Trot Insider has learned that former Quebec racetrack official and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Raymond Lemay passed away on Monday, October 22 at the age of 91.
Raymond is survived by his wife of 67 years Thérèse Hallé, his children Bernard (Olyvette) and Michel (Marie-Claude); his grandchildren Jean-Michel (Audrey-Anne) and Benoit (Stéphanie), a great-grandchild Arnaud; his step-grandchildren Dominique (Narie-Pierre) and Marc-André (Sophie); his brothers and sisters Rita (late Steve), Claire (Jean-Guy), the late Denise (late Marcel), Jacques and André (Lucile), his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Cécile Hallé (Claude), Marguerite Hallé (late Maurice), Jacques Hallé (Yolande) and Hélène Hallé (Prime), as well as many family members, nephews and nieces and friends.
The family will receive condolences Friday, November 2, 2018 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, November 3 from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., at the Centre Funéraille Côte des Neiges 4525, La Côte-Des-Neiges Road, Montreal
The funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the Notre-Dame Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Notre-Dame Basilica, 426 rue St-Sulpice, Montreal.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Foundation, 270-5435, boul. of the Assumption, Montreal, QC H1T 4B3 (www.fondationhmr.ca).
Raymond began his career as a director at Richelieu Park in 1953 and in 1970 became president of the Blue Bonnets and Richelieu Park racetracks, where he clearly contributed to the development of horse racing in Quebec.
In 1973, Raymond joined Canada Steampship Lines as vice president, institutional services, and then became its president and chief operating officer beginning in 1980, a position he held until 1989. During period, he also assumed, from 1981 to 1983, the vice-presidency of the advisory board of the Port of Montreal.
From 1989 to 2001, he became executive vice president within the Quebecor Empire, a member of the Quebecor World Board until 2003, and Quebecor Inc. until 2005.
In 1994, Raymond was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Montreal Port Corporation, and in 1996, he became chairman of the board, a position he held until February 2005.
Raymond had been awarded the Order of Canada for all of his community actions; honoured with the Jerusalem Cross by the Scout Association of Canada; and inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame as a builder. He has also participated in numerous social and sporting events, including the presidency of the 1974 World Cycling Championships and the treasury of the Canadian Olympic Association.
Several times Raymond was the fundraising campaign president and helped set up the Jean Béliveau Foundation in 1971, which is still active. Additionally, Raymond listened attentively to Father Marcel-de-la-Sablonnière and assisted him for 40 years in the financing of the Immaculate Conception Center.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Raymond Lemay.