The Quebec National Assembly speaker and chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, Mr. Yvon Vallières, presented Ordre de la Pléiade insignias to 21 Quebec personalities from various fields, including three prominent SOCAN singer-songwriters: Jean-Pierre Ferland (Officer), Tex Lecor (Knight) and Lynda Lemay (Knight).

During the March 17 presentation ceremony, which took place in the Legislative Council Room of the Quebec Parliament in the presence of numerous guests, Mr. Vallières stated that he was “happy to honour and acknowledge the contributions of the new Pleiade members. On my own behalf and that of all Francophone Parliamentarians, I congratulate these great Quebec men and women on their remarkable achievements in their respective area of endeavour, but mainly for their work for the promotion of the French language and Quebec culture.”

The Ordre de la Pléiade was created in 1976 to foster greater dialogue between French-speaking countries and to honour outstanding individual contributions to the cooperation, solidarity and democratic ideals of the International Assembly of Francophone Parliamentarians. Some 250 Quebecers have been decorated to date.