Press release
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
pays homage to the four 2007 Great Montrealers:
Jacques Lamarre, Denise Filiatrault, Hubert Reeves, and Paul Gérin-Lajoie
Montréal, October 9, 2007 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 Montréal City Hall in the presence of Isabelle Hudon, president and CEO of the Board of Trade, and Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montréal.
This year, the four new Great Montrealers are as follows: in the economic sector, Jacques Lamarre, president and chief executive officer, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.; in the cultural sector, Denise Filiatrault, director in the fields of cinema, television and theater; in the scientific sector, Hubert Reeves, astrophysicist; and, in the social sector, Paul Gérin-Lajoie, founding president and chairman of the board of directors, Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation.
These figureheads of our society dare to believe in their dreams, pursue their passions, and promote the development both individually and collectively of those around them. Montréal can be proud of these devoted ambassadors, whose talent, generosity, and boldness are universally recognized. If winners attract winners, there is no doubt that these individuals along with all those who have preceded them in earning this prestigious acknowledgment are excellent role models, both for developing the talents of Montrealers and for attracting foreign talent. Great Montrealers are stars who shine with exceptional brilliance. Their example inspires us to reach the highest performance objectives, and, for that, they deserve our deep admiration, declared Isabelle Hudon, president and CEO of the Board of Trade.
Thanks to the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, we have an opportunity to celebrate the merits of the women and men who make remarkable contributions to the development and reputation of Montréal. On behalf of my fellow citizens, I warmly congratulate the new members of the Academy of Great Montrealers. You do honour to our metropolis and inspire a taste for excellence in our young generations, added Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montréal.
The Academy of Great Montrealers was created in 1988 by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. It now has 102 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 Montréal's four universities or their affiliated schools. The 2007 winners are as follows: in the humanities and social sciences/fine arts category, Nathalie Fontaine, Department of criminology, Université de Montréal; in the natural sciences and engineering category, John-Christopher Boyer, Department of chemistry and biochemistry, Concordia University; and, in the health sciences category, Desiree Fong, Department of biochemistry, McGill University.
This annual Board of Trade event is made possible in collaboration with the CN and the SITQ, and offers a unique opportunity to meet and personally congratulate the new Great Montrealers. Biographical notes and photographs of the 2007 recipients may be found on the Board of Trade's Web site at the following address: www.btmm.qc.ca/2007_Great-Montrealers.
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 Montréal 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.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: (514) 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca