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He scores! Alum keeps his eye on the ball

Restaurateur Paul Desbaillets mixes business success and his passion for soccer to support a number of local charities
June 29, 2017
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By Richard Burnett

Source: Advancement and Alumni Relations

Paul Desbaillets, BFA 03, has long put his money where his mouth is: the co-owner of the Burgundy Lion Group has raised over $250,000 for Montreal charities via Burgundy Lion’s annual GOAL MTL soccer tournament.

Paul Desbaillets Paul Desbaillets is a partner in the Burgundy Lion Group, which owns and operates several Montreal restaurants. | Photo credit: Concordia University

Desbaillets has also never forgotten his Concordia roots and volunteers as a judge at the John Molson MBA International Case Competition.

For his achievements and philanthropy, professional excellence and community leadership, Desbaillets received Concordia’s Alumnus of the Year award in 2017 and the Governor General’s Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012.

He is also proud to have recently met one of his role models, former president of the United States Barack Obama.

Says Desbaillets, “It is important to give back to the community.”

The Burgundy Lion Group now owns several very popular establishments: the Burgundy Lion Pub, Bishop & Bagg and three locations of Brit & Chips. Is there a Burgundy Lion philosophy?

Paul Desbaillets: “Yes: always be true to yourself, work within your community and never lose focus of your identity.”

Burgundy Lion is constantly expanding its whisky collection. You now have more than 600 whiskies. Why such dedication to whiskey?

PD: “There is such a great culture and history around whiskey very much attached to the United Kingdom. So we thought it was an obvious fit with Burgundy Lion, which was inspired by the traditional British pub. And the Burgundy Lion partners also enjoy whiskey.”

Fully 100 per cent of the proceeds from your annual GOAL MTL soccer tournament are donated to local Montreal charities. Your seventh edition will be held at Percival Molson Stadium at McGill University on July 2, 2017, when many teams will battle for the Lion’s Cup. How did you start GOAL MTL?

PD: “As a kid growing up in Montreal, I would play soccer every summer. My favourite team is Chelsea F.C. in the Premier League in England. I started GOAL MTL because there was nothing like this being done in Montreal.

My goal was to create an event where people in our industry could meet one another while raising money for charity at the same time. We get the restaurant community — boys and girls — to participate, and I am excited to say our tournament is now in its seventh year.

Over the years the charity event has recruited some well-known Montrealers to play, such as Jason Rockman of radio station CHOM FM, chef Chuck Hughes and former Montreal Impact player and assistant coach Lloyd Barker. This year we have also partnered with Global Citizen.”

Tell us about volunteering as a judge for the John Molson MBA International Case Competition.

PD: “They have a panel of judges from different backgrounds, and I focus more from the marketing standpoint. This is my way of giving back to the Concordia community which supported me when I was a student.”

How did your time at Concordia help shape you as a person and help shape your career path?

PD: “I worked my way through school. I was never a full-time student. Concordia gave me the time and room to juggle it all, and if you can juggle it all while getting a degree, that’s what the real world is like: I learnt to do it all at the same time.”

After his June 6, 2017, keynote speech to the Montreal Board of Trade, former U.S. president Obama had dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at chef David McMillan’s Liverpool House, across the street from Burgundy Lion Pub. You crossed the street and met Obama. What was that like?

Paul Desbaillets with Barack Obama Paul Desbaillets met former president of the United States Barack Obama at Liverpool House in Montreal on June 6, 2017. | Photo credit: Adam Scotti

PD: “That was one of the biggest things to ever happen to me! When I heard that Dave was welcoming Obama and Justin Trudeau — who has eaten dinner there a few times — we’re Montrealers, he’s our age and we kind of all know each other. I went over to Liverpool House and sat around, told David I don’t want to be that guy interrupting people when they’re eating, because at your establishment you must respect your customers.

But Obama had time for everybody and the photo took place! What a rock star!”


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