A Night Celebrating Canadian Business Leadership in Montréal

May 25, 2026

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The 2026 Canadian Business Leader Awards Dinner Series officially began in Montréal on May 21 with an evening dedicated to celebrating the leaders helping shape Canada’s economic future. Held at the iconic St. James Theatre, the event brought together business executives, community leaders and partners from across the country to recognize excellence in leadership, innovation and impact.

Throughout the evening, guests reflected on the importance of resilient leadership during a defining moment for Canada’s economy — one where businesses continue to navigate global uncertainty while driving growth, investment and opportunity at home.

This year’s Montréal honourees represented some of Canada’s most influential and respected business leaders:

Janie Béïque, President and CEO of Fonds de solidarité FTQ

She received the Canadian Business Leader of the Year Award for her leadership in advancing investment, economic development and long-term prosperity across Québec and Canada.

Jacynthe Côté, Chair of the Board at RBC and former CEO of Rio Tinto Alcan

She was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her extraordinary career and lasting contributions to Canadian business leadership.

Alain Bouchard, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Alimentation Couche-Tard,

He received the International Business Leader of the Year Award in recognition of his global business success and the international growth of a proudly Canadian company.

The evening featured thoughtful remarks, moments of reflection and a shared sense of optimism about the future of Canadian business. Guests also had the opportunity to connect with leaders from across industries, celebrating not only individual achievements but the broader strength and ambition of Canada’s business community.

The evening was hosted by Déborah Cherenfant, a respected leader in Quebec’s business and cultural communities whose work continues to advance entrepreneurship, inclusion and economic development across Canada.

We were also delighted to welcome students from the Université de Montréal, whose smooth jazz performances brought warmth and energy to the evening, helping create an atmosphere of celebration and connection throughout the event.

We would like to extend a special thanks to the St. James Theatre hotel and all of our event sponsors.

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Partners