Jacynthe Côté receives honorary doctorate

On 30 April, Rio Tinto Alcan chief executive, Jacynthe Côté, was awarded an honorary doctorate from Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC). She was one of three well known people in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region presented with the honorary degrees in a ceremony at the university. The awards highlighted the work and determination of individuals whose achievements have had a significant impact on the Quebec community.

UQAC said that Jacynthe was selected for the doctorate: "in recognition of her brilliant career in a first rate multinational organisation; for her dynamism and skill that has led her to hold some of the most enviable and senior positions in her industry; and for her generosity and devotion to the community."

Upon receiving the honorary doctorate, Jacynthe said: "I am deeply moved by the distinction that you have bestowed on me. Receiving this honour here, in this great region where I was born, grew up and began my career in the aluminium industry makes this moment even more special.

"I am very proud to receive this doctorate, and am also humbled, when I think about all of the people I have had the opportunity to know and who have influenced my life."

One of the other recipients of the honorary doctorate was Pierre Lavoie, a Rio Tinto Alcan employee. Pierre is an accomplished athlete who in 1999 founded an annual 1,000km cycling event from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean to Montreal. The "Grand défi Pierre Lavoie" cycling event aims to encourage Quebec children to lead healthy lifestyles, to raise funds for health and recreation projects in schools, and to support medical research into the hereditary disease lactic acidosis. In 2009, Rio Tinto Alcan agreed to become the lead sponsor of the Grand défi for three years.

Pierre said that he was surprised by the honour and expressed his gratitude to his wife, Lyne for her support: "Thanks to Lyne's encouragement, I can rise to the daily challenges and focus on our mission. An individual is receiving this honorary doctorate today, but an entire community deserves it. My thanks go out to the many people who support me every day."