70th anniversary of the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organization - The Mayor of Montréal on a mission to Chicago

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 5, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Raymond Benjamin, invited the Mayor of Montréal, Denis Coderre, to take part in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The event will be held in Chicago on December 7 and 8, 2014. The Chicago Convention gave rise to ICAO in 1944.

Commemorating this event is important because the signing of the Convention paved the way for the standardization of air navigation worldwide. Montréal is especially proud of this fact, because it has been home to the ICAO headquarters since 1947. Following ratification of the Convention, ICAO has since established more than 10,000 standards and provisions to improve security, efficiency and safety of air navigation, while promoting the economic development of air transport and environment protection.

"Montrealers can take pride in the fact that the United Nations has recognized the status of metropolis of Montréal, by establishing one its eight specialized institutions here. With its 500 employees, international reputation and powers to attract organizations involved in aviation, ICAO is certainly the most important and influential of the 60 international organizations headquartered in Montréal and its activities generate economic spinoffs valued at more than $120 million annually," said Mayor Coderre. "It is mostly because of the presence of ICAO in Montréal that the city has become, over the years, the civil aviation world capital, a highly significant status for our city whose aerospace industry is also well developed," added Mayor Coderre.

As part of the commemoration ceremony, which will be held at the ICAO headquarters in Montréal on December 5, 2014, the Mayor of Montréal will address the heads of missions of the states represented at ICAO and the many ambassadors in Canada of the member states of  ICAO, as well as the leaders of the major international civil aviation organizations and the Montréal aviation community. 

At an Extraordinary Session of the ICAO Council held in Chicago on December 8, 2014, the Mayor of Montréal will have the opportunity to speak with many dignitaries, including the US Secretary of Transport, The Honourable Anthony Foxx; the FAA Administrator, Michael P. Huerta; the Honourable Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, as well as the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.

Mayor Coderre will take advantage of his visit to the "Windy City" to meet with senior executives of various organizations and businesses, including John Dickert, Chairman of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (and Mayor of the City of Racine, Wisconsin); David Ullrich, Alliance Executive Director, and Steve Koch, Deputy Mayor of Chicago, to discuss economic opportunities and strengthen cooperation between the two cities. Mayor Coderre will also attend other meetings with different companies in collaboration with Montreal International to discuss economic development.

Mayor Coderre will meet with representatives of the Chicago press, to promote our city as a destination for our southern neighbours.  

SOURCE: Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

Source: Anne Roy, Press attaché, Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee, 514 346-7598; Information: François Goneau, Public Relations Officer, Service des communications , 514 868-5859