Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown to speak as part of the Board of Trade's Bell International Leaders series on March 25

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 18, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and evenko are pleased to announce that the Right Honourable Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, will address the Montréal business community as part of the Board of Trade's Bell International Leaders series, on March 25, during a business luncheon in downtown Montréal. Following Mr. Brown's speech, the Honourable Michael M. Fortier, Vice Chairman of RBC Capital Markets, will interview him.

"Gordon Brown's political career has been punctuated by historic moments, when the eyes of the world were upon him," said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. "The 2008 economic crisis and the 2014 Scottish referendum are two in a long series of events he is associated with. The lessons learned through these experiences made him the international leader he is today and are of particular importance on the eve of decisive elections in the U.K. and with the possible upcoming referendum on the U.K.'s place in the European Union. It is a true privilege to host a former prime minister of Gordon Brown's stature and to hear his thoughts on the impact of the rise of nationalism in Europe and the chances of a successful economic recovery on the continent."

"evenko is proud to partner with the Board of Trade to host the Right Honourable Gordon Brown as a speaker," said Jacques Aubé, Executive Vice-President and COO, evenko. "This leading British political figure's global vision and in-depth understanding of the world economy will inspire the city's business community, just as it has inspired leaders the world over."

Gordon Brown served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. As Prime Minister, Brown's tenure coincided with the start of the global financial crisis. He was one of the first to initiate calls for global financial action, while introducing a range of rescue measures in the UK. In April 2009, Brown hosted the G20 Summit in London, where world leaders committed to making an additional $1.1 trillion available to help the world economy through the crisis and restore credit, growth and jobs. They also pledged to strengthen financial supervision and regulation.

Previously, Brown served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007, making him the longest-serving Chancellor in modern history. His time as Chancellor was marked by major reform of Britain's monetary and fiscal policy and sustained investment in health, education and overseas aid.

In addition to having played an active part in ending the economic crisis, he introduced a major policy on climate change and played a key role in anti-terrorism operations in Iraq. In 2010, he published Beyond the Crash: Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalisation, in which he recounted his political experience during the financial crisis. In 2012, the Secretary General of the United Nations appointed him UN Special Envoy on Global Education.

"Europe – with which we recently signed a free trade agreement – is a tremendous market for local businesses," Michel Leblanc said. "What will be the consequences of the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine, or the outcome of recent elections in Greece? Hearing Gordon Brown speak before the Board of Trade will help us grasp the current political and economic dynamics in Europe."

This Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal event is organized with the support of Bell, in partnership with evenko and with the cooperation of CJAD 800, La Presse+, the Montreal Gazette, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, RBC and TACT Intelligence-conseil. 

Before Gordon Brown, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Bill Clinton, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, President Nicolas Sarkozy, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Senator Arnold Schwarzenegger, Prime Minister Tony Blair, President George W. Bush and former President of the Federal Reserve of the United States Alan Greenspan have all spoken as part of the Board of Trade's International Leaders series.

About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal's business community and to promote the city's prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to business of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.

About evenko
evenko is a Quebec company which has become the most important independent promoter and producer in Canada. Presenting more than 1,200 musical, family and sporting events annually throughout the province of Quebec, Atlantic Canada and the eastern United States, evenko plays host to the biggest entertainers in the world and invests in the development and promotion of Quebec artists. Creator and producer of three festivals, the Osheaga Music and Arts festival, Heavy MONTRÉAL and ÎleSoniq which are held at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montréal, evenko is also the exclusive manager of the Bell Centre, the Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre and the future Place Bell in Laval. In January 2015, Pollstar, the industry's most respected source, ranked evenko top promoter in Canada as well as 9^th amongst the most important promoters in North America. The evenko trademark is the property of L'Aréna des Canadiens Inc.

SOURCE Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

Source: Michelle LLambias Meunier, Advisor, Media Relations, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, Tel.: [phone], ext. 4042, [email protected]; Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambremontreal, Twitter: @chambremontreal, Follow the discussion: #ccmmqcca