We are pleased to announce that Claude Bédard has been named a 2023 honorary member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI). Claude was formally announced at the ACI Concrete Convention on April 2nd.

Being named an honorary lifetime member is ACI’s highest honor. This membership was bestowed upon Bédard for his impact as a dynamic ACI ambassador, his dedication and commitment to improving relations between industry and academic researchers, and for his central role in the chairing and success of the Strategic Development Council.

Bédard has been active in the concrete industry for more than 40 years. He is currently a strategic consultant at Euclid Chemical and also serves as an ambassador for the Centre for Research on Concrete Infrastructures (CRIB). Additionally, Bédard serves as a member of the Self-Consolidating Concrete Committee, ACI Foundation Concrete Innovation Council and Concrete Research Council.

Previously, Bédard served as a member of the Board of Direction of ACI, Standards Council of Canada and various ACI committees. He is also a former trustee and chair of the ACI Foundation, past chair of the ACI Foundation Strategic Development Council, past chair and member of the Canadian Standards Association, and two-time past president of the ACI Québec and Eastern Ontario Chapter.

In 2021, Bédard received the ACI Foundation Concrete Innovation Council Jean-Claude Roumain Innovation in Concrete Award for his lifelong contribution to innovative concrete applications. Other industry awards include the 2015 ACI Henry C. Turner Medal; the 2014 ACI Québec and Eastern Ontario Chapter ACI Chapter Recognition Award; the 2012 ACI Henry L. Kennedy Award and the ACI 10th International Conference on Superplasticizers and Other Chemical Admixtures in Concrete Award; the 2010 Québec RD-Mix Ambassador Award; and the 2002 CSA Award of Merit.

Bédard was also elected a fellow of ACI in 2008. His research interests include chemical admixtures and fibers and their use in high-performance concrete applications.