Québec City Convention Centre awards grant to two INAF – Université Laval researchers

On October 6 at the BÉNÉFIQ conference, Yves Desjardins and André Gosselin, researchers at Université Laval’s Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF) and proud meeting and convention ambassadors, received a $3,678 grant from the Québec City Convention Centre for the 8th International Strawberry Symposium held in Québec City in August 2016. The grant was given by Convention Centre Sales Manager, Jocelyn Guertin.

For 15 years, the Québec City Convention Centre and Université Laval have partnered to attract international conferences to Québec City with the help of research professors. This win-win agreement for both organizations has made it possible for over 50 international events to be held in Québec City.

It took Mr. Desjardins and Mr. Gosselin four years to make the International Strawberry Symposium in Québec City happen. This scientific conference attracted some 600 delegates from around the world and generated $1.1 million in economic benefits. With the collaboration of the Convention Centre’s team, meeting and convention ambassadors successfully promoted Québec City’s bid in Beijing in 2012 and convinced the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) to choose Québec City. The adventure continued until the symposium took place in August 2016 at the Québec City Convention Centre.

Besides the economic impact, the success of such a conference boosts the international reputation of Université Laval, especially INAF and the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, and creates greater visibility for Québec City’s know-how.