The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal pays tribute to the four Great
Montrealers of 2009: Mr. L. Jacques Ménard, Ms. Lise Bissonnette, Dr. Balfour
M. Mount, and Sr. Nicole Fournier

MONTREAL , Nov. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and the business community are paying tribute this evening to four new Great Montrealers at a reception in their honour at the Université du Québec à Montréal's Complexe des sciences Pierre-Dansereau.

The four personalities awarded the title of Great Montrealer 2009 are: in the economic sector, Mr. L. Jacques Ménard, Chairman of the Board of BMO Nesbitt Burns, and President of BMO Financial Group, Québec; in the cultural sector, Ms. Lise Bissonnette , writer, journalist, publisher, and administrator; in the scientific sector, Dr. Balfour M. Mount , Emeritus Professor of Palliative Medicine; and in the social sector, Sr. Nicole Fournier , Congregation Secretary of Les Sœurs Grises de Montréal, and former General Director of Accueil Bonneau.

"The Board of Trade is proud to welcome into the Academy of Great Montrealers four extraordinary personalities who have made remarkable contributions to Montréal's development and reputation. They transformed their passion and their talent into great achievements that shaped the image of our city. It is through the contribution of individuals of their nature that Montréal is today an open, innovative and, above all, creative metropolis," stated Michel Leblanc , President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal .

"The four Great Montrealers to whom we pay tribute this evening have each, in their own way, challenged the established order to advance their ideas and projects with conviction. Mr. L. Jacques Ménard, Ms. Lise Bissonnette , Dr. Balfour M. Mount , and Sr. Nicole Fournier are all visionaries, generous people who give unreservedly without expecting anything in return in order to improve the society in which they live. In that regard, they inspire us to surpass ourselves, and I am convinced that they are already role models for our next generation," added Michel Leblanc .

For over 30 years, the Board of Trade has celebrated exceptional Montrealers who have left their mark on our collective history and have contributed to the development of our city, and of society as a whole. Since 1978, 110 personalities have been honoured-including the four this year-and today make up the Academy of Great Montrealers. Biographies and photos of the recipients can be found on the Board of Trade's Website (http://www.btmm.qc.ca/09_GM).

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.

For further information: Sylvie Paquette, Coordinator, Media relations, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, [phone], ext. 4015, [email protected]