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Louis Vachon

Knight
2018

Since 2007, Louis Vachon has been at the helm of the National Bank, one of the largest banks in Canada and the only one to be headquartered in Montréal. He provides unwavering support to the local business community while working toward the good of society. His actions translate into tens of millions of dollars of benefits to the city. 

This bank president and CEO is one of the city’s greatest ambassadors. He is committed to stimulating the economic vitality of the city, and the bank’s actions reflect this commitment. Each year, the National Bank lends significant amounts of money to fund local businesses. In 2013, the bank granted a $10 million loan to Campus Montréal to establish the Institut d’entrepreneuriat Banque Nationale | HEC Montréal. It has also helped fund the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) for the creation of tech companies. 

Louis Vachon is also among the founding members and governors of Finance Montréal, an organization aimed at stimulating the growth and promotion of the local financial services industry. 

Promoting Montréal’s heritage is close to the heart of this lover of history. He co-chaired the first major fundraising campaign of the Pointe-à-Callière Foundation and the inaugural campaign of the Fondation de Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. 

In 2017, he was the driving force behind a bold project to showcase the 375th anniversary of Montréal: the production of a contemporary work of art spanning an 8-km stretch of highway from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, brimming with creativity. 

In 2018, he announced the construction of a new headquarters in Montréal. This project, which the National Bank hopes is distinctive for the city, will result in the largest office tower to be built in the city centre in 25 years. 

Finally, Louis Vachon never hesitates to lend his name to numerous causes, including community support and health. He is co-chair of one of the Centraide of Greater Montreal’s annual campaigns and co-chairs for a second time the major campaign of the Fondation de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal. 

Louis Vachon holds a master’s degree in International Finance from the Fletcher School and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bates College, and is a chartered financial analyst. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Ottawa, Bishop’s University and Ryerson University. 

In 2014, Canadian Business magazine named Louis Vachon CEO of the Year. The publication Finance et Investissement twice conferred on him the title of Financial Personality of the Year, and the Portage Québec Foundation named him Grand Philanthrope. He received the title of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fusiliers Mont-Royal and the Global Citizens Award from the United Nations Association in Canada. He has been a Member of the Order of Canada since 2016.

The picture and biographical information appearing on this page were current at the time this person was admitted to the Ordre de Montréal.