Français Careers OUR OTHER SITES Investors Companies News Governance About ALL SECTIONS Paul G. Desmarais (1927-2013) About Profile and Mission Community Involvement Paul G. Desmarais (1927-2013) Biographical Notes Obituary Letter to Shareholders Key Dates 1927 Born on January 4, in Sudbury, Ontario, son of the late Jean-Noël Desmarais, Q.C. and Lébéa Laforest. 1949 Obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa, following which he returned to Sudbury, Ontario to manage his father’s bus company, Sudbury Bus Lines. 1951 Purchased control of Sudbury Coppercliff Street Railway. 1953 Married Jacqueline Maranger on September 8; has two sons, Paul and André, and two daughters, Louise and Sophie. 1959 to 1968 Developed business holdings in transportation, life insurance and other diversified interests. 1968 Acquired control of Power Corporation of Canada, and became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 1969 Bought a majority position in The Great-West Life Assurance Company. 1970 Increased Power Corporation’s direct stake in Investors Group to over 50 per cent. 1977 to 1978 Substantially increased Power Corporation’s holdings in Investors Group and Great-West Life. 1978 Founded Canada China Business Council. 1996 Passed the reins of management of Power Corporation to his sons, Paul Jr. and André. Continued as a Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Power Corporation. 2013 Died peacefully on October 8, at the age of 86, surrounded by his loved ones at Domaine Laforest in the Charlevoix region, province of Québec, Canada. Decorations Member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada Companion of the Order of Canada Officer of the National Order of Québec Grand’Croix de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur (France) Commandeur de l’Ordre de Léopold II (Belgium) Honorary Degrees LL.D., University of Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick LL.D., Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario D.Adm., University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario LL.D., St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova-Scotia LL.D., Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario LL.D., McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Doctorate Honoris Causa, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec LL.D., Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland LL.D., Concordia University, Montréal, Québec LL.D., McGill University, Montréal, Québec D.Adm., Laval University, Québec city, Québec LL.D., University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario LL.D., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Biographical Notes Contact Legal © Power Corporation of Canada 2021. All rights reserved.