Honourable senators, Claude Gingras was a businessman, philanthropist and ardent promoter of French language rights, but he was much better known as one of the founders of Ginsberg, Gingras & Associates, Inc. Licensed Insolvency Trustees. Mr. Gingras was born on April 12, 1944, and died of cancer on April 26, 2021.

Claude B. Gingras began his career with the federal government in the area of bankruptcy and insolvency in 1973. Then, in 1980, he and his associate, Joseph Ginsberg, founded their insolvency trustee firm, Ginsberg Gingras. Claude was the president and CEO until he retired on January 1, 2013. Throughout his career, he and his colleagues tried to bring more humanity to the profession of bankruptcy management and proposals to creditors.

In 40 years, this small office transformed into a professional insolvency firm with a large number of offices throughout Quebec and eastern Ontario.

Well known by the people of Ottawa, Claude worked with numerous non-profit organizations to support youth, the francophone community, local businesses, mental health and end-of-life care.

For 20 years, he served as the president of the Fondation franco-ontarienne and as a member of the board of directors for La Cité Collégiale, the Ottawa General Hospital, Maison Mathieu-Froment-Savoie and the Franco-Ontarian festival. He was also involved in Centraide Outaouais and acted as the honorary president for many fundraising activities.

Hard-working and generous, Claude was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers as part of the International Year of Volunteers in 2001, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, and the rank of Knight of the Ordre de la Pléiade in 2003. He was named personality of the year by the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce in 2010, and received the Bernard Grandmaître Award in 2013, as well as the Order of Ottawa and the Order of Ontario in 2014.

He appreciated the good things in life, loved red wine, and was an avid traveller and discriminating gourmet. He was also generous with his time and enjoyed the company of others, having fun and talking politics. His circle of friends included countless business people, politicians and close associates. He used his considerable influence wisely and had a very positive impact on the lives of all those who had the privilege of meeting him. He joins his friends Pierre de Blois and Mauril Bélanger, who will no doubt help him improve heaven for francophones.

Claude passed away but left behind a legacy of service and generosity.

Rest peacefully, dear friend. You have certainly earned it. Above all, thank you.