News > 2012 > A $2 million gift from the Peter R.D. MacKell estate

A $2 million gift from the Peter R.D. MacKell estate

February 21, 2012

HEC Montréal is proud and grateful to announce that it is to receive a $2 million gift from the estate of Montreal business lawyer Peter R.D. MacKell. Thanks to this generous gesture on the part of Mr. MacKell, a philanthropist with tremendous concern for his fellow man and a great believer in education and excellence, the School will be able to create a major PhD scholarship program, in keeping with his wishes.

HEC Director Michel Patry expressed his gratitude toward this exemplary donor: “On behalf of the entire HEC Montréal community, I want to salute Peter R.D. MacKell not only as a leader in his profession of business law, but also as a philanthropist who knew what a difference a scholarship at the right time can make for a doctoral student. In that respect I consider him a model to be emulated.”

The donation, in the form of a bequest, will allow the School to create an endowment fund and award four $25,000 scholarships every year to full-time PhD students at HEC Montréal. At the donor’s request, in an enduring gesture of friendship toward Daniel Brosseau (HEC Montréal 1977) and Peter Letko, the fund will be named the Daniel Brosseau and Peter Letko Scholarship Fund.

Peter R.D. MacKell, Q.C., was a renowned lawyer who died on May 27, 2011 at the age of 84. He was born in Ottawa and held degrees from the Royal Canadian Naval College (Royal Roads University) and McGill University. He was admitted to the bar in 1951 and began his career with the Duquet MacKay firm, later moving to Martineau Walker, today known as Fasken Martineau. He led the firm for several years, before retiring in 1995. He handled many significant litigation and commercial briefs in the course of his career, representing major Canadian and foreign clients. He was also a highly sought-after corporate director, and a member of the board of Goodfellow inc. for many years, as well as a director of the Régie de l’assurance-dépôts du Québec.

At Letko, Brosseau & Associates, founded in 1987, Daniel Brosseau holds the position of President and Chief Investment Officer, while Peter Letko is Chief Investment Officer.

Daniel Brosseau, Peter Letko, Hélène Desmarais, Chair of the Board of Directors of HEC Montréal and President and CEO of the Montreal Enterprises and Innovation Centre, Maurice Forget, legal adviser, Fasken Martineau, and Michel Patry.