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Our mission
The mission of the Palais des congrès de Montréal is to attract and host conventions, exhibitions, conferences, trade shows, and events of all kinds. As a public institution with a commercial purpose, the Palais generates significant economic and intellectual spinoffs for Québec and contributes to Montréal’s reputation as a leading international destination.
Our values
Organisational values are the basic principles that influence our decision-making, guide interactions between co-workers and build our sense of well-being at work. They play a decisive role in achieving our objectives and our mission, and give meaning to our actions.
To reflect the personality of our teams, employees from every department have put their heads together to determine which values best represent the Palais’ philosophy. By upholding these values through our everyday actions, we continue to offer exceptional experiences to everyone who walks through our doors, whether it’s our colleagues, our partners, our clients or our visitors.
Creativity
Fostering creativity on a daily basis in order to offer a memorable experience to customers, find agile solutions within the team, and seize opportunities to improve and innovate.
Respect
Treating customers, partners, and colleagues with respect, in a friendly atmosphere where everyone is dedicated to protecting the planet.
Open-mindedness
Promoting listening and interaction in order to be receptive to ideas, diversity, and new technologies and keep pace with change in an inclusive way.
Talent
Emphasizing professionalism, collaboration, and the variety of specialized skills that make up the organization and effectively contribute to its success and the success of its customers.
History and key events
An emblematic Montréal venue since 1983, the Palais has been the venue for events that have transformed people and inspired invaluable ideas. Host to the discussions of major issues, advances in science and technology, celebrations of excellence, and the sharing of knowledge, the Palais has been innovating since its creation and constantly reinvents itself.
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1975
A study on Montréal’s tourism potential leads to the creation of the Palais des congrès project.
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1977
Start of construction.
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1983
Inauguration of the Palais
First international event: The 8th International Plastic Surgery Convention. -
1984
First ever Journées dentaires internationales du Québec, and thereafter on the Palais calendar annually until 2023.
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1985
Founding of the Ambassadors Club and opening of a first commercial office, in Paris.
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1989
5th International AIDS Conference: Montréal is talked about the world over.
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1991
Opening of a commercial office in Washington.
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1993
Visit from the Dalaï-lama.
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1994
World Congress of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics: Hosting 13,000 delegates, the Palais becomes a world reference in the life sciences.
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1996
First ever Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, and thereafter on the Palais calendar annually until 2025.
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1998
Emergency situation: the Palais opens its doors to the victims of the ice storm.
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1999 – 2000
The government of Québec invests $290 million to finance the expansion of the Palais, allowing the convention centre to double its size.
World Conference on Aging: 1,500 delegates
American Helicopter Society: 3,000 delegates
12th World Conference of Anaesthetists: 6,000 delegates
17th International Electric Vehicle Symposium: 2,000 delegates -
2002
Unveiling of the Palais’ new facade under the supervision of internationally renowned architect Mario Saia. Now one of Montreal’s most important architectural icons, the facade comprises 390 panels of transparent colored glass.
First hosting of the Montréal International Auto Show.
Installation of Nature légère, a work of art by landscape architect Claude Cormier. Visible from Rue Viger, the bright pink interior forest was inspired by the city’s century-old trees. An iconic piece of Montréal public art.
Installation of Translucide, signed Jean-François Cantin, Victor Pilon, and Michel Lemieux. Illustrating the Palais’ role as a meeting place, the blue glass rooftop integrated into Mario Saia’s facade is one of the largest contemporary figurative stained-glass windows in the Americas. -
2003
Employees of the Palais learn the basics of sign language at the 14th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf.
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2004
Inauguration of Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle and its celebrated fountain sculpture, La Joute. The urban oasis that is part of the Palais is among the most appreciated in the Montréal’s international district.
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2005
Flagship event in the history of the Palais: the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP11).
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2008
The Palais team adapts to the needs of its visitors during the 9th International Conference on Visual Impairment.
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2009
20th World Diabetes Congress, an event of paramount importance for the medical community.
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2010
Earliest advance booking ever of an event at the Palais: The American Society of Human Genetics conference is scheduled for 2031, i.e. 21 years ahead of time.
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2011
Ground breaking on the development of the Palais’ green roofs.
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2012
After several cutting-edge procurements, the Palais is now one of the international leaders in event technologies.
IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium: 9,000 delegates
International Polar Year Conference: 2,900 delegates
World Cancer Congress: 1,835 delegates
World Congress on Information Technology: 1,624 delegates -
2014
Record year: the Palais hosts 48 major events.
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2015
Record year: over $242 million in tourism revenue generated.
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2016
Inauguration of the Palais’ Urban Agriculture Laboratory.
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2017
Barack Obama delivers his first speech in Montréal in front of 8,000 visitors at the Palais
The Aga Khan draws an audience of 11,700 spectators.
Inauguration of Vignes urbaines, the first urban rooftop vineyard in Canada and the first in the world to be located in a northern environment. -
2018
Close to 10,200 people seated in a single room for Michelle Obama’s address.
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2019
The Palais becomes one of the world’s first carbon-neutral convention centres.
Launch of CITÉ, an events lab housing creative startups specializing in unforgettable experiences.
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2020
The Palais adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Launch of the Palais Média Propulsion studios.
Implementation of hybrid event solutions, stimulus packages, and the PROGRESS health and safety program.
Unveiling of new branding.
MTL Reunion event on rethinking the industry, the first international conference produced by the Palais. -
2021
The Palais doubles as one of Montréal’s main vaccination clinics.
The Palais launches a training program on transforming events . -
2022
Montréal hosts the 104th Lions Clubs International Convention.
The Palais welcomes AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference, and its 7,000+ delegates.
The FIC holds the first North American edition of its International Cybersecurity Forum at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
In only months, the Palais puts together the second part of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15), during which a landmark agreement for the protection of biodiversity is reached.
