PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VIA RAIL APPOINTED HONORARY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL OF RÉGIMENT DE MAISONNEUVE

Montréal, March 24, 2017 – The appointment of the President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail), Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, as the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Régiment de Maisonneuve was officially celebrated yesterday evening at a military dinner held at the Régiment de Maisonneuve headquarters in Montréal among 200 members of the military and business communities.

“The appointment of Mr. Desjardins-Sicilianoas the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel is a great source of pride for the members of the Régiment de Maisonneuve who recognize him a man of his word, a man of heart and a man of deed at the service of the community,” declared Lieutenant-colonel Jean-François Latreille, CD, Commanding officer of the Régiment de Maisonneuve. “It’s also great news for members of the Canadian Armed Forces since Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano acknowledges the added value of military experience in corporations as well as the benefits in allowing reservists to continue their military training. There is no doubt in my mind that, with his inspiring leadership, Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano will contribute significantly to the renown of the Régiment de Maisonneuve and redefine the role, the recognition and the place of our military members into the workforce across the country.”

“It was with both humility and pride that I accepted this appointment and the mandate to represent the Régiment de Maisonneuve before the Montréal civil society,” said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano. “Guided by my desire to serve our fellow citizens, my dedication to the cause and, above all, my loyalty to this country and its values, I intend to invest myself, to the best of my abilities, in reinforcing the link that must exist between the military and Montréal's civilian community and promote the esprit de corps.”

The nomination of the President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, as the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Régiment de Maisonneuve was officially celebrated yesterday evening. On the picture: Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-François Latreille, CD, Commanding officer of the Régiment de Maisonneuve; Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO of VIA Rail and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Régiment de Maisonneuve; and Colonel (ret.) Roger Chouinard, CD, Honorary Colonel of the Régiment de Maisonneuve.


Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO of VIA Rail and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of Régiment de Maisonneuve

VIA Rail and the military community
Maintaining a long and proud tradition of supporting members of the military and veteran communities, VIA Rail has entered into several partnerships over the past few years with organizations such as the Canada Company Military Employment Transition Program and the Commissionaire’s MISSION EMPLOI, both of which help former Canadian military members make the transition to civilian life.

VIA Rail also supports the military community through partnerships with the Royal Canadian Legion’s national Poppy Campaign, True Patriot Love, Wounded Warriors Canada, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services and the Canadian Army Run. VIA Rail has also partnered with the Vimy Foundation for the inauguration of the new Interpretation Centre for Canadian History and the centennial of the victorious Battle of Vimy Ridge in France.

Furthermore, VIA Rail offers a 25% discount on the best available fare to members of the Canadian Forces, as well as veterans and their families. Since 2010, over 160,000 military personnel have taken advantage of this offer and travelled on VIA Rail trains.

On March 18, 2017, VIA Rail was honoured as the best employer in Québec by the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC). Over the past few years, under Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano’s leadership, VIA Rail has increased its efforts to support Canada’s Reserve Forces and encourage more veterans to join its staff. The Crown Corporation has, among other initiatives, worked with its reservist employees to implement a new leave policy allowing employees who are in the Reserves to continue their military training or participate in temporary missions during military operations in Canada and abroad.

For more information on VIA Rail initiatives, visit its military community web site at: http://career.viarail.ca/en/why-choose-us/veterans-program.

About the Régiment de Maisonneuve
The Régiment de Maisonneuve is a Montréal-based light infantry unit that is part of the 34th Canadian Brigade Group, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-François Latreille. Its motto is “Bon Coeur Et Bon Bras!” (“Good Hearts and Strong Arms”). Founded in 1880, the Régiment de Maisonneuve is the official regiment of the City of Montreal. (www.rdemais.com)

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and its 2,600 employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded seven Safety Awards by the Railway Association of Canada over the last eight years. For more information, visit: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.