Jean Todt and Marc Poulin are the honorary co-chairs of the 5th gala dinner “The Grand Evening”

The Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada is pleased to confirm that it will hold the fifth edition of its inaugural gala dinner, “The Grand Evening”, on 5 June. This popular social event, attended by Formula 1 team principals and drivers who are in town for the race and by members of the business community of Montréal, will be held once again in the “Arsenal” Contemporary Art Complex in Griffintown.

This year, all proceeds will go to the Fondation de l’Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal and Moisson Montréal. The organisers are also honoured to announce that Mister Jean Todt, President of the Fédération internationale de l’automobile (FIA), and Mister Marc Poulin, President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys inc., have cordially agreed to be the honorary co-chairs of this event.

“In a few short years, ‘The Grand Evening’ has become a must-attend event, an annual get-together that is greatly appreciated by the Montréal community and one which the Formula 1 family has immediately embraced and supported, which is a great source of pleasure for us”, declared François Dumontier, President and CEO of Octane Racing Group, and President of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada. “I am also personally very honoured that, for our fifth edition, Mr. Jean Todt and Mr. Marc Poulin have accepted our invitation and will be the honorary co-chairs of the evening. This will be Mr. Todt’s first visit since he became President of the FIA. As for Mr. Poulin, he is both a peerless businessman and a great philanthropist who is very active in our community, especially with Moisson Montréal.”

Mr. Todt is well-known throughout the world for his involvement with victims of road accidents and, since his glory days at the helm of the Scuderia Ferrari, he has become vice-president of the Brain & Spine Institute (ICM) in Paris. Mr. Poulin is the President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys inc., a true distribution and retail giant of the Canadian food industry. He supports many charities, including, of course, Moisson Montréal.

The Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal treats victims of serious accidents and injuries from the Island of Montréal and many regions in Western Québec. It has been the designated track hospital of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada for several years now, and the members of its trauma team supply medical services for this great sporting event.

For more than twenty years, Moisson Montréal – the country’s largest food bank – has been insuring an optimal supply of food to community organisations helping people in need on the Island of Montréal. This organisation takes part in the development of sustainable solutions to guarantee our community’s food security.

It should be pointed out that “The Grand Evening”, which is organised right here in Montréal by Octane Racing Group Inc. and produced entirely by local artisans, has been attended on each of its first four years by nearly a thousand people, including team principals and drivers taking part in the Formula 1 World Championship.

“The Grand Evening” is an official activity of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2014, presented in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Canada. Tickets for the cocktail (6 PM), the dinner (7:30 PM) and the evening are on sale now for $1,000 each.

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve