Former senator, Quebec health minister Claude Castonguay to receive honorary degree from York U. tomorrow

TORONTO, June 9, 2000 -- Claude Castonguay, a widely respected retired public servant, politician and corporate leader whose career has spanned more than four decades, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from York University's Glendon College Sat., June 10.

Castonguay developed the blueprint for a new Quebec health and social welfare program between 1966 and 1970 -- at the peak of the Quiet Revolution. After being elected to the Quebec National Assembly in 1970, Castonguay became Quebec's minister of health and social affairs, and assumed responsibility for implementing the program he developed.

He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Laurentian Group Corporation from 1982 to 1989, and as chairman of the Conference Board of Canada from 1989 to 1990. Castonguay was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1974 and an Officer of the Ordre du QuÈbec in 1991. He served in Canada's Senate from 1990 to 1992.

Castonguay will receive his honorary Doctor of Laws degree and address convocation Sat., June 10, 2:30 p.m., at York University's Glendon College, located at 2275 Bayview Ave.

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For more information, please contact:

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/063/00