Charles-Henri de Coussergues receives an honorary degree

Congratulations to our winemaker, who was awarded an honoris causa diploma by the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ)!

During the ceremony, Ms. Liza Frulla, ITHQ's Director General, highlighted his significant contribution to the development of viticulture and the growth of wine tourism in Quebec!

Our sincerest congratulations also go out to the 130 ITHQ graduates who celebrated the completion of their training during this ceremony at the Palais des Congrès last Monday!

From left to right: Paolo Di Pietrantonio, Chairman of the ITHQ Board of Directors, Charles-Henri De Coussergues, winemaker, co-owner of L'Orpailleur vineyard and recipient of an honoris causa from the ITHQ, and Liza Frulla, ITHQ Director General (photo credit: Photograd)

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

ITHQ graduation ceremony:
An honoris causa for Charles-Henri de Coussergues and
the very first autonomously awarded university degrees

Montreal, November 15, 2022 – At the Graduation Ceremony, held yesterday at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) honored a pioneer of viticulture in Quebec: Mr. Charles-Henri de Coussergues. In addition to celebrating the success of some 130 graduates who came to mark the end of their training, the ITHQ awarded its very first autonomously awarded university degrees last night.

An honoris causa for Mr. Charles-Henri de Coussergues
Each year, the ITHQ awards honoris causa diplomas to individuals from all walks of life who contribute significantly to promoting tourism, hotel, or restaurant professions. These individuals are models of entrepreneurship, creativity, and excellence—values that the ITHQ strives to instill in its students.

"The ITHQ is pleased to award an honoris causa to Mr. Charles-Henri de Coussergues, winemaker and co-owner of the famous L'Orpailleur vineyard. His first vines took root in Dunham soil in 1982, at a time when Quebec still had a great deal of prejudice against local wines. Tenacious and passionate, Mr. de Coussergues has been perfecting Quebec's winemaking expertise for 40 years this year. In addition to his contribution to the development of our viticulture, he has greatly contributed to the growth of Quebec wine tourism. If Quebec wines are now sought after and so popular, it is largely thanks to Mr. de Coussergues' determination!" - The Honorable Liza Frulla, P.C., C.M., O.Q., Director General of the ITHQ.

The very first university degrees awarded autonomously by the ITHQ
In 2018, Bill 150, adopted by the National Assembly, allowed the ITHQ to no longer be subject to the Public Service Act and granted it the right to issue university degrees. In September 2021, after 14 years of sustained effort, the applied Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management was launched.

Students who followed the Advanced Studies in International Hotel Management (HEGHI) program at the ITHQ were immediately able to benefit from an equivalency process, allowing them to complete the missing courses to obtain this new university degree. Last night, the ITHQ was proud to award them their bachelor's degree, a first for the public institution.

"The university level at the ITHQ represents more than 30 years of constant evolution. With the awarding of these very first university degrees exclusively by the ITHQ, we celebrate numerous accomplishments for high-caliber training. The 2022 Graduation Ceremony is undoubtedly a historic milestone in the memory of the country's largest hotel school!" - Jasmin Tanguay, Senior Director of University Studies and Research at the ITHQ

About the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec
For over 50 years, the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) has been the benchmark in Canada for specialized training in tourism, hospitality, gastronomy, and sommelier services. Meeting the highest industry standards, it is the only school in the country to offer programs across all three levels of education (professional, technical, and university). Equipped with unique facilities, including a four-star hotel-school and two educational training restaurants, it has two research units (GastronomiQc Lab and ExperiSens) and an expertise center. In addition to its diploma programs, the ITHQ also offers professional development to professionals, consulting services to businesses and institutions, and workshops to the general public.

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Sources :
Julie Serero
Communications - Media Relations Manager
514 282-5111, extension 4142
julie.serero@ithq.qc.ca

Ophélie Simoncelli
Communications - Public Relations Manager
514 282-5111, extension 4078
ophelie.simoncelli@ithq.qc.ca