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Aerospace leaders look to promote Montreal

This group of experts consisting of leaders from Montréal's aerospace industry will be entrusted with creating and attracting international events associated with this segment of excellence for the Québec economy.

Putting together this taskforce is one of several concrete actions the Palais has been taking, with the support of its Ambassadors, to back efforts to promote and grow the province's leading economic activity sectors. It is estimated that the taskforce's work will help attract new major conventions and events to the city in the coming years, and will contribute to further anchoring Montréal's standing as one of the world's aerospace capitals. Since 1983, over $165 millions in economic spinoffs were generated as the Palais hosted 66 aerospace-related events and over 150 000 participants.

The taskforce will be co-chaired by Hany Moustapha, professor and director of AÉROÉTS, Palais Ambassador and member of the Palais' Ambassadors Club advisory board, and Suzanne M. Benoît, Chief Executive Officer of Aéro Montréal, the province's aerospace cluster.

"The mobilization of the aerospace sector clearly demonstrates the spirit of cooperation driving the fostering of Montréal as a business destination on the international stage. Our concerted efforts will most certainly generate additional economic and intellectual spinoffs for the province, and also contribute to further promoting our economy's key players," states Marc Tremblay, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Palais. "I would like to express my gratitude toward the members of the taskforce for their interest and dedication," adds Marie-Claude Roy, the Palais' Assistant Manager for Strategic Alliances.

The taskforce members are widely recognized as leaders in the aerospace community. They are:

Suzanne M. Benoît         CEO    Aéro Montréal

Clément Fortin         President & CEO    CRIAQ

Hélène V. Gagnon         Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility    Bombardier Aerospace

Wagdi Habashi         Professor and NSERC Industrial Research Chairholder (Bombardier Aerospace, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, CAE)    McGill University

Hany Moustapha         Professor and Director, AÉROÉTS and Senior Technology Consultant, Pratt & Whitney Canada    ÉTS engineering school

Michèle Parent         Business Development & Contracts    National Research Council of Canada, Aerospace

Hélène Seguinotte         President & CEO and National Executive, SAFRAN    Morpho Canada

Jacques St-Laurent         President & CEO    Montréal International

"By once again joining forces to bring major events to Montréal, the entire aerospace industry as a whole will benefit from the resulting international exposure and economic spinoffs," declares Mr. Moustapha, who co-chairs the taskforce. Fellow co-chair Ms. Benoît adds: "We all win when we pool together our expertise and know-how toward advancing and promoting our industry worldwide, and also position our firms favourably in the process."