It was with a great deal of pleasure that the Institute’s administration welcomed two guests from Hydro-Québec Distribution this week: Mr. Carminé De Benedictis, the new Regional Director— Montréal and Customer Services Director, and Mr. Ouali Fodil, Advisor—Environmental Relations. This was an excellent occasion to discuss IRCM’s accomplishments and projects with them.

Mr. Robert Parizeau, Chairman of the Board, took advantage of their visit to remind everyone of the close links that have united Hydro-Québec and the Institute for the past several years. He thanked Hydro-Québec once again for its commitment to the 1998–2002 “Invest in Life” fund-raising campaign. Hydro-Québec’s contribution will help to create the Michel-Bélanger Research Chair in Cancer.

After presenting a brief history of the Institute, Dr. Louis-Gilles Durand, IRCM’s Acting President and Scientific Director, showed our guests the expansion project that was completed last December and introduced the Institute’s new recruits who are in the process of settling into their new laboratories.

Dr. Mona Nemer, Executive Director of Planning and Development, spoke to our guests about the training that is provided at the Institute, the fund-raising activities that are organized to support research and the means that are adopted to maintain effective communications. “It is always a privilege to meet with our partners and donors and introduce them to our research environment,” emphasized Dr. Nemer.

The meeting ended with a guided tour of the premises and the new facilities.