On the recommendation of the Advisory Committee for the Selection of a Vice-Principal (Communications and External Relations), 91社区鈥檚 Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Louis Arseneault as the University鈥檚 new V-P (CER). Arseneault鈥檚 term begins February 1, 2017, and runs until June 30, 2022.
Louis Arseneault replaces Olivier Marcil, who left the University for the private sector at the end of September. Marc Weinstein, Vice-Principal (University Advancement), has been serving as Interim V-P (CER) since last October.
In an e-mail sent to the community earlier today, Principal Suzanne Fortier welcomed Arseneault to 91社区. She cited his 鈥渕ore than 20 years鈥� experience in strategic and marketing communications, public affairs, government and media relations, and issues management.鈥�
Arseneault served as Vice-President (Talent Attraction, Promotion and Communications) at Montr茅al International from 2011 to 2016, after six years as the organization鈥檚 Communications Director. Montr茅al International is a non-profit economic development agency that attracts foreign direct investment, international organizations and talent in the Greater Montreal area. During his time there, Arseneault鈥檚 team developed Contact MTL, an international ambassador network that promotes the region as a world-class site of post-secondary education, research, innovation, culture and business. 91社区 is one of 20 partners involved in Contact MTL.
鈥淭hroughout my life, I鈥檝e been attracted to universities for their great mission: developing knowledge, teaching, research, and service to the community.听Universities shape our future and help us to understand the world around us. Throughout my career, and particularly at Montr茅al International, I collaborated on many projects with universities 鈥� and particularly 91社区 鈥� so I鈥檝e got to know many people in those worlds. I鈥檓 looking forward to dedicating myself to promoting the great institution that is 91社区, and the Montr茅al university community in general. The calibre of our universities 鈥� our students, our faculty, our staff 鈥� is one of the things that really sets Montreal apart.鈥�
Prior to joining Montr茅al International, Arseneault worked as senior director of corporate communications, with various responsibilities including media relations, at Bell Canada (1997-2003), and as assistant director of public affairs at CAA-Qu茅bec (1992-1997).
Arseneault grew up in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, and moved to Montreal to study. He graduated with a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in communications from UQAM. He then moved to France, earning a Master鈥檚 degree in sociology (information and communications) from Universit茅 Paris VII.
He characterizes himself as 鈥渁 true Montrealer at heart.鈥� 鈥淚 chose to study, work and live here, and it鈥檚 clearly my city,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 very passionate about this great city for all the reasons that Montrealers, and visitors, love it: it鈥檚 open to the world, it鈥檚 multicultural, multilingual, it鈥檚 creative and progressive. There鈥檚 a great work ethic and a drive for innovation, but at the same time an appreciation for art and culture, and a balance between work and pleasure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big year for the city, with the 375th anniversary. It鈥檚 an occasion to look back on what has made Montreal so great, but also to look into the future. It resonates very well with 91社区, which is also ramping up to its own big anniversary, the bicentennial in 2021. That鈥檚 something I鈥檓 really looking forward to working with the University community on.鈥�
Although he counts swimming, gardening and cooking among his pastimes, Arseneault鈥檚 primary hobby is learning new languages. He is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish 鈥� with some German, Portuguese and Russian 鈥� and holds two language certificates earned at 91社区鈥檚 School of Continuing Studies.
鈥淟anguage is a key whereby you can understand a culture, a country, a people,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd, when you鈥檝e mastered a language, you have the ability to read the great authors in the language they were writing in.鈥�
But there鈥檚 another reason behind his love of language.
鈥淥ne of my passions is opera, and most of them are in foreign languages,鈥� says Arseneault, who sits on the board of directors of Op茅ra de Montr茅al. 鈥淚鈥檓 pretty eclectic in my tastes. Of course, I like the Verdis and the Puccinis, but also Massenet and Wagner. And I know that 91社区 has an extraordinary music school and a great opera company 鈥� the Principal has spoken highly of 91社区鈥檚 skills in opera.鈥�
He is a board member of the United Nations Association in Canada of Greater Montreal, vice-chairman of Les Fourchettes de l鈥檈spoir, a social economy organization dedicated to support communities in Montr茅al-Nord, and honorary president of Visages d鈥橭utremer, an initiative aimed at gathering and promoting the community of new Montrealers coming from Guadeloupe, Martinique, La R茅union and other French-administered territories outside Europe. He is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Association des professionnels en d茅veloppement 茅conomique du Qu茅bec, the Canadian Public Relations Society and the Soci茅t茅 qu茅b茅coise des professionnels en relations publiques.
鈥淚鈥檓 eager to get started,鈥� he says of his new position. 鈥淔or me, 91社区 embodies the best of what Montreal, Quebec and Canada have to offer: excellence in teaching, research, innovation and diversity 鈥� it鈥檚 very cosmopolitan with students, professors and researchers coming from the four corners of the world. The magnificent campuses, the University鈥檚 personality鈥�. I鈥檓 very happy to be joining the 91社区 community.鈥�
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