The 15th Edition of the Soirée des Grands Philanthropes, held on September 20, 2018, at Windsor Station’s Salle des pas perdus was another wonderful success. This year, the evening paid tribute to an exceptional couple: Isabelle Marcoux, Chair of the Board and François Olivier, President and CEO of TC Transcontinental.
Outstanding Commitment
Every year, a prominent individual from the business community is honoured during the evening for their outstanding commitment towards Portage’s mission and the community. Isabelle Marcoux and François Olivier were honoured as the two Grands Philanthropes (Great philanthropists) at this year’s event. Their dedication and their vision have made this unique couple a privileged partner over the past 20 years. They both expressed their gratitude to the 750 guests: “We would like to offer our sincere thanks to all the partners for their generosity and enthusiasm that made this event a success. Portage fulfills its mission with dedication and passion. The entire community benefits by helping those individuals suffering from addiction regain control of their lives.”
An Evening of Duos
Under the men-and-women duo theme, from the honourees to the guest chefs, co-chairs to guest artists, Isabelle Marcoux and François Olivier promoted diversity which played into how the event was celebrated. The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth’s chef, Baptiste Peupion, as well as chef Helena Loureiro, delighted the guests’ taste buds with their refined Portuguese menu. The duo composed of Gregory Charles and Kim Richardson channelled their energy and their joie de vivre to the participants, who were simply unable to resist the urge to dance and celebrate the magical moment.
Portage, A Second Family
The Soirée des Grands Philanthropes is a reflection of Portage’s vision. Our partners are essential to accomplish our mission’s success: To help free those suffering from addiction. Every year, Portage helps thousands of men, women, and adolescents and their loved ones find hope of a better life. With the objective of better understanding the issues related to addiction, a Portage resident offered a poignant testimony in which she expressed the unmeasurable support she received. . She said: “The clinical staff as well as the girls in the community, helped me rebuild my family ties that I had lost. This enabled me to surround myself with positive people, who made me feel loved. Portage has become a second family. I would also like to give a big thank to all of you for your generosity and your support for youth in need. ” This event was an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of Portage’s fight against addiction. In the context of the legalization of cannabis in Canada, our youth are more than ever in need of our help.
Guy Cormier, President and Chief Executive Officer, Desjardins Group; Alban D’Amours, Former President of Desjardins Group; Rémi Marcoux, Founder, TC Transcontinental; Jean Ménard, Director of Sales, North America, Flint Group; Colette Taylor, Vice-President, Philanthropic Development, Portage; Jeffrey Orr, President and Chief Executive Officer, Power Financial Corporation; Jean-Guy Desjardins, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Fiera Capital Corporation; Peter A. Howlett, President, Portage; Isabelle Marcoux, Chair of the Board, TC Transcontinental; Lino A. Saputo, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Saputo and Co-Chair of the event; François Olivier, President and Chief Executive Officer, TC Transcontinental; Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Bank; André Chagnon, Chairman of the Board, Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon and Vice-President of Portage; Monique F. Leroux, Former President of Desjardins Group and Vice Chairman of Fiera Holdings Inc.; Louis Audet, Executive Chairman, Cogeco; Robert Dumas, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sun Life Financial, Quebec; John A. Rae, Special Advisor, Power Corporation of Canada.
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