Quebec: Paul Desmarais

Paul Desmarais: But whatever descriptors were attached to billionaire Paul Desmarais over more than five decades in business, the chairman of the aptly named Power Corporation left a deep mark on the face of Quebec and Canada, according to The Star. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that Desmarais was one of Canadas most successful businessmen and will be remembered for his leadership, his philanthropy and community involvement as well as his profound attachment to his country and MONTREAL They called him an industrialist, a financier, a tycoon and a newspaper baron. Quebec sovereigntists called him worse much worse. The Desmarais family wife Jacqueline and children Paul Jr., Andre, Louise and Sophie said in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Tuesday evening at his family retreat in Quebecs Charlevoix region, north of Quebec City. The cause of death was not disclosed, but he had suffered a stroke in 2005. He was 86. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.