André Blais, professor in the Department of Political Science at the Université de Montréal, CIRANO researcher and Fellow received the Léon-Gérin Prize awarded by the Government of Quebec. This distinction is given to a researcher who has led an outstanding career in research in the humanities and social sciences.

A CIRANO Fellow and full professor in the Department of Political Science at the Université de Montréal, André Blais is particularly interested in electoral behaviour, public opinion, electoral systems and political participation. Holder of the Université de Montréal Research Chair in Electoral Studies, is a member of the Centre pour l'étude de la citoyenneté démocratique (CÉCD) and the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en économie quantitative (CIREQ). His work in the field of elections, electoral systems and voter participation has contributed significantly to the advancement of political science in Quebec and Canada and has earned him international recognition. Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1999, he received the 2010 Award of Excellence from the Société québécoise de science politique. His research work led him to win the coveted Killam Fellowship in 1995.