To highlight their essential contribution to the influence of Quebec culture here and elsewhere, author and host Janette Bertrand, as well as renowned sculptor Armand Vaillancourt, were promoted to the rank of Grand Officer and Grand Officer, the highest rank elevated to the National Order of Quebec.
Premier François Legault presented the insignia of the National Order to 31 people during an official ceremony held Wednesday afternoon in the Legislative Council Chamber of the National Assembly.
In addition to the late actor Michel Côté, who received this honor posthumously given his death on May 29, several other personalities, including singer-songwriter Edith Butler, actress Guylaine Tremblay, singer Patsy Gallant, cellist Denis Brott and political scientist Charles-Philippe David were made Knights of the Order.
The general manager of Allo Prof, Sandrine Faust, the founder of the Tablée des chefs Jean-François Archambault, the tax expert Brigitte Alepin, the art historian Louise Déry, the poet and writer Denise Desautels, the musician and scientist Jérôme Dupras, the general manager of the circus The Seven Fingers of the Main Nassib El-Husseini and the chief executive officer of Promutuel Insurance, Geneviève Fortier, also received their insignia from the hands of Premier Legault.
The broadcaster Daniel Granger, the woman of theater and television Louise Jobin, the president of the Tshakapesh Institute Alexandre Mckenzie, the hockey player Caroline Ouellette and the cartoonist Michel Rabagliati also entered the National Order of Quebec as knights .
The Order also has ten new officers among its ranks, namely the founder of the Ocean Group Gordon Bain, biochemist Richard Béliveau, heritage specialist and urban planner Clément Demers, translator Linda Gaboriau, businessman Morris Goodman , singer Diane Juster, writer Georges Leroux and diplomat Guy Saint-Jacques.
Both absent at the ceremony, mathematician Christiane Rousseau and McGill University rector Suzanne Fortier were named officers. Two other new knights, professor emeritus Gilbert Laporte and researcher Frederico Rosei, were also not present on Wednesday to receive their insignia. They have been invited to participate in the ceremony next year.
Finally, Louis Audet, who was made an officer in 2022, also received the badge that he could not have been awarded last year.
“It is always a real privilege for me to award the Ordre national du Québec to exceptional Quebecers, to personalities who are the pride of Quebec,” declared Mr. Legault on Wednesday. I am so proud to celebrate our nation, those who serve our nation, those who make us shine in the world, those who inspire us. Quebec can count on artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, intellectuals, researchers, all of whom are more remarkable than the others. Dear members of the Ordre national du Québec, I congratulate you and thank you for all that you have accomplished. »
The National Order of Quebec was founded in 1984. It brings together 1,200 people from Quebec and abroad who have been recognized for their contribution to promoting the province throughout the world.
This dispatch was produced with financial assistance from the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for News.