Premier Legault praises Quebec Jewry at investiture of Norman Steinberg into the Ordre National du Québec
By: Beryl Wajsman,Editor
The Suburban
Norman Steinberg, one of Montreal’s pre-eminent leaders of civil society, was recently invested as a Chevalier in the Ordre National du Québec by Premier François Legault. In a remarkable career, Steinberg has been an unrivalled leader in law,healthcare and the arts. Both as a holder of senior board positions and as a philanthropist he has set standards that others judge their work by.
After a discourse noting how Steinberg’s accomplishments spanned all communities and have benefitted all Quebecers , the Premier then spontaneously paid a tribute to Quebec’s Jewish community with a historic declaration. He said, “I want to highlight the exceptional contribution of the Jewish community in Quebec. For more than 200 years, the Jewish community has built many businesses in Quebec, and many organizations that are the pride of Quebec. I know that the last few months have not been easy for your community and I want to say that you are at home here, you are one of us. You have the right to the respect, security and fraternity of all Quebecers.”
Steinberg said, “I am delighted to be named Knight of the National Order of Quebec. This recognition is the highest distinction awarded by the government of Quebec. As a lifelong, proud, resident of the province of Quebec, Canada, I am deeply touched by the recognition of my contributions to Quebec society. I share this recognition with my family and friends and thank them for their support. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the other 2025 recipients of this award.”
Asked by The Suburban about the Premier’s comments on the Jewish community, Steinberg said, “My family was extremely appreciative of Premier Legault’s comments. In these difficult times for the Jewish community, we must remember and recognize our allies like the Premier. His comments set an important tone .Of course I’m very proud to receive this great honor from the Premier. Merci beaucoup Premier Legault!”
As a lawyer, Steinberg spent 45 years with Ogilvy Renault and them Norton Rose Fulbright into which it merged. He became global managing partner of NRF, a rare achievement for a Montreal lawyer in a worldwide firm. Norton Rose has 4000 lawyers in 60 offices. A specialist in finance and mergers and acquisitions, the transactions he handled exceed $100 billion in value.They included the purchase of Alcan by Rio Tinto, the privatization of Four Seasons Hotels,the privitization Shell Canada by Royal Dutch Shell and the merger of Domtar into Weyerhauser.
After retiring from Norton, Steinberg is now vice-chairman of BFL Canada, Canada’s largest employee-owned and operated commercial insurance brokerage and consulting services firm. He is also a director of Fiera Capital where he presides over the nomination and governance committee.
His involvements outside the business world are just as impressive. He serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of the MUHC Foundation. Steinberg raised some $350 million for the construction of the MUHC Glen Site. And then raised $200 million for critical medical research in the MI4 Project.
He also created a fundraising board for the CUSM. He has chaired the Daffodil Ball for the Canadian Cancer Society, the Grand Ball for the Montreal Heart Institute, the Gala Toqué for the Muscular Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Annual Gala for the Canadian Red Cross.Norman was copresident of Centraide Montreal in 2007 in a campaign that raised $54 million to help 350 groups fighting poverty in Montreal. He remains a vital contributor in every Centraide campaign.
In the arts, from 2008 à 2013, he was co-president of the financing campaign for the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts that raised $125 million for the Museum’s expansion. Additionally, for 30 years, Steinberg has served as both a board member and vice-president of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, where he helped stabilize its financial situation by recruiting Kent Nagano as artistic director and building the world-renowned new artistic hall. Recognized as one of the world’s greatest artistic halls.
Among his many other honours, in 2024 he was made an officer of the Order of Montreal, received the F.R.Scott Award from McGill University’s Faculty of Law and has consistently been recognized as one of the best lawyers in corporate law, finance and mergers and acquisitions not just in Canada but globally. n