Boston, MA--U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci introduced Vermont Lt. Governor Brian Dubie to a full house of 85 New England and Canadian business leaders Friday morning at the New England-Canada Business Council’s (http://www.necbc.org) annual Leadership Award breakfast at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

Dubie addressed the group about his experiences over the past 20 months reviving relationships between Vermont and Canada in the areas of commerce, the environment, energy, education, transportation and border security. He concluded his remarks to a standing ovation.

Paul Raymond, senior vice president for the Canadian information technology firm CGI Group, Inc., is president and CEO of the Council. He joined Dubie and Cellucci at the podium to present the award to Dubie, which reads, “In recognition of your exemplary achievements with regard to international trade between Canada and New England.”

“NECBC presents this award annually to an individual who has displayed exceptional leadership in promoting economic, political and cultural relations between Canada and New England,” said Raymond.

As Governor of Massachusetts, Cellucci was the first recipient of the award in 1999. Other previous award recipients include Nova Scotia Premier John F. Hamm, former Canadian Consul General to New England Mary Clancy, former Maine Governor Angus King, and President & CEO of Manulife Financial, Dominic D'Alessandro.