OUR HONORARY PRESIDENTS
We are pleased to introduce you to our 2024 Honorary Presidents!
Lucas is 7 years old. He is curious, funny, sociable and he loves food, a lot. He likes board games, new movies, his tablet, and his switch. But above all, he loves swimming. He loves mac and cheese, pizza, tacos, and a good dessert. He is always up for tasting new dishes and discovering new flavors, especially in Chinatown.
Lucas' health problems began when he was only 5 years old. His right leg was really hurting him, to the point that he wouldn't want to walk anymore. At first, it was thought to be a slight fracture, but thorough X-rays revealed the presence of an Ewing sarcoma in his thigh bone. He began a round of chemotherapy. The bone then had to be removed and replaced. A new sequence of chemotherapy followed and allowed Lucas to go into remission. Lucas went through all these trials like a true champion. But it is easy to imagine how painful it all was for him, for his sister who could no longer see him every day and for his entire family consumed by worry.
Like many children, Lucas has long dreamed of going to his favorite theme park, but for him it will be truly special. It is an ultimate reward, a dream that will come true thanks to his courage and tenacity. There are so many things, so many characters he wants to see, so many experiences he wants to have. All this will be wonderful for him but also for his beloved friends. His family will accompany him in this magical and positive moment, just as they did during his treatments.
John is an active and happy 5-year-old boy. Playing soccer, riding a bike or just spending time outdoors are his favourite things. But he also likes to listen to music or watch his favorite movies such as Super Mario, Sonic or Spider-Man.
It was by imitating this superhero that his life was turned upside down on a certain Valentine's Day. He fell on his arm and had to be rushed to the hospital. He was put in a cast and was able to go home, but very early the next morning, his parents received a call from the hospital asking them to go to the emergency room without delay. Everything then happened very quickly. The oncologist, met the same day, told them that an Ewing’s sarcoma had developed in John's left arm. The next two years were very difficult for John, including his many hospitalizations while separated from his family due to COVID constraints. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two major surgeries, including a transplant, saved his arm from amputation, but the movements of his fingers and arm are now limited.
It is easy to imagine the stress and worry that gnawed at all the members of the family during these two painful years. But the long time spent talking about John's dream helped them a lot to overcome these trials. He spent hours imagining himself in this magical place, surrounded by his heroes, running, swimming, and doing all the things he had missed so much during his treatments. For his parents, it would be an opportunity to prove to him and his sister Heyam that they are also heroes who have overcome hardships that very few people will experience in their entire lives.
Éric Filion was named Executive Vice President, Programs and Supply Chain in 2023. In his role, Mr. Filion is responsible for ensuring Bombardier’s refined portfolio of products continues to set the benchmark in the industry and the company’s supply chain stands as best-in-class to support its worldwide operations.
With more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry, Mr. Filion has held several leadership positions in engineering, industrial production, procurement and logistics, product development, and customer relations. From 2007 to 2016, he held various positions of increasing responsibility at Bombardier, including Director of Logistics; Director for Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft operations; and Vice President and General Manager of the Challenger business aircraft program. Before joining Bombardier, Mr. Filion also worked at CAE and Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Most recently, Mr. Filion held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Hydro-Québec, where he was responsible for all electricity generation, transmission, and distribution activities. He also served as President of Hydro-Québec Distribution, a division that supplies the Québec market with electricity and delivers reliable power as well as quality services to customers throughout the province.
Éric Filion earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and a master's in aerospace engineering from Polytechnique Montréal. He is a member of the board (ICD.D) for the Montréal Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Montréal Institute of Cancer.