JEAN PELLETIER
Chairman of the Board

Born at Chicoutimi on 21 February 1935, Jean Pelletier was educated at Collège des Jésuites at Québec, Séminaire de Trois-Rivières, and Université Laval where he studied law and social science.

Mr Pelletier began his career as a journalist with radio stations CHRC and CJLR, and television station CFCM-TV in the Québec capital, in addition to responsibilities as Québec correspondent for Société Radio-Canada.

In 1959, Mr Pelletier was appointed press secretary to the Québec Premier, then executive secretary of the Historic Monuments Commission of Québec, and adviser to the provincial Secretary.

In 1964, he left the public sector for private enterprise and took up a post as securities dealer with Lévesque and Beaubien Ltd. In 1970, Mr Pelletier became vice president of Dumont Express and, in 1973, director and vice president of Action sociale Ltée, a position he held through to 1977.

Highly active in social, cultural and community organizations, Mr Pelletier served as vice president of the Dominion Theatre Festival, director and treasurer of Théâtre populaire de Québec, director of Théâtre Le Trident on two separate occasions, national president of Scouts Canada, and director general of Centraide Québec. Mr Pelletier also chaired the organization of Québec's winter carnival in 1973.

Invested with a driving interest in municipal affairs, Mr Pelletier was among the founders of the provincial capital's Parti du Progrès civique in 1962. Appointed to Québec's City Council in December 1976, Mr Pelletier became mayor in November 1977, a post he held for twelve years through to the end of 1989 when he decided not to seek a further term of office.

During his years as mayor, Jean Pelletier served as a member of the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Committee of Québec Urban Community, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in 1982-83, president of Union of Québec Municipalities from 1986 to 1988, and first vice president of Association internationale des maires et responsables des capitales et métropoles partiellement ou entièrement francophones-an international association of mayors and representatives of major French-speaking or partially French-speaking cities and capitals-from 1979 to 1989.

Jean Pelletier further spearheaded action with UNESCO to have Québec's historic quarter included on the prestigious list of world heritage sites, with official recognition being granted on 3 December 1985.

In 1990, he served on the Ontario-Quebec Task Force on the Rapid Train project for the Quebec-Windsor corridor.

From November 1993 to June 2001, he served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, and from July 1991 to October 1993 as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. His appointment as Chairman of the Board of VIA Rail Canada took effect on September 1, 2001.

Jean Pelletier is a member of the Order of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Québec. He is also a Commander of France's Legion of Honour.