The celebrations surrounding this milestone anniversary of the founding of the Conseil des Gouverneurs has kicked off with the theme “15 Years of Vision and Commitment.” The Conseil des Gouverneurs was the first group of HEC Montréal donors to be created and is made up of people who pledge $100,000 or more over a 10-year horizon. The members were honoured on November 7 for their deep and abiding support.
For HEC Montréal, 2008 was a pivotal year. That was when the very first members of the Conseil des Gouverneurs came together and decided to build on the legacy of the School’s founders 100 years in the making and, at the same time, embrace a mission of furthering Quebec’s economic and social development.
The original goal was to recruit 100 members. Membership has since grown to more than 140 visionary leaders, all of whom are dedicated to supporting this remarkable institution, fostering talent and paving the way for a better tomorrow against a rapidly evolving social backdrop. These civic-minded philanthropists are the pillars of the HEC Montréal Foundation, and their contributions are essential to accomplishing the School’s mission of grooming the next generation of world-class leaders and managers.
Jacques Nantel, one of the founding members of the Conseil des Gouverneurs, reflected on the group’s early days and drove home how significant its impact has been on shaping the School’s future. He also looked back fondly on the many friendships that have emerged through this community.
The story of the Conseil des Gouverneurs is an inspiring and uplifting one, albeit with a few twists and turns along the way. Its founding was greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm, but it wasn’t without its naysayers. It was the first time anything like this had been done in the academic world, at least at such a high level of giving.
The idea of recruiting 100 people and having them each donate $100,000 was the brainchild of Louis Larivière, the then-head of the School’s development office. We took on the challenge with a small and incredibly insightful group of colleagues and friends, and we didn’t look back. We reached out to prospective members, who then did the same within their circle of contacts. And that’s how we got the ball rolling. We hit our goal of 100 members in only six years!
I’m very proud to be here tonight to thank each and every one of you. Your generosity and your unwavering support for HEC Montréal make you one of the School’s greatest assets going forward. We will be able to capitalize on your drive and determination to make our institution one of the best business schools in the world. One that transforms careers and changes lives. You are paving the way to greater innovation and fuelling our research and teaching programs. Together, we are building a better future.
The 15th anniversary celebrations were made even more special in that they were held in the newly inaugurated Hélène Desmarais Building in the heart of downtown Montreal. The building is a symbol of innovation, progress and ambition, and the very embodiment of the values that guide the HEC Montréal Foundation’s major donors.
The evening was also an opportunity to honour the members of the Foundation’s other clubs, namely the Cercle du directeur, Société Héritage, Club des Ambassadeurs, Club des Fondateurs and Club des Bâtisseurs, for their invaluable contributions.
The Conseil des Gouverneurs welcomed nine new members in 2023:
France Castonguay, François Colbert, Jean-Pierre Léger, Avrum Miller, Martin Papillon, Giuseppe, Lise & Véronique Racanelli and Louise Singer. It is an honour and a privilege to have them join our ranks.
