This year's Soirée Heritage pays tribute to Frantz Saintellemy, President and COO of LeddarTech, a leader in environmental sensing for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems.
Frantz Saintellemy was appointed Chancellor and President of the Board of Université de Montréal in 2022, making him the first Black person to hold the prestigious position of University Chancellor in Quebec, and the youngest person in this role in the history of America's largest French-language university.
Entrepreneur, speaker, philanthropist, he has many strings to his bow and doesn't hesitate to contribute to the advancement of his community. Indeed, in 2012, he and his wife, Vickie Joseph, co-founded Groupe 3737, a non-profit organization. This incubator offers coaching and support tools to ethnoculturally diverse entrepreneurs in Canada. Frantz Saintellemy is a model of success in both family and business.
In the heart of Montreal, in a sumptuous and solemn setting, an elegantly dressed crowd strolls through the lobby of the Ritz Carlton. Illuminated by sparkling chandeliers, guests sip cocktails and chat before entering the Ritz's Oval Lounge. Dignitaries, elected representatives, business people, philanthropists and professionals from the Afro-descendant community have all gathered in this legendary venue for an important event: the second edition of the Soirée Heritage.
Organized by the Montreal Afro-Canadian Cultural Centre (CCAM), the Soirée Heritage is an annual event that pays tribute to individuals whose proven leadership has made a significant contribution to the influence and advancement of black communities. The idea for the evening stems from the fact that the contribution of black communities to society is not sufficiently valued. Indeed, it is limited to a few celebrations crowned by awards in the arts, culture and sport. It was therefore important for the CCAM to remedy this deficit.
What does the Soirée Heritage M. Saintellemy mean to you, and how do you feel after receiving such a tribute?
I'm enriched by the splendor of my community. I'm happy to see so many people motivated to support CCAM. For me, the Soirée Heritage is not only a symbol of success, but also one that helps build momentum for the next generation. I wasn't lucky enough to have many role models to identify with growing up. The fact that last year there was a tribute evening to Madeleine Féquière, Consul General of Canada in Chicago, who is an inspiration to many young people, and that tonight it's my turn, it's as if we're creating a chain of transmission, and that's the beauty of the CCAM; it's also an opportunity for young people to have reference figures and aspire to the highest spheres of society.
What would you like people to take away from the evening?
I'd like people to remember that we're rich in our diversity. Indeed, there isn't just one community, but several Afro-descendant communities. Tonight, we have shown that whether we come from the Congo, Haiti or Côte d'Ivoire, we are capable of uniting, collaborating and sharing a common vision. So I'm filled with hope, the hope that Afro-descendant communities will increasingly take their place in society and create their own legacy.
The notion of heritage was present throughout the evening, whether through the artistic performances or the closing speech by Mr. Saintellemy, who emphasized the importance of passing the torch to the next generation.
The event, which ended with dancing in a festive atmosphere, was a resounding success for the CCAM, which has great ambitions for the future. Indeed, as Allen Alexandre, Executive Director and founder of CCAM, points out: " Our vision for the Soirée Heritage is for it to become a leading conceptual reference, a must-attend event of the year that proudly represents the best that Afro-descendant communities have to offer. Ultimately, we want this evening to be held in the very precincts of the future CCAM headquarters.. "
The future looks bright for Montreal's Afro-Canadian Cultural Centre (CCAM).
Irina A.
For CCAM