Businessman Michael Sabia will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 9 30 a m ceremony on Thursday, June 10, in recognition of outstanding leadership in corporate social responsibility and community investment ”
Originally from St Cathartines, Ontario, Michael Sabia was named head of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec in March 2009 following a successful career in business and the federal public service. Upon completing his undergraduate studies in economics and politics at Trinity College at the University of Toronto and his graduate studies at Yale University, he held several senior positions with the Government of Canada during the 1980s and early 1990s, including director general of tax policy in the Department of Finance In the early 1990s. Mr Sabia was
enlisted to help privatize the Canadian National Railway. As its executive vice-president and chief financial officer he was instrumental in taking the railway public in 1995 and positioning it as a North American carrier.
In 1999 Mr Sabia joined Bell Canada Enterprises and became chief executive in 2002 and led the company into new technical fields. He left Bell Canada in 2008, committed to community and an advocate of education and skills development. Mr Sabia has been a member of the board of trustees of the Hospital for Sick Children campaign chair for Centraide in Montreal chai of the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative implementation Accessory Board and a member of the North America Competitiveness Council.