Montreal, October 21, 2004 The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal pays homage tonight to the four new Great Montrealers, 2004 edition, at a tribute reception in the Hall of Honour of Montreal City Hall. In the presence of Mr. Benoit Labonté, president and CEO of the Board of Trade, and Mr. Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montreal, the four renowned figures are welcomed into the Academy of Great Montrealers under the presidency of Ms. Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire. The Academy of Great Montrealers, a group of Montreal's most illustrious personalities, welcomes to its ranks: in the economic sector, Mr. André Chagnon, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon; in the cultural sector, Mr. Denis Brott, cellist and professor, Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, founder and director, Montreal Chamber Music Festival; in the social sector, Mr. Daniel Langlois, president and founder, Ex-Centris and Daniel Langlois Foundation; and, in the scientific sector, Dr. William Feindel, professor of Neurosurgery, McGill University, and director emeritus, Montreal Neurological Institute. On behalf of the Board of Trade, our some 7,000 members, and myself, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the 2004 Great Montrealers who, through their exceptional contributions to the development of our community and the reputation of the metropolis, both here and abroad, have become, over the years, a true source of inspiration for all Montrealers, declared Benoit Labonté, president and CEO of the Board of Trade. The Board of Trade is proud to organize and sponsor this prestigious annual event to publicly recognize these extraordinary citizens, these true ambassadors to our metropolis. The talent, the boldness, the determination, and the passion that drive them have helped to create a more humane, more vibrant, more creative, and more prosperous city, he added. Entrepreneur, builder, consciousness raiser and idealist are all terms that can be used to describe our four new Great Montrealers. Montreal owes them a lot. Looking at them, I think of the future and what a great concern it is for us all. While we are most pleased to honour them, I can't help but think that here among us are the makings of other Great Montrealers who need that little push to follow in the footsteps of these honourees. Let's do what we can to make sure they one day join the ranks of the Academy. What a great way for each one of us to contribute to the development of our city, stated Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay. Once again, I am proud and honoured to welcome, on behalf of all my colleagues in the Academy, the four Montreal personalities who will officially be inducted as Great Montrealers during this reception. They are, without a doubt, figureheads in their respective fields and unique witnesses to the vitality, the wealth, and the diversity of the Montreal community, declared Ms. Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, chair of the board of the Academy of Great Montrealers. Mr. Gérald Tremblay, the mayor of Montreal, invited the 2004 Great Montrealers to sign the Gold Book in the presence of Mr. Labonté and Ms. Thibodeau-DeGuire. The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal created the Academy of Great Montrealers in 1988. It now has 90 members, including the four selected this year. This annual Board of Trade event is made possible this year through the financial support of Economic Development Canada, as the main sponsor, in collaboration with CN and SITQ Groupe Immobilier, and is a unique opportunity to meet and congratulate the Great Montrealers personally. Biographical notes and photographs may be found on the Board of Trade's Web site at the following address: http://www.ccmm.qc.ca/tribute The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide individuals, merchants, and businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization. -30- Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tél.: (514) 871-4000, poste 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca
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