The Ambassador
Parcours de la renommée inauguration a real success
 Many Ambassadors and
influential industry players gathered on December 10 for a cocktail and dinner event in the
Jardin Nature légère / Lipstick Forest to mark the inauguration of the Parcours de la renommée.
To the rhythms of jazz in the splendid forest of pink trees, guests wandered along the Parcours
and learned about the history of the past 26 years of international conventions and about the
outstanding collaboration with Ambassadors and partners, now permanently engraved in stone at
the Palais des congrès.
Among the high points of the evening was a passionate speech by Marc Tremblay, the new President
and CEO of the Palais, who expressed his appreciation and opened the way to new opportunities
for collaboration in bringing conventions to Montréal.
" This walk is our way of giving public recognition to past collaboration, as well a daily
reminder of the work that remains to be done," Mr. Tremblay said. " What we have here are stones
engraved with 26 years of memories and successes, but also an equal number of stones that remain
untouched, just waiting for one thing: to be engraved like the others!"
Also worthy of mention are the words spoken by Dr. Jacques Corcos, who reiterated the importance
of the role each person has played in making Montréal what it is today, a first-choice convention
city. As he expressed so well, there is a need to keep motivating other colleagues and prompting
them to dive into the great adventure of organizing major conventions.
" I will never stop repeating, now that you have played your role as convention leaders, that the
time has come for recruiting, to keep energizing Montréal," Dr. Corcos added.
In a word, the unveiling of the Parcours de la renommée was a radiant event where wonder, recognition,
memories and pride all convened.
View photos of the event
Parcours de la renommée at-a-glance
 Set in red
stones engraved with the names of major international conventions and their Ambassadors, the Parcours de
la renommée marks the major events held at the Palais since 1983 – a real trip back in time.
This sparkling red walk bears witness to the outstanding collaboration of the movers and shakers
who have played an active role in generating major intellectual and economic spinoffs for Montréal
and Québec as a whole – worth a total of about $2.8 billion, it should be noted. More than
1,000 conventions are immortalized, and some 250 Ambassadors are honoured here.
Looking to the past but also focused on the future, the Parcours includes untouched stones just
awaiting their turn to be engraved. This will occur every year, with the arrival of new conventions.
The Parcours de la renommée was developed by the design firm Aedifica. It is located in the
passageway at the foot of the Jardin Nature légère / Lipstick Forest in the Palais. If you
haven't already done so, we invite you to come walk along it and show it to your family and colleagues!
En route to the Sommet du haut savoir
 During the
December 10 gathering, the Palais announced the holding in 2010 of the Sommet du haut savoir,
a multi-day event highlighting the contribution of universities and the major role they play
for Québec in advancing knowledge.
This multifaceted event will include:
- an exhibition for the general public aimed at parents seeking university or school programs for their children;
- a major celebration reserved for foreign students;
- a convention bringing together institutions of higher learning, including universities in Québec and elsewhere;
- a big farewell gathering, the Gala Reconnaissance.
There's little doubt that this summit will be one of a kind and will contribute significantly to
Montréal's intellectual and economic development.
We'll be providing you with more details shortly.
Jardin Nature légère / Lipstick Forest, a space at your disposal!
 Those who
attended the Parcours de la renommée inauguration were undoubtedly charmed by the lovely setting
and space of the Jardin Nature légère / Lipstick Forest. This surrealistic forest of pink trees
has helped make the Palais famous for interior landscaping. It provides an outstanding location
for any type of event.
Good news! The Ambassador's Club now offers you the privilege of using this
space free of charge for your events, whether professional or personal.
To learn about the terms and conditions of use and to reserve the
Jardin Nature légère / Lipstick Forest, we invite you to contact the Club Secretariat.
Invitation to the Montréal Wine and Spirits Show, March 25
 Last
year, in connection with the Montréal International Auto Show, the Club held a cocktail party
followed by a visit that was highly appreciated by members.
We are pleased to announce that this formula will be applied for a
second time this year on the occasion of the Montréal Wine and Spirits Show!
Reserve now for the evening of March 25. Details will follow soon by e-mail.
Good news to share?
 You just received an award? A promotion?
International visibility? Feel free to call on us to send out a news item regarding an Ambassador
colleague or yourself. It will be a pleasure for us to spread the word among Club members.
Our congratulations to these Ambassadors!
Dr. Francis H. Glorieux,
MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics and Human Genetics at McGill University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics
at Université de Montréal and Director of Research at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Montréal, has obtained
an honorary doctorate from Université de Lyon. Dr. Glorieux has twice been accredited as a Palais Ambassador, for
the International Conference on Calcium Regulating Hormones in 1989 and for the 17th Conference of the International
Bone and Mineral Society in 2007.
Dr. Balfour M. Mount,
Emeritus Professor of Palliative Medicine, received a 2009 Great Montrealers award from the Board of Trade of
Metropolitan Montréal. Dr. Mount was accredited as an Ambassador in 1992 for the 9th International Congress on
the Care of the Terminally Ill.
Dr. Ghislain Devroede,
Professor in the Department of Surgery at Université de Sherbrooke and Accredited Ambassador for the International
Perimeum Conference in 1998, is the author of a newly published book titled Chacun peut guérir!
Roland Proulx,
Emeritus Professor and Accredited Ambassador for the 2008 convention of the Society for College and University
Planning, was named Professional of the Year for 2009 in the category of higher education at the international
level by Strathmore's Who's Who.
Thanks
We offer warm thanks to our partners who made de the Parcours la renommée unveiling event a remarkable success:

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