Palais des congrès getting ready to host World Cancer Congress

Will generate over $5 million for the economy with 3,000 delegates from 120 countries attending

MONTREAL, Feb. 2, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - With World Cancer Day taking place tomorrow, plans are actively underway at the Palais des congrès de Montréal as it prepares to host the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Congress, being held for the first time in Canada from August 27 to 30, 2012. The event, which was secured with the collaboration of Tourisme Montréal, will attract 3,000 cancer prevention and treatment experts from 120 countries to Montréal under the theme Connecting for Global Impact. It is estimated the World Cancer Congress will generate over $5 million for the city's economy.

"Everyone at the Palais is working hard to ensure the World Cancer Congress reflects Montréal's excellence in life sciences," explains Marc Tremblay, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal. He adds: "The delegates will enjoy high performance hi-tech facilities and unique venues right in the city's downtown, like our fully furnished terrace, at a time of year when Montréal is brimming with festivals and special events."

Says Dr. Michel Gélinas, President and Cofounder of the Fondation québécoise du cancer and President of the Local Host Committee, "Montréal was selected because of the exceptional efforts and the impressive extent to which the local scientific community - universities, hospitals, research centres - mobilized to bring this essential event in the fight against cancer to Montréal."

Influential economic cluster
The Canadian Local Host Committee for the World Cancer Congress is composed of volunteers and individuals with strong beliefs in the fight against cancer. They are responsible for facilitating the UICC's task of organizing the event in Canada and to help promote this event to Canadian delegates and potential partners. Their work wonderfully demonstrates the potential reach and scope of the life sciences sector, widely recognized as a segment of excellence for the Québec economy, and represented by Montréal InVivo, the life sciences cluster comprised of over 620 organizations.

The Local Host Committee includes two Executive Ambassadors who are members of the Palais des congrès de Montréal Ambassadors Club: Dr. Michel Gélinas, President and Cofounder of the Fondation québécoise du cancer and President of the Local Host Committee for the 2012 World Cancer Congress, and Dr. Eduardo L. Franco, Professor and Interim Chair, McGill University, Department of Oncology.

About the Union for International Cancer Control
The Union for International Cancer Control's mission is to support the global healthcare community in order to accelerate the fight against cancer. Founded in 1933, the UICC now has 465 member organizations, including major organizations involved in the fight against cancer, governmental health departments and patients groups worldwide. The UICC and its partners work closely with the World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum and other major organizations actively involved in tackling the global cancer crisis. www.uicc.org

About the Palais des congrès de Montréal
The mission of the Palais des congrès de Montréal is to attract and host conventions, exhibitions, conferences, meetings and other events. A public institution with a commercial vocation, the Palais generates major economic spinoffs for Québec and has contributed proudly for over 28 years to sharing knowledge and enhancing Montréal's international reputation as a first-rate destination. For more information on the Palais des congrès de Montréal, visit our website at www.congresmtl.com.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for promoting Montréal's hospitality industry by positioning the city as a premier business and leisure travel destination. A private non-profit organization founded in 1919, it has over 750 members from Montréal's tourism community. Tourisme Montréal is Québec's oldest tourism organization and among North America's earliest. For more information: www.tourisme-montreal.org.