On September 20, 2022, CCBC held its first live event in Montreal and largest in-person gathering in Canada in more than two years, hosted in collaboration with the National Bank of Canada. Attendees were able to meet and network with the CCBC Board of Directors and heard remarks from CCBC Board Chair Olivier Desmarais, CCBC President Graham Shantz, CCBC Quebec Chapter Manager David Perez-Des Rosiers, National Bank of Canada Vice-Chairman of Financial Markets Vincent Joli-Coeur, and H.E. CONG Peiwu, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada, as well as video remarks from former prime minister of Canada The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien.

 

Date and Time:
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Registration and Networking
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Speeches and Remarks
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Cocktail Reception

 

This event was free of charge for CCBC members, $50+tax for non-members; maximum two guests per company.

 

 

About the speakers:

 

 

Vincent Joli-Coeur
Vice-Chairman, Financial Markets
National Bank of Canada

 

Vincent Joli-Coeur joined National Bank of Canada in 2011 as Vice-Chairman Financial Markets. He is responsible for senior coverage of our corporate, government, and institutional clients.

 

In his career of 30 years in the financial services field, Mr. Joli-Coeur has acted as a trusted advisor to large Canadian and International companies in various industries and has been involved in some of Canada’s largest capital markets and infrastructure financings. Recently, Mr. Joli-Coeur led the team behind National Bank of Canada’s successful inaugural Panda Bond issuance of RMB3.5 billion in the People’s Republic of China, the first issuance of its kind for a non-Chinese bank.

 

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Joli-Coeur is also actively involved in his community. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Université de Sherbrooke and of the Infrastructure Council. He is also involved in several charitable organisations’ financing campaigns.

 

Mr. Joli-Coeur has a Master’s degree in business administration from Université Paris Dauphine in France.

 

 

David Perez-Des Rosiers
Manager, Quebec Chapter
Canada China Business Council

 

As Manager of the Quebec Chapter, David Perez-Des Rosiers is responsible for building the CCBC membership base throughout the province by connecting Canadian and Chinese businesses, promoting Canada-China bilateral trade, organizing events and supporting member service delivery. David has a diverse background with experience in marketing, consulting, research, and as a Parole Officer for the Correctional Service of Canada. David lived in China for five years, studying and working as a consultant for a Food & Beverage group. He was also the Special Representative to Mainland China for the Canada-China Forum, during which he was responsible for member recruitment, building exposure for the organization and creating initiatives in China.

 

He holds a Ph.D. in Global Studies from Shanghai University, during which he conducted research on Canada-China partnerships in high-tech. He also holds an Msc in Criminology and a BSc in Psychology.

 

 

Olivier Desmarais
Board of Directors Chair, Canada China Business Council
Senior Vice-President, Power Corporation
Chairman and CEO, Power Sustainable

 

Mr. Desmarais has been Senior Vice-President of Power Corporation since 2017. Mr. Desmarais is the driving force behind the Power Sustainable vision as a global, sustainability-led alternative asset manager.

 

He chairs the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) and also sits on the boards of directors of Canada Life, IG Wealth Management, Mackenzie and Lumenpulse.

 

He is actively engaged in the community as member of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

 

Mr. Desmarais holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from McGill University, and has been a Québec Bar member since 2009.

 

 

H.E. CONG Peiwu
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada

 

Ambassador CONG was born in May 1967. He graduated from China Foreign Affairs University. Mr. CONG is married and has one daughter. His professional career is as follows:

 

• 1992-1993 Staff member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
• 1993-2000 Staff member, Attaché, Third Secretary, Deputy Division Director, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, MFA
• 2000-2003 Second Secretary, First Secretary, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada
• 2003-2007 First Secretary, Deputy Division Director, Division Director, Counsellor and Division Director, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, MFA
• 2007-2009 Counsellor, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, MFA
• 2009-2014 Minister-Counsellor, Minister, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• 2014-2019: Director-General, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, MFA
• 2019-present: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Canada

 

                                  

Graham Shantz
President
Canada China Business Council

 

Mr. Shantz served for over 25 years in Canada’s public service providing advice to Canadian governments, mainly on management of Canada’s relations with Asia. He has lived and worked for over 12 years in Asia, half of that in China. In Ottawa, Mr. Shantz has worked in senior management positions in Global Affairs Canada, the Department of Finance and the Privy Council Office. In 2000-2001 he served as Canada’s lead negotiator for Foreign Investment Protection Agreements (FIPAs) and in 1996-1997 served as deputy chief negotiator for the Canadian team during China’s WTO accession talks. Over the past decades, Mr. Shantz has been involved in numerous major bilateral visits between Canadian and Chinese leaders.

 

Mr. Shantz has served on the Board of Directors of the Asia Pacific Foundation (2013-2016) and on the Board of Directors of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (2006-2009). He served as Canada’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain (2009-2012) and ended his career in the public service in senior management positions in Global Affairs Canada’s Asia Branch.

 

A Mandarin speaker, Mr. Shantz’s pursued his interest in China while studying economics at Goshen College in Indiana. He holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. He also pursued language and economics studies in China, including at Beijing University and Xiamen University, under the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program.

 

 

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, P.C., C.C., O.M., Q.C., Ad. E

 

Jean Chrétien was born in Shawinigan, Québec, Canada, Mr. Chrétien completed his law studies at Université Laval and was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1958. He is also a member of the Ontario Bar.

 

Mr. Chrétien was elected Member of the House of Commons in 1963. During his career, he also served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, President of the Treasury Board, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs and Minister in charge of Social Development.

 

Mr. Chrétien was sworn in as Canada’s 20th Prime Minister of Canada in November 1993 after winning a majority of the seats in the House of Commons. During his tenure he was re-elected with majorities in 1997 and 2000. As Prime Minister, Mr. Chrétien stressed balanced budgets, national unity and a strengthened place for Canada in the world. His government’s legacy also includes a number of social reform and humanitarian initiatives.

 

Mr. Chrétien left the Office of Prime Minister of Canada on December 12, 2003. In February 2014, Mr. Chrétien joined Dentons Canada LLP as counsel.

 

In 2007, Mr. Chrétien was appointed Companion of the Order of Canada.

 

In 2008, he became co-president of the InterAction Council, an international organization that mobilizes the experience, energy and international networks of former Heads of State and Government. Council members jointly develop recommendations and practical solutions for the political, economic and social problems confronting the global community.

 

In 2009, he was awarded the Order of Merit by Her Majesty Elizabeth II.