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| Paul Desmarais Sr. (left) meets with journalists at the opening of the Desmarais Building |
A distinguished gathering of more than 300 people attended the official opening of the Desmarais Building on October 30, including politicians, members of the diplomatic community, University faculty and staff, and members of the design team of what is likely to become a flagship building of the downtown core. An enthusiastic Paul Desmarais Sr., a committed alumnus and staunch contributor to the University for many years, was joined by family members, many of whom are also alumni.
One of Canada’s most successful business leaders, he delighted the crowd with an account of his life as a student at the University. He went on to praise Father Roger Guindon and his colleagues, and the University for its commitment to bilingualism.
“Our family’s commitment reflects our happy association with the University of Ottawa for more than four generations. We are most proud to be able to contribute to investing in the future of this outstanding institution,” said Paul Desmarais Sr.
President Gilles Patry applauded Desmarais for his transformative gift, which he said
has given the University of Ottawa an opportunity to grow in an important way, allowing for infrastructure to be built that will last generations and benefit students for years to come.
