1983 The Palais des congrès de Montréal is inaugurated May 28. The ceremony is attended by Québec Premier René Lévesque, and Jean Labonté, the Palais' first CEO. The Palais hosts its first international event in its very first year: the 8th congress of the International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.       1984 A flurry of activities marks the Palais' first year of operation. It signs a collaboration protocol agreement with the Palais des congrès de Paris, expanding the way for more international business. The Palais hosts the American Pharmaceutical Association conference.       1985 The Palais is bustling: • The Ambassadors' Club is established. It holds its first annual gala, a tradition that continues to this very day • Opening of a sales office in Paris • The 50th International Alcoholics Anonymous Convention welcomes 50 000 delegates, making it the biggest convention to be hosted by the Palais. • The Palais was also hit by a fire which, fortunately, left only material damages.       1986 The Palais welcomes Desmond Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Prize-winning Anglican archbishop from South Africa. The Palais hosts 3 000 people for the International Society of Magnetic Resonance Conference. 1986 marks the first year the Motorcycle Show is held at the Palais.       1987 The year's many events include the Canadian Engineering Centenary, the 35th International Psychoanalysis Conference, the 23rd World Veterinary Congress, and World Tourism Day, a World Tourism Organization initiative. This event provides an early hint of the inevitable partnership between the tourism industry partners.       1988 The Palais turns 5 and marks the occasion with an open house. The Palais also hosts a General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, or GATT, meeting.       1989 The Tourisme Montréal gala and Ambassadors' Club gala hold a joint special evening. The Palais hosts two major events, i.e. the 14th Global Energy Conference and the 5th AIDS Conference.       1990 Montréal welcomes 30 000 delegates from abroad. The Palais hosts Exfor 90, the world's biggest pulp and paper equipment trade show, the Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank, and the 1st World Architecture Congress, with participants originating from 86 countries.       1991 The Fondation Gérard-Delage holds its first gastronomic rally. Forty-three Montréal chefs take part. The Palais opens a sales office in Washington. It hosts noteworthy events, such as an exhibit on Saudi Arabia, the 42nd Astronautic International Congress, the Gemini Awards Gala, as well as the "Bye Bye '91" year-end retrospective.       1992 The year is marked by the official opening in Montréal of a permanent office at the World Tourism Organization. Also, the Palais becomes the capital of the North as it hosts the 5th International Winter Cities Biennial. The annual Exfor trade show sets an attendance record with 14 000 delegates.       1993 Over 100 000 people attend the Palais des merveilles, a family event featuring shows and 150+ activities. The National Emergency Number Association event also enjoys a successful turnout, attracting 1 500 participants. Capping the year, an introduction to Buddhism workshop given by the Dalai Lama.       1994 The Palais hosts the 14th  International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Congress and its 13 000 participants. Other successful events include the: • 4th Metropolis Congress • 1st Wine & Spirits Show • 40th Salon de l’Agriculture • 76th Optimist International Convention.       1995 The year's two major headlines are the opening of the new panoramic room and a busy summer that attracts 50 000 convention-goers. Equally newsworthy, the 19th Congrès international de Chimiothérapie and the 20th World Road Congress.       1996 Montréal attracts 22 000 delegates for the 79th Lions Clubs International Convention. The 26th International Congress of Psychology draws 5 000 participants. The INET conference gives us a taste of the inevitable rise and popularity of information technology.       1997 A year marked by several major conventions on major issues, including the: • 24th World Congress of the Société internationale d’urologie • 9th World Water Congress • 26th International Conference on Nutrition. Also, the Palais goes online for the very first time with its inaugural website.       1998 The Palais converts into a shelter for victims of the January ice storm. Later in the year, 20 000 delegates attend the annual Kiwanis International Convention. Finally, the Québec Government green lights the Palais' expansion.       1999 The expansion work is underway, nevertheless the Palais continues to host major events such as the 4th International Conference on Aging (1 500 delegates) and the American Helicopter Society Forum (3 000 delegates).       2000 The expansion work continues unabated, but its impact on events is kept to a minimum. Said events include the 12th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists and its 6 000 delegates, and the 17th International Electric Vehicle Symposium and its 2 000 participants.       2001 As the expansion work progresses, so does the list of events and the variety of topics they address. E.g. the: • Airports Council International World and North American Convention and Exhibition; • Inclusion by Design – Planning the Barrier-Free World; • International Food Tradeshow, a longtime staple of the Palais.       2002 The inauguration celebrations of the newly expanded Palais unfold under the theme "Views on the World". The Palais is home to major events tackling issues of consequence for our society, such as the 11th International Congress on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy and the Montréal World Forum on Drugs and Dependencies, drawing nearly 5 000 people. The year ends with the first ever Montréal International Auto Show held at the Palais.       2003 The Palais marks its 20th anniversary by hosting an innovative first conference on the convention industry, under the theme "Conquering a new world." The Palais also hosts an unusual event, the 14th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, which draws 3 500 delegates. The Palais' staff learns some basic sign language for the occasion.       2004 Prevention fills the summer air with two major events, i.e. the 12th International Congress of Immunology (8 000 delegates) and the 70th Conference & Exposition of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (5 000 delegates).       2005 The year is marked by three major events, attracting close to 40 000 people: • The World Dental Congress of the World Dental Federation • The 13th World Congress of Gastroenterology • The 11th United Nations Convention on Climate Change, a flagship event for the Palais’ new green practices and ecoresponsible policies.       2006 The Palais attracts people from all walks of life, i.e. from the financial community with the Government Finance Officers Association Annual Meeting and its 5 000 delegates, to the gay community and the 24 000 participants attending the 1st World Outgames- Rendez-vous Montréal 2006 in August.       2007 The human body is front and centre thanks to conferences on a variety of medical fields, namely the 42nd World Congress of the International Society of Surgery, and the 17th Conference of the International Bone and Mineral Society.       2008 The Ambassadors' Club Recognition Award Gala kicks off the Palais' 25th anniversary celebrations, which run until 2009! Two conferences of note, i.e. the 9th International Conference on Low Vision and the 37th Cospar Scientific Assembly.