Press release
Construction of the CHUM Research Centre:
the Quartier de la santé takes shape
Montréal, March 25, 2010 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is very pleased to hear the announcement that construction is beginning on the Université de Montréal Hospital Centre’s Research Centre (CRCHUM). This announcement confirms the commitment made last Friday by CHUM Executive Director Christian Paire at the Board of Trade’s Strategic Forum, where, notably, progress on the three major projects to strengthen Montréal’s university hospitals was discussed.
“The Montréal business community can now see that the CHUM project and its Quartier de la santé is taking shape. This is excellent news, which shows that, despite all that has been said and written over the past months, the project continues to progress. In this regard, today’s announcement comes on the heels of other important steps that have been made over the last year. A lot of work—not visible, but crucial—has been accomplished. This announcement confirms that the project is well and truly on track,” stated the President and CEO of the Board of Trade, Mr. Michel Leblanc.
“In addition to the CHUM project, it is the Quartier de la santé as a whole that is starting up today. The Quartier will be of central importance to Montréal’s future, for it will encourage the development of increased collaboration between CHUM researchers and businesses active in the life sciences field,” declared Michel Leblanc.
“We are all aware that global competition to attract investments and the finest researchers in the health field is tough. To make out all right, a metropolis such as ours must be able to rely on facilities that are well funded, well located, and at the cutting edge of technology. To that effect, today’s announcement is excellent news for our life sciences cluster,” added Michel Leblanc.
“Of course, one of the key aspects for the future of this sector in Montréal remains the fully engaged participation of the private sector. To ensure this, the Quartier de la santé’s challenge will be to provide favourable conditions in order to attract major investments. If we succeed in properly bringing together our health professionals, researchers, and business people in a common area of innovation, creativity, and research, we will then be able to say ‘mission accomplished.’ And to get there, the Board of Trade intends to do its part and continue to play a proactive role,” concluded Michel Leblanc.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal
Phone: 514 871-4000, extension 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca