HEC Montréal receives a $2 million gift from the Peter R.D. MacKell estate

Wednesday February 22, 2012

MONTREAL, Feb. 22, 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.

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 1977) and Peter Letko, the fund will be named the Daniel Brosseau and Peter Letko Scholarship Fund.

"Peter R.D. MacKell was a founding shareholder of Letko Brosseau & Associates and a great friend, who gave us sage advice and encouragement over the years," said Daniel Brosseau and Peter Letko, partners in Letko Brosseau & Associates. "We are very touched and honoured by Peter's gesture of friendship, and we think his choice of a bequest for HEC Montréal students is an excellent idea."

"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," declared HEC Montréal Director Michel Patry.

Peter R.D. MacKell, QC 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.

For further information:

Liliane-Sophie Pin
Media Relations Officer
HEC Montréal
514-340-7320
liliane-sophie.pin@hec.ca