May 20, 2014 (Sherbrooke, QC) – Pierre Karl Péladeau, the business tycoon-turned-politician, was badly hurt in a bike accident in Orford Park on Sunday reports Radio Canada. He suffered at least eight bone fractures falling from his bike, among them to the clavicle (collarbone) and his hip. The 52-year-old newly-elected politician is now resting at the Sherbrooke Hospital. The accident apparently happened after Péladeau struck something on the road with his bike; no motor vehicles were involved.
Péladeau, the former president and CEO of Quebecor Inc., Quebecor Media Inc. and Sun Media Corporation, was presented as the separatist Parti Quebecois’ star candidate during the lead up to the April 7 provincial election in Quebec. At that point, it looked like the separatists would be re-elected, perhaps with a majority. However, the party began slipping in the polls soon after and eventually suffered a humiliating electoral defeat. One of the party’s few gains in 2014 was the St. Jerome riding where Péladeau was elected.
The Quebec National Assembly (provincial legislature) reconvened today, but Péladeau was obviously absent. “Unfortunately, this bike accident will keep me bed-bound for a while[…] This being said, I remain very implicated in my role as the member for Saint-Jérôme, this thanks to daily communications from people in my riding,” declared Péladeau in a press release.
Péladeau is also known as a cyclist and as an important financial backer of cycling. Quebecor co-sponsors the Garneau-Quebecor UCI continental men’s road team and is also an official media partner of La Québécoise and La Montréalaise cyclosportive events organized around the GP Cycliste Quebec and Montreal WorldTour races in September. The company also sponsors the Granfondo Garneau-Cascades between Quebec City and Trois Rivières in August. And in May of 2013, Quebecor acquired Gestev, the company that organizes the renowned Mont Ste-Anne World Cups and other top level events in the Québec City region.
Péladeau holds degrees in philosophy and in law. He not only gives corporate support to cycling, but in 2012 joined Ironman Pierre Lavoie for 410km of a 1,000km charity ride over 72 hours and apparently is in pretty good shape.
Radio Canada (French) report here.
Pedal joins the cycling community in wishing PKP a speedy recovery.