TORONTO — Christiane Germain, co-founder and co-president of Group Germain Hotels will receive the International Horatio Alger Award in 2020. The award is presented each year by the Washington, D.C.-based Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc. to contemporary role models who best exemplify the principles of integrity, hard work, perseverance and compassion for others.
“Christiane Germain [exemplifies] the can-do attitude our association celebrates and we have no doubt [she] will serve as a great role model for our scholars,” says Prem Watsa, president of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada.
Germain is one of Canada’s best-known businesswomen, co-founding Group Germain Hotels with her brother 31 years ago. The hotel brand is now represented in seven provinces across three banners — Le Germain Hotels, Alt and Alt+ hotels. In addition, Germain is chair of the board of directors at Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and is a member of the Order of Canada and l’Ordre national du Québec.
“I’m honoured to join a group of such esteemed individuals,” says Germain. “I look forward to working with the members of the association to continue building the organization and growing the pool of scholarship recipients.”
Germain will be officially inducted into the association during an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in April 2020 and honoured by the Horatio Alger Association of Canada at its annual Excellence Gala fundraiser in Toronto October 28.
