Honorary degree citation - Michael Sabia
By: Steve Harvey, October 2014
Mr. Chancellor, it is my honour to present to you Mr. Michael Sabia, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
Mr. Sabia is an outstanding business leader whose accomplishments have shaped the economic landscape of Quebec and Canada.
En tant que président et chef de la direction de la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, M. Sabia est reconnu par sa rigueur et sa détermination. Après avoir aidé la Caisse à surmonter les difficultés découlant de la crise financière, il a su repositionner sa stratégie d’investissement afin de naviguer dans un climat économique changeant. Ses résultats financiers et organisationnels sont effectivement de première classe.
Mr. Sabia has been a vocal and passionate proponent of the role of entrepreneurship in Quebec’s economic growth. As head of the Caisse de dépôt, he has worked to promote a thriving culture of entrepreneurship in our province.
Before joining the Caisse de dépôt in 2009, Mr. Sabia held a number of leadership positions with Bell Canada Enterprises, including that of President and Chief Executive Officer. In the 1990s, Mr. Sabia occupied various roles with Canadian National Railway, including Chief Financial Officer.
He spent the preceding decade working in the Government of Canada, as Director-General at the Department of Finance and Deputy Secretary in the Privy Council Office. During this period, he played an instrumental role in shaping government priorities and planning for economic and tax policy.
M. Sabia est bachelier en économie et en politique de l’Université de Toronto. Il détient des diplômes d’études supérieures en économie et en politique de l’Université Yale.
For our students graduating today, Mr. Sabia is an exceptional role model. In addition to his remarkable work ethic and creativity, Mr. Sabia also has an exemplary record of community leadership. He served as Honorary Chairman of the Bal du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec. He led the fundraising campaign for Maison Saint-Gabriel, a Montreal museum and historic site. Mr. Sabia has also co-chaired campaigns for the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation and Centraide of Greater Montreal.
Mr. Chancellor, on behalf of Senate and the Board of Governors, it is my privilege and honour to present to you Mr. Michael Sabia, so that you may confer upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
