Raymond Poirier is an administrator and businessman who has devoted more than 35 years to the protection, promotion and overall development of the francophone communities of Manitoba and Canada. During his involvement with the Société franco-manitobaine (SFM) in 1974 to 1978, he contributed to the creation of several important organizations including the Fédération de l’Âge d’Or du Manitoba (federation of seniors) and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada. He also co-ordinated the establishment of Francofonds a trust fund dedicated to helping to fund Franco-Manitoban initiatives. As founding president of the Fédération provinciale des comités de parents du Manitoba, he was pivotal to the formation of the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine. He was involved with the establishment of the Manitoba Association of Bilingual Municipalities (MABM) and oversaw the creation of its economic development council, the CDEM, in 1996, serving as its first president. A member of the Order of Canada (2003), he served as honourary consul of France in Winnipeg (1999-2007) and was made a knight in France’s National Order of Merit in 2007.
