Charles-Albert Poissant (1925–2011) was a Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and prominent figure in Quebec's economic landscape. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Poissant dedicated much of his life to entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives, with his philanthropic efforts primarily focused on advancing education and healthcare sectors in Canada.

As a Québécois business leader, Poissant contributed to the province's commercial development while simultaneously championing social causes. His philanthropic legacy includes substantial support for educational institutions, medical research, and healthcare infrastructure, reflecting his commitment to fostering community well-being and accessibility to critical services.

Charles-Albert Poissant was born in Montreal, Quebec. He married and had four children, and earned a diploma from the Hautes Études commerciales (HEC Montréal) in 1953. Beginning his career as a trainee at Middleton Hope & Co., an English-speaking chartered accounting firm later known as KPMG, Poissant rose to become Senior Associate for Quebec, and ultimately served as National Manager for nearly a decade (Mercure, 2007).

A key figure in Québec's business community, Poissant acted as the principal collaborator and advisor to Pierre Péladeau, founder of Quebecor, from the company's inception in 1950. He played a central role in expanding the Quebecor empire, notably negotiating major acquisitions. From 1987 to 1997, he served as President and CEO of Donohue Inc., and in 1999, he became Chairman of the Board of Quebecor Inc., marking him as the first Francophone President and Chief Executive Officer of a Canadian newsprint producer.

Deeply engaged in civic and professional organizations, Poissant held leadership roles including President of the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec, member of the Bélanger-Campeau Commission on Quebec's political and constitutional future, President of the Triennial Advisory Committee on judicial compensation for the Court of Quebec, and President of the Canadian branch of the International Fiscal Association. He also served on the executive committees of National Bank of Canada, Hydro-Québec, First Choice Networks Inc., and the Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, among others.

From 1998 onward, Poissant focused on philanthropy, contributing his expertise to educational and healthcare initiatives. He joined the boards of the Université du Québec à Montréal Foundation, the Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal Foundation, the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Additionally, he served as President of the Corporation des Jeux du Québec and ambassador for the Jeux du Québec finals in Matane. Until his death, he maintained an office at Quebecor's Saint-Jacques Street headquarters in Montreal, which he visited daily.

In his later years, Poissant prioritized issues of governance and international development, particularly the effectiveness of aid from wealthy nations to developing regions. Drawing from his modest upbringing, he championed structured, ethical assistance programs. In 2006, he helped establish the C-A Poissant Chair at UQAM to study and improve the management of aid funds, aiming to develop a code of ethics for national and international development practices.

Reflecting on his lifelong optimism, Poissant credited a mantra inspired by French psychologist Émile Coué: “Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.” Philippe Mercure (2007) noted this philosophy guided both his business success and personal demeanor. Even at age 82, colleagues such as communications manager Anne Béland remarked, “He wants to change the world.”