John Edward Parisella, whose career has taken him from Quebec politics and government to business, diplomacy, education and public commentary, will receive an honorary doctorate from McGill University at its Fall Convocation on Oct. 19.
Parisella will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, during the afternoon ceremony.
Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor of McGill, said the University is recognizing Parisella for a career marked by sustained engagement in Quebec’s public life and a commitment to education and civic participation.
“John Parisella’s remarkable career reflects an enduring commitment to public service, education and civic life,” said Saini. “For more than five decades, he has brought integrity and sound judgment to complex public issues and to institutions across Quebec and Canada, while remaining deeply committed to the communities he has served. He is a wonderful example to our students of how leadership and a commitment to service can make a lasting contribution to society. McGill is proud to recognize an alumnus whose achievements and values continue to enrich our broader community.”
For Parisella, the honorary degree will add to a long list of distinctions. He was appointed an Officer of the Ordre national du Québec in 2016 and became a Member of the Order of Canada the following year.
His honours also include the 2011 medal of the Foreign Policy Association of New York and a 2014 Top 20 Diversity Award at the Grand Prix Mosaïque – Lys de la Diversité du Québec.
A career across Quebec’s public life
Parisella began his career as a high school teacher and went on to serve in senior political roles during periods of significant change in Quebec. He joined the Quebec Liberal Party in 1980 and later became its director general and then chief of staff to premiers Robert Bourassa and Daniel Johnson Jr. He later became Special Advisor to premier Jean Charest.
His political career included work during three referendums (including Charlottetown). He chronicled those years in his 2015 memoir La politique dans la peau.
“John Parisella is a profoundly engaged and thoughtful citizen,” read the 2017 Order of Canada citation. “He guided and advised many Quebec politicians with grace and impartiality during some of the most critical points in our country’s history that would have a lasting impact on its future.”
Parisella later moved to the private sector, becoming president of Montreal communications and advertising firm BCP, where his work included strategic communications and government relations.
Parisella subsequently returned to government and diplomacy, serving as Quebec’s delegate general in New York and Washington from 2009 to 2012.
That experience helped establish his reputation as an observer of American politics. He has written and spoken extensively about U.S. affairs and has worked as a political analyst for media in Quebec and across Canada. He remains active as an author, speaker and commentator and serves as a senior advisor to NATIONAL Public Relations.
Education and public service remain central
Parisella earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola College in 1967 before completing a master’s degree in political science at McGill. He also pursued studies in education and management and later earned a senior government management certificate from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
He led a major fundraising campaign for Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal that helped raise $601 million, surpassing the original $500-million goal. Parisella has taught political science and business at the university level and continues to work with students and academic institutions.
Parisella has also contributed to organizations in the areas of education, culture, health, community development and international affairs. He was named a Fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute in 2021 and serves on several boards, including the Fondation pour la langue française and the Old Brewery Mission.