Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Fairfax Financial chairman Prem Watsa have been named as international recipients of the Horatio Alger Award for 2012.
The distinction bestowed by the U.S.-based Horatio Alger Association recognizes “individuals in our society whose courage and determination allowed them to overcome the challenges they faced early in their lives and achieve success in their fields.”
Mr. Mulroney, 72, grew up an electrician’s son on Quebec’s remote North Shore. He went on to become Canada’s 18th prime minister for nine years until 1993, overseeing the adoption of the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement. The Indian-born Mr, Watsa, 61, built Fairfax into one of Canada’s most respected investment firms. He recently joined the board of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion. The awards will be handed out at a ceremony next month in Washington.
