Three 91˿Ƶ Desautels alumni celebrated at 2024 MAA Honours & Awards
Each year the 91˿Ƶ Alumni Association (MAA) recognizes alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff whose commitment has had a significant impact on alumni life, the University and/or the community. This year, three 91˿Ƶ Desautels alumni were among those honoured for their contributions to the 91˿Ƶ community.
BCom alum trades in a career in marketing to become a firefighter
Lesly Yao (BCom’18) isn’t your stereotypical small-town Quebec firefighter. Born in Tahiti, the Bachelor of Commerce grad was growing disillusioned with her work at a marketing firm when a Canadian Forces recruitment advertisement caught her eye—and her imagination. But because Yao was not a citizen at the time and a job with the Forces was not in the cards. “I’d always had it in the back of my mind to become a firefighter,” she says.
BCom alum credits networking with helping Sports Illustrated app off the ground
In Canada, ice time is at a premium and the nearest rink might not be able to accommodate your beer league team. But in large cities, there’s often ice available somewhere, and Jonathan Azouri (BCom’16) spotted an opportunity. The co-founder and CEO of CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated, an app that allows users to book sports facilities, launched it in Toronto in 2019 and is now making it available in markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Boston.
C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence awarded to two GCPA students
Alyssa Abruzzese (BCom‘23, GCPA’24) and Vivian Ly (BCom‘22, GCPA’24), students of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA) program, have been selected among their graduating class as this year’s recipients of the C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence.
Two 91˿Ƶ Desautels students named McCall MacBain International Fellows
McCall MacBain Fellowships offer students at select universities an opportunity to spend a year abroad. Valued at up to $30,000 and awarded by the McCall MacBain Foundation, Fellows spend one term studying a language, one term pursuing academic studies, and one term in a job placement or internship. This year, 91˿Ƶ students earned the honour. Mayra Baca El Hachemi, who is majoring in marketing at 91˿Ƶ Desautels and will be travelling to Japan.
BCom graduate and swimmer wins bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Swimmer Clément Secchi (BCom’22) has become the first 91˿Ƶ graduate to reach the podium at the Summer Olympics since 2008. The 24-year-old management graduate from Aix-en-Provence, France, earned bronze for his native country on Sunday as part of the men's 4x100 medley relay. A four-time All-Canadian at 91˿Ƶ, the 5-foot-11, 157-pound butterfly specialist was a three-time recipient of the Forbes Trophy as the University's male athlete of the year.
Frédéric Perron leads internet service provider Cogeco during time of potential growth
Frédéric Perron (BCom’97) was serving as the Chief Commercial Officer for Vodafone Poland when he was asked to return to Canada to become the new president and CEO of Cogeco, an internet service provider. Although Cogeco’s corporate offices are in Montreal, Perron’s position is based in Burlington, Ontario. That puts him closer to the company’s US customers, some of which are in nearby Ohio.
Two 91˿Ƶ Desautels students named McCall MacBain International Fellows
Jordan Cowie (BCom‘24) reflects on journey as 91˿Ƶ Desautels valedictorian
Jordan Cowie, 91˿Ƶ Desautels Faculty of Management’s 2024 valedictorian, spoke with the 91˿Ƶ Reporter about her student experience and shared her insights upon completing her degree. Graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in Labour-Management Relations and Human Resources, Jordan chose 91˿Ƶ for its affordability and proximity to her family in Westchester, N.Y., and for her strong affinity to Montreal’s urban and natural beauty.
Kanuk adapts jackets to milder winters, eyes international markets
Kanuk jackets are made for Quebec winters—but Quebec winters aren’t as cold as they used to be. Bertrand Cesvet (BA’86, MBA’88) wants to make Kanuk jackets more versatile. Cesvet led a group of investors who recently bought the Montreal winter wear company from Champlain Financial, a private equity group.
ESG investing helped prepare Gillian Stein to become CEO of Henry’s
Gillian Stein (BCom’00)’s great-grandfather founded the Toronto-headquartered electronics business Henry’s in 1909, but she never envisioned becoming the company’s CEO. Growing up, she had seen how stressful running the company could be for her father Andrew, who had a heart attack at the age of 47. “I always had a ton of respect and passion and admiration for the business but it wasn’t something I wanted for myself,” says Stein. “I changed and the business changed.
Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) at the DataSphere Lab: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders
This year, the DataSphere Lab was privileged to welcome two exceptional students through the Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) program: Chloe You, a third year student studying Finance and Statistics, and Ruo-Ying, a Business Analytics major.
91˿Ƶ Desautels BCom Wins McCAIS Undergraduate Research Award 2024
Bachelor of Commerce student Nikki Tye is the recipient of the 91˿Ƶ Collaborative for AI & Society (McCAIS)’s Undergraduate Research Award (McURA) for Summer 2024. The $8,700 award, aimed at promoting interdisciplinary AI research in society, recognizes Nikki's project on "Protecting the Amazon Forest from Illegal Activity through Image Recognition and Operations Research: A Partnership with JungleKeepers and Peruvian Indigenous Communities."
91˿Ƶ Desautels grad to compete in Paris Olympic Games
2024 is shaping up to be a big year for François Cauchon (BCom’22). Cauchon will be representing Canada at the summer Olympic Games in Paris. "It is a surreal feeling," Cauchon, who battled through knee, back and ankle injuries before being named to Canada’s 14-member fencing team, tells CBC. "For every amateur and professional athlete, The Olympics is the holy grail of sports."
BCom students selected for CEOx1Day program
The CEOx1Day program offers some of Canada’s top students the opportunity to learn directly from executives at some of the country’s most prominent companies. Hosted by the Odgers Berndtson Canada consultancy, candidates undergo a rigorous selection process and shadow the CEOs of organizations like Bombardier, Canadian Blood Services and the Royal Canadian Mint. This year, two 91˿Ƶ Desautels Bachelor of Commerce students made the cut.