Benefit roast honours 'irresistible' volunteer

More than 400 people attended a benefit roast honouring Marcel Côté, who stepped down last month as chairman of the board of directors of the Foundation of Greater Montreal; the June 15 event grossed $247,000.

At the roast, several guests took delight in roasting Côté and telling amusing stories and anecdotes about him; they included Isabelle Hudon, president of Sun Life Quebec, and honourary chair of the evening; Louise Roy, president of the Conseil des Arts de Montréal; Marie Chouinard, choreographer and founder of La Compagnie Marie Chouinard; Daniel Denis, partner of SECOR, the strategic management consulting firm of which Côté was a founding partner; Suzanne Côté, partner and head of the Montreal litigation group at Osler; Gérald R. Tremblay, partner of the Montreal litigation group at McCarthy Tétrault, and former Liberal MNA Monique Jérôme-Forget.

Côté has been involved with the Foundation of Greater Montreal since its inception in 1999 and, although he is no longer chairman, he remains on the board. He is also on the board of nearly a dozen not-forprofit organizations. "In addition to his active professional life and his many contributions to the non-profit sector, he is recognized for his relentless energy, enthusiasm, non-stop advice to anyone and everyone, and irresistible personality," Marina Boulos, CEO of the foundation, wrote to Applause.

Richard Pound (BCom'62, BCL'67 & LLD'09), a partner at the law firm Stikeman Elliott, former chancellor of McGill University and a former vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, replaced Côté as chairman at the foundation's annual general meeting, also held June 15...

Read full article: The Gazette, July 18, 2011