Marcel Aubut awarded title of "Grand Québécois" 2010

TORONTO, April 9 /CNW/ - Canadian Olympic Committee President-elect Marcel Aubut has been awarded the title of "Grand Québécois" for 2010 by the Quebec Chamber of Commerce for his outstanding contribution to Quebec society.

Created in 1989, the "Académie des Grand Québécois" is an honorary institution developed by the Quebec Chamber of Commerce to recognize yearly the outstanding achievement of Quebecers who have excelled in their careers in the economic, social, cultural and healthcare sectors. Aubut, currently President elect of the COC and Senior Associate in the law office of Heenan Blaikie Aubut, is being recognized for his outstanding accomplishments in the economic sector.

A key figure in Canadian business, Aubut has been a corporate lawyer in Québec City and Montreal for more than three decades. He is also one of Quebec's most visible and best known personalities in the world of sport. Aubut is a prominent figure in professional hockey, instrumental in bringing the National Hockey League to Québec City. From 1978 to 1995, Aubut was President, Chief Executive Officer and co-owner of the Québec Nordiques. In 1995, he established the Nordiques Foundation, an organization that has distributed close to $4 million in scholarships and helped more than 350 athletes compete in international competitions.

In 1983, Aubut founded the law firm of Aubut Chabot which merged in 1998 with the pan-Canadian firm Heenan Blaikie, where he is a senior partner. Among his notable positions, Aubut was president and CEO of Productions Trans-Amérique Ltée and the founding president and CEO of Quebec Metro High Tech Park (Le Parc technologique du Québec métropolitain). Throughout his career, Aubut sat or still sits on more than 30 Board of Directors of numerous notable corporations, including the COC's Executive Committee and Administrative Committee before taking on the role of President-elect.

His current title of "Grand Québecois" can be added to a lengthy list of other achievements including the Official Medal of the Quebec National Assembly, as well as the Medal of the Barreau de Québec. He is also an Officer of the Order of Canada and of the Ordre national du Québec, an Emeritus Lawyer and a Queen's Counsel. In addition, Aubut is a member of both Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame.

Aubut's award will be presented at a Gala evening to be held Friday, April 9, 2010 at the Chateau Frontenac in Québec City.