          this Agreement, be entitled to all such employment benefits as may, 
          from time to time, be made generally available to senior management 
          employees of the Corporation.

     7.2  Upon presentation of appropriate vouchers in accordance with the 
          Corporation's policies and practices, the Executive shall be 
          reimbursed for all reasonable expenses which are incurred by him in 
          the performance of his duties hereunder.

8.   VEHICLE

     The Corporation shall supply the Executive with a leased vehicle in 
accordance with the Corporation's Executive Car Policy.

9.   VACATIONS

     The Executive shall be entitled to the greater of 4 weeks' paid vacation 
or the number of weeks of paid vacation under the Corporation's vacation policy 
per twelve month period ending April 30 during the Initial Term and any Renewal 
Term. Unused vacations shall lapse at the end of each such twelve month period 
and shall not carry over to any subsequent year. The vacations shall be taken 
at times agreeable with the Corporation and consistent with the Executive's 
duties. No payment shall be made to the Executive for vacation days which are 
not taken.

10.  CONTINUATION OF CERTAIN BENEFITS

     Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement for any reason other 
than termination for Cause:

     10.1 The Executive shall be recognized as having an additional 12 months 
          credited service following such termination for purposes of the 
          Corporation's pension plan and, to the extent the Corporation is 
          required to do so under the terms of the Corporation's pension plan, 
          the Corporation shall continue to make contributions in respect of 
          the Executive to the Corporation's pension plan for the 12 month 
          period following such termination;

     10.2 The Corporation shall continue to make available to the Executive all 
          benefits referred to in Section 7.1 (excluding long term disability 
          benefits) and the use of a leased vehicle, for the 12 month period 
          following such termination; and
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     10.3 The period of 12 months referred to in Sections 10.1 and 10.2 shall be
          increased to:

          (i)  15 months upon the Executive attaining ten years of employment
               with the Corporation from the date of first employment with the
               Corporation; and

          (ii) 18 months upon the Executive attaining fifteen years of
               employment with the Corporation from the date of first employment
               with the Corporation.


11.  COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE

     11.1 The Executive hereby covenants and agrees that he shall not, within
          North America:

          (i)  directly or indirectly engage in, or have any interest in (either
               individually, or as a joint venturer, partner, member of any
               firm, officer, director, stockholder, lender, financial or other
               consultant or employee of any person, firm, joint venture,
               partnership or corporation, or otherwise) any person, firm,
               corporation or business that engages in a business which is
               competitive, directly or indirectly, with the business of the
               Corporation;

          (ii) divert or attempt to divert or take advantage of any business or
               opportunities of any type whatsoever which are directly or
               indirectly competitive with the business of the Corporation;

         (iii) solicit or attempt to solicit any existing or future customer or
               clients which use the services of or provide services to the
               Corporation, except where such solicitation or attempted
               solicitation concerns business activities which are not directly
               competitive with the business of the Corporation; or
     
          (iv) solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of
               the Corporation to leave or terminate such employment;

          (collectively, the "Covenant Not To Compete"), for a period commencing
          on the Employment Date and terminating:

        11.1.1 in the case of termination without Cause, 18 months following the
               termination of this Agreement, or

        11.1.2 in the case of termination for Cause, 18 months following the 
               termination of this Agreement.




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     11.2 The Executive confirms that the restrictive provisions of the Covenant
          Not To Compete are reasonable and that a breach thereof will cause the
          Corporation irreparable harm, and the Executive agrees that the
          Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including remedies
          of injunction and specific performance, with respect to any breach or
          attempted breach of the Covenant Not To Compete.

12.  CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

     For purposes of this Agreement the following terms and phrases shall have 
the following meanings:

     12.1 "Permanent Disability" shall mean the inability of the Executive to
          perform substantially all his duties and responsibilities to the
          Corporation by reason of a physical or mental disability or infirmity
          for either:

          (i)  a continuous period of nine months, or

          (ii) 270 days during any consecutive twelve month period.

          The date of such Permanent Disability shall be, in the case of clause
          (i) above, the last day of such nine months period or in the case of
          clause (ii) above, such date as determined in good faith by the board
          of directors of the Corporation.

     12.2 "Cause" shall mean:

          (i)  conviction of a crime involving the misappropriation of funds or
               property of the Corporation or otherwise constituting a felony
               under applicable law, or the entering of a plea of guilty or nolo
               contendere in respect of the same; or

          (ii) a determination by a majority of the members of the board of
               directors of the Corporation that the Executive has neglected his
               duties hereunder after written notice thereof from the
               Corporation and failure to correct any alleged deficiency (as
               determined by a majority of the members of the board of directors
               of the Corporation) in 60 days; for such purposes, the board of
               directors of the Corporation will be deemed not to include a
               member who is a Related Party to the Executive;

         (iii) a unanimous determination by the members of the board of
               directors of the Corporation, other than the Executive, which
               determination shall be final, binding and conclusive, that the
               Executive has committed an act involving dishonesty or gross
               negligence, or any other act which in the reasonable



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               judgment of such members of the board of directors of the
               Corporation could materially harm the business reputation of the
               Corporation in the community.

     12.3      "Related Party" shall mean with respect to any person who is
               an individual, a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
               stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law,
               father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or
               sister-in-law of that person, including adoptive relationships.

     12.4      "Change in Control" shall mean (i) the sale to a third party
               of substantially all of the assets of Wyant Corporation on a
               consolidated basis (provided that the sale of the assets of Wyant
               Health Care shall all not be considered a Change in Control for
               the purposes of this Agreement), (ii) a successful takeover bid
               by a third party resulting in such third party holding a majority
               of the outstanding voting shares of Wyant Corporation, or (iii)
               the merger or amalgamation of Wyant Corporation with any other
               entity such that all of the shareholders of Wyant Corporation
               immediately prior to such merger or amalgamation cease, after
               giving effect thereto, to hold the majority of voting shares of
               the resulting merged or amalgamated corporation.

13.  NOTICE

     All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt of: hand delivery;
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; or telecopy transmission
with confirmation of receipt:

     13.1 If to the Corporation, to:
          
          Wood Wyant Inc.
          1475 32nd Avenue
          Lachine, Quebec H8T 3J1
          ATTENTION: PRESIDENT

          Telecopier:    (514) 636-8935
          Telephone:     (514) 636-9926

 
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          with a copy to:

          Wyant Corporation
          100 Readington Road
          Sommerville, New Jersey 08876
          ATTENTION: CHAIRMAN, COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

          Telecopier:  (908) 707-1549
          Telephone:   (908) 707-1800

     13.2 If to the Executive, to:
          
          Wood Wyant Inc.
          1475 32nd Avenue
          Lachine, Quebec H8T 3J1
          ATTENTION: MARC D'AMOUR

          Telecopier:   (514) 636-8935
          Telephone:    (514) 636-9926

14.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     14.1 WITHHOLDING. The Corporation shall be entitled to withhold the amount,
          if any, of all taxes or other amounts which in accordance with the
          applicable laws of any jurisdiction are required to be withheld by an
          employer with respect to any amount paid to the Executive hereunder.
          The Corporation, in its sole and abosolute discretion, acting
          reasonably, shall make all determinations as to whether it is
          obligated to withhold any taxes or other amounts hereunder and the
          amount thereof.

     14.2 NO ASSIGNMENT. The Executive shall not, and shall not have any right
          to, sell, assign, transfer or pledge any rights under this Agreement
          by operation of law or otherwise.

     14.3 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of
          competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such
          provision shall be severed and enforced to the extent possible or
          modified in such a way as to make it enforceable, and the invalidity,
          illegality or unenforceability thereof shall not affect the validity,
          legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
          Agreement.
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     14.4  SUCCESSORS. This Agreement and all the terms and provisions hereof
           shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of all of the
           parties hereto, and their legal representatives, heirs, successors
           and assigns, except as expressly herein otherwise provided.

     14.5  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
           accordance with the laws of the Province of Quebec.

     14.6  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
           which shall be original, but all of which shall constitute one and
           the same instrument.

     14.7  PRONOUNS AND HEADINGS. As used herein, all pronouns shall include the
           masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural thereof wherever the
           context and facts require such construction. The headings, titles and
           subtitles herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and
           are to be ignored in any construction of the provisions hereof.

     14.8  AMENDMENTS. This Agreement can be amended in any respect upon the
           written agreement of all of the parties hereto.

     14.9  JURISDICTION. Any judicial proceeding brought against any of the
           parties to this Agreement with respect to any dispute arising out of
           this Agreement or any matter related hereto may be brought in the
           courts of the Province of Quebec, and by execution and delivery of
           this Agreement, each of the parties to this Agreement accepts for
           himself or itself the exclusive jurisdiction in the aforesaid courts,
           and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby
           in connection with this Agreement.

     14.10 LANGUAGE CLAUSE. The parties hereto have requested and hereby confirm
           their request that this agreement and all notices relating thereto be
           drafted in the English language. Les parties aux presentes confirment
           leur demande que le present contrat et tout avis y afferent soient
           rediges en anglais.
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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this Agreement as of the date 
first above written.



                                                MARC D'AMOUR

                                                WOOD WYANT INC.


                                                Per:      D.C. MACMARTIN
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