Guy Fréchette (HEC Montréal 1970) has once again shown incredible support for his alma mater by announcing a generous $1 million donation toward the construction of the Hélène Desmarais Building in the downtown business district.
Mr. Fréchette has chaired the HEC Montréal Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2012 and served on the Space Development Committee since it was set up in 2009. He has maintained close ties with the School throughout his career, as a lecturer (1973–1980), chair of the Alumni Association and its Board (1980–1982), member of the School’s Board of Directors (1999–2015), one of the founding members of the Conseil des gouverneurs (2008) and, of course, a generous donor dedicated to the School’s growth and development.
For this HEC Montréal Distinguished Alumnus, the new downtown building addresses a wide range of needs and is a forward-looking project that will benefit students, alumni, donors, partners and the business community as a whole.
“Beyond providing the School with much-needed additional space, this new building will bring us closer to the clients we serve,” said Mr. Fréchette, a chartered accountant and corporate director, as well as the former Vice-Chairman and Quebec Managing Partner of Ernst & Young (1999–2008).
In recognition of his generosity, a prestigious conference room in the new building will bear his name. HEC Montréal Foundation President and CEO Michel Patry expressed how important this donation is: “Contributions like these and ambassadors of Guy Fréchette’s calibre are the reason we have been able to make sure the next generation of management professionals are the best they can be, year after year.”
This is especially meaningful to Mr. Fréchette, who hopes to lead by example through this donation: “We have to work to uphold HEC Montréal’s reputation for excellence, here in Quebec and the rest of Canada, not to mention internationally. This will reflect positively on all our alumni, both now and in the future. The least you can do when you reach a certain point in your career is to give back to the community that made it possible.”
In addition to his ongoing efforts to support the School, Mr. Fréchette is a major supporter of elite sports, as is evidenced by his involvement with the Université de Montréal Carabins teams.
