Gala Luminescence to pay tribute to Fady Dagher
Distinguished Alumnus
September 25, 2024
HEC Montréal and the HEC Montréal Alumni Association will bestow the title of Distinguished Alumnus on Fady Dagher at the next Gala Luminescence on November 6, 2024.
This is in recognition of his outstanding career trajectory, values of integrity and commitment, as well as his efforts towards enhancing HEC Montréal’s influence.
“It is often pointed out that I am the first diversity Police Chief, and I am very proud of that. However, I am deeply touched by the fact that my approach, vision and contribution to Quebec society is being recognized, especially since such recognition comes from the scientific community.”
During the Gala, a special tribute will be paid to Mr. Dagher, and five other awards will be presented to deserving alumni of the HEC Montréal community in the following categories: Leadership and Performance – Large Business, Leadership and Performance – Small and Medium Business, Entrepreneurship, Social Impact and Global Recognition.
Highlights of an exceptional career
- Born in the Ivory Coast to parents of Lebanese origin, Fady Dagher immigrated to Canada in 1985 at the age of 17. He is keen to give something back to Quebec society as he is deeply grateful to it and states this gratitude has guided him throughout his career.
- Mr. Dagher initially studied accounting to become a Chartered Accountant. However, a chance encounter with a police officer at an eyewear store where he was working as an assistant manager sparked his passion for police work.
- After graduating from the École nationale de police du Québec, he joined the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) in 1992 where he rose through the ranks for 25 years, holding various positions: patrol officer, investigator, supervisor and manager.
- While still at the SPVM and shouldering his responsibilities as a father of three children, Fady Dagher undertook a new challenge and obtained a McGill–HEC Montréal EMBA degree. His time at the School, which he feels was the most intellectually enriching experience in his life, continues to have a positive influence on his professional career by constantly broadening his horizons and nourishing his innovative spirit.
- From 2017 to 2022, Mr. Dagher led the Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL). His mandate was marked by the creation of partnership policing and various initiatives aimed at building a bridge of trust between the police force and the communities.
- Fady Dagher became the new chief of the SPVM in 2022 for a 7-year term. He follows three strategic guidelines:
- Gain the trust of all segments of the population
- Be a reassuring presence for the population and feared by the criminal world
- Fully regain the capacity to take action
An approach that positively transforms the policing landscape
Fady Dagher has always been well known for his innovative and humane approach.
Humble, with a penchant for shared leadership, he attaches great importance to the values and principles of the managers around him. Courage, resilience, patience, trust and forgiveness are essential within his team.
As fieldwork is still his passion, he doesn’t hesitate to don a police uniform to accompany patrol officers on their daily beats in order to understand their reality. This return to basics guides his thoughts and acts as an inspiration for him to determine the broad focus of his work.
Respect for human dignity is also one of the priorities of the SPVM’s director. According to him, every individual, regardless of their actions, should be treated with respect.
Mr. Dagher favors emotional intelligence in the selection, evaluation and promotion of police officers. He reckons that in addition to technical skills, humanism builds trust and improves relations with the population.
But ultimately, the management style of this leading figure in the transformation of relations between the police and the community is defined by the following mantra, which he tirelessly repeats to all the members in his team: “It is not with the stripes on our uniform’s epaulets that we do policing, but with the heart.”
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