The new Great Montrealers will be honoured at a gala to be held on June 8, 2000 at the Montreal Downtown Delta Hotel Montreal, May 4, 2000 The Academy of Great Montrealers brings together Montreal's most illustrious personalities. This year it honours Andrée Lachapelle, actress and ambassadress for Quebec's performing arts, Jean C. Monty, president and chief executive officer of BCE, Jacques Genest, founder of the Montreal Clinical Research Institute, and Maurice "Rocket" Richard, former professional hockey player and NHL legend.
Academy president Albert Millaire unveiled the names of this year's Great Montrealers at a press conference held this morning at City Hall. Montreal mayor, Pierre Bourque, who is honorary president of the Great Montrealers' Gala, invited award-winners for 2000 to sign the Golden book in the presence of Jocelyn Jacques, assistant deputy minister, Operations, Economic Development Canada, of the president of the Board of Trade, Pierre Laferrière, and of members of the Academy.
"The Board of Trade wishes to extend its congratulations to the four newly inducted Great Montrealers for their contribution to the city's social fabric", said Pierre Laferrière. In addition, he congratulated the members of the Academy for their choices, adding that it was further evidence of Montreal's diversity and dynamism. Mr. Millaire welcomed the new members of the Academy on behalf of his fellow colleagues. "Once again, this year's inductees clearly demonstrate that we can continue to proudly boast Montreal's talents. Their contributions to society as a whole as well as their keen sense of initiative within their respective fields serve as an excellent example for all as they significantly add to both Montreal's prestige and recognition not only in Canada, but abroad", stated Pierre Laferrière.
The Great Montrealers Gala: a unique opportunity to pay tribute to the city's builders
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, in collaboration with Canadian National, the Montreal Stock Exchange and Economic Development Canada, will pay tribute to four personalities voted on by the Academy's selection committee, during a gala to be held on June 8, 2000 at the Downtown Delta Hotel. This event, whose honorary president is mayor Pierre Bourque, is a unique opportunity for all Montrealers to meet and extend personal congratulations the Great Montrealers for 2000. Anyone interested in attending the gala should contact Line Leblond at (514) 871-4000, ext. 4001. | Once again this year, the Academy of Great Montrealers will present an award of excellence to three graduates of Montreal universities and their affiliated schools recognizing the quality of research and PhD theses. The jury in charge of selecting the winners is composed of deans of graduate studies from Montreal's four universities. The winners' names will be announced a the gala, on June 8.
The difficult task of selecting the Great Montrealers for 2000 is assigned to the candidacy evaluation committee which is set up by the Academy's board of directors. The committee begins with an initial selection from the candidates proposed by the Academy members. A list of four names is then sorted by sector of activity and is submitted and voted upon by the Academy membership. The deciding poll determines the names of the year's four new members.
The Academy of Great Montrealers was founded in 1988. Becoming a member is considered to be one of the highest distinctions for the city's leading lights. To date, the Academy has a total membership of 74, among which Denys Arcand, Jean Béliveau, André Bérard, Alexander Brott, Gretta Chambers, Arlette Cousture, Jean Coutu, Charles Daudelin, Paul Desmarais, Charles Dutoit, Danie Gauthier, Gratien Gélinas, Alan B. Gold, Janine Guindon, Maryvonne Kendergie, Alexander Kennedy Paterson, Phyllis Lambert, Antonine Maillet, Bernard Lamarre, Gilles Lefebvre, Gérard Plourde, Eugene N. Reisman, Serge Saucier, Paul Tellier, Michel Tremblay, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and the late Pierre Péladeau. Last year's Great Montrealers were Francesco Bellini, Roger Gaudry and Albert Millaire. The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has more than 7 000 members. Its mission is to be the leading group representing the interests of the Greater Montreal business community. The objectives are to maintain, at all times, relevance to its membership, credibility towards the public and influence towards government and decision-makers. |