加拿大公祭保罗-戴马雷

四位加拿大总理（现任哈珀，三位前任），一位法国前总统（萨科齐），一位美国总统的代表（前国务卿詹姆斯·贝克代表前总统乔治-布什），魁北克五位省长（现任马华，四位前任）。加拿大大企业如庞巴迪公司老板，媒体大亨，反对党自由党主席小杜鲁多等，一起出席了12月3日在蒙特利尔圣母院举行的公祭活动，追悼10月8日去世的加拿大鲍尔集团创始人保罗-戴马雷。

在公祭活动之前，戴马雷家族早已为86岁的死者举行了家庭葬礼。

一位商人，死后受这么多政要追捧，在加拿大绝无仅有，在世界也罕见。其秘密何在，稍后分解。

Quotes from ceremony for Paul Desmarais

The Canadian Press Dec 3, 2013

Paul Desmarais was celebrated in a tribute at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal on Tuesday. Here are some quotes about the late business tycoon from the ceremony and from outside the event:

“He was a titan of high moral standards. He was respected by allies and adversaries alike. He was a savvy businessman with connections that spanned the globe. But one character trait above all stood much taller than the rest. Above all, Paul Desmarais was ‘notre ami’. He was quite simply our great and our caring and our considerate friend.” — James Baker, former U.S. secretary of state, during the ceremony.

“Every day with Paul, and I had hundreds with him, both here and around the world, every one was a good one. Something to learn. Something to do. Some new place to go. Some fascinating people to meet.” — Former prime minister Brian Mulroney during the ceremony.

“Like you, Jim, and so many others gathered for this memorial service, I feel really fortunate that I was able to call Paul Desmarais my friend.” — former U.S. president George Bush in a statement that was read out by Baker at the ceremony.

“They had a tremendously good relationship, not always seeing eye-to-eye on everything but there was a deep respect and friendship between the both of them.” — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, speaking outside the basilica in describing the relationship between his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and Desmarais.

“He’s probably the most important businessman in modern Canadian history.” — Finance Minister Jim Flaherty outside the basilica.

“He was a patriot, he loved Canada, so it wasn’t only about business, far from it. Those who loved him and knew him, his life was more than just that.” — Former Quebec premier Jean Charest outside the basilica.

“He’s an example that, if you have dreams, you can achieve them. It’s the example he gave to young people: everything is possible if you’re young, you have talent, you have passion and you have dreams. Go ahead and try to achieve them.” — Ex-Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard outside the basilica.

“We were totally opposed on many matters — the national fate of Quebec of course, the management of modern capitalism, but for many other things — internationalism, culture — we were on the same (page). And that’s why we remained friends.” — Former Quebec premier Bernard Landry outside the basilica.