Press release
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
pays homage to the four 2006 Great Montrealers:
Henri-Paul Rousseau, Jocelyne Monty,
Robert Charlebois, and Dr. Pavel Hamet
Montreal, October 25, 2006 – Tonight, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal pays homage to the four new Great Montrealers at a reception in the Hall of Honour of Montreal City Hall in the presence of Isabelle Hudon, president and CEO of the Board of Trade, Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montreal, Robert Lacroix, chair of the Academy of Great Montrealers, and Michel Audet, Quebec Minister of Finance.
This year, the four new Great Montrealers are as follows: in the economic sector, Mr. Henri-Paul Rousseau, president and chief executive officer, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec; in the social sector, Ms. Jocelyne Monty, chair of the Board of Directors of the Mental Illness Foundation; in the cultural sector, Mr. Robert Charlebois, author, composer, performer and musician; and, in the scientific sector, Dr. Pavel Hamet, professor of medicine, Canada Research Chair on predictive genomics, and chief, gene medicine services, at the CHUM Research Centre (Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal).
“While it is true that the face of a city is defined by its places and events and its personality is shaped by its culture, the biggest impact on Montreal’s identity is made by the people committed to its growth. All those who contribute to Montreal’s development – whether they be players on the economic, social, cultural, or scientific scene – deserve to be celebrated for their outstanding qualities. The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has paid homage to their involvement and their passion. Thanks to them, Montreal is a multi-faceted metropolis. Vibrant, dynamic, and creative, it shines on the local, national, and international stages,” declared Isabelle Hudon, president and CEO of the Board of Trade.
“Our city is growing day by day thanks to the efforts of Montrealers who put their talent, will and tenacity to good use. Each year, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal gives us an opportunity to celebrate the merits of those among us who honour their society through their passion, special skills, accomplishments or exemplary achievements. By helping Montréal grow and spread its influence, the Great Montrealers are building on the work of our city’s founders,” added Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montreal.
“These exceptionally talented and successful individuals deserve our utmost admiration. Thus, this evening, the Academy would once again like to highlight the unique and important role these Great Montrealers play in our City’s development. It is therefore with great pleasure and respect that my Academy colleagues and I welcome four new Great Montrealers to our ranks,” declared Robert Lacroix, chair of the Academy of Great Montrealers.
The Academy of Great Montrealers was created in 1988 by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. It now has 98 members, including the four inducted this year.
Each year, the Academy of Great Montrealers of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal takes advantage of this opportunity to present Awards of Excellence for outstanding research to three students who completed their doctoral dissertations at one of Montreal’s four universities or their affiliated schools. The 2006 winners are as follows: in the humanities and social sciences/fine arts category, Jodene Baccus, Department of Psychology, McGill University; in the natural sciences and engineering category, Maryse Labriet, Institut des sciences de l’environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal; and, in the health sciences category, Judith Brouillette, Faculté de pharmacie, Université de Montréal.
This annual Board of Trade event is made possible this year through the financial support of Economic Development Canada, its principal partner, in association with the CN, the SITQ, and the TD Bank Financial Group and offers a unique opportunity to meet and personally congratulate the new Great Montrealers. Biographical notes and photographs of the 2006 recipients may be found on the Board of Trade’s Web site at the following address: http://www.btmm.qc.ca/tribute06
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its 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 the largest private organization in Quebec dedicated to economic development.
-30-
Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: (514) 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca