SHERBROOKE, QC, Oct. 18, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The Université
de Sherbrooke announced today the
completion of its sixth major fund-raising campaign with the theme
Promising Futures, Shared Passions. With major donors,
torchbearers, and members of the university community on hand, the
Chair of the major campaign, Normand
Legault, and the President of the Université de Sherbrooke, Professor Pierre Cossette, had the honor of revealing the
campaign's unparalleled results. A total of $115,480,261 was received, including $26,437,112 from the university
community—including $8,905,580 from
students—in what can only be termed as a huge success for the
Université de Sherbrooke.
"We can be delighted with and very proud of these spectacular
results," stated President Pierre
Cossette. "They demonstrate that the university community
has rallied together like never before and also the deep commitment
of donors to the Université de Sherbrooke. The donations received have
enabled us to implement more than 50 promising projects with
tangible benefits for the entire population."
"I am so proud to have chaired the Promising Futures, Shared
Passions campaign," exclaimed Normand
Legault. "Moreover, the name is quite apt, since the
Université de Sherbrooke is a
place of passions as well as of excellence. Each individual who
took part in this campaign put all their heart and devotion into
the effort. It is indeed a remarkable success. I am grateful to
each and every donor for their generosity and for having helped
make the University an enviable and sought-out environment."
Over and beyond its outstanding financial performance, this
campaign represents a major shift for the Université de
Sherbrooke and consolidates its
leadership position in terms of innovation, partnership, and
entrepreneurship. This is evident in the nature of the various
projects undertaken. Whether it's the Fondation Huguette et
Jean-Louis Fontaine product creation
studio currently under construction, the Desjardins Accelerator for
Entrepreneurial Practices, clinical-simulation laboratories, the
Research chair in Neuroinformatics, or the various aid clinics for
the population, these projects provide the means for training a
competent succession equipped to respond to society's issues.
"Now more than ever," pointed out President Cossette, "the
Université de Sherbrooke is
positioning itself as a positive contributor to our society. This
campaign demonstrated the added value of mobilizing our partners
and committing together to enhance our impact in our settings.
Moreover, I want to point out the work and vision of the preceding
administration, which launched the University on this historic
campaign."
A Range of Projects Responding to Society's Growing
Needs
A number of students were on hand for the ceremony to share
their examples of the positive impacts these projects have had on
their training and for the population.
- REMDUS President William Leclerc
Bellavance feels that the scholarships that students receive
allow them to concentrate their efforts their education, which is
an undeniable advantage in training high-quality graduates.
Moreover, the REMDUS took this opportunity to once again announce
their support in the form of a $500,000 donation to the campaign.
- For psychoeducation student Sarah
Marcil, the Centre RBC d'expertise universitaire en santé
mentale, where she worked, stands out as a good example because the
centre attempts to optimally respond to the needs of youths.
- Medical-student Aghiles Abbad views the clinical-simulation
laboratory—which is at the cutting-edge of technology—as a definite
asset in his training and a unique resource for health-care
professionals in Estrie.
- Philippe Vaillancourt, a student
in school and social adjustment, underscored that the TD Bank Group
donation made the Pierre-H.-Ruel mobile clinic a reality. He
considers it a major advantage to be able to combine theory and
practice as well as to help students with learning difficulties
right in their school environment.
- According to Érika Simard-Dupuis and Santiago Pérez Bedoya,
students in education, the support from the BMO Financial Group
plays an important role in optimizing their training as tomorrow's
teachers and in fostering student persistence by facilitating the
early detection of problems in at-risk students.
- Nursing-student Amélie Ouellet considers that clinical
simulation yields indispensable opportunities to practise and to
learn to provide better patient care. It also makes it possible to
acquire better professional skills.
- Florence Gauthier, a law
student, deemed that modernization of the Faculty of Law's library
was an absolute necessity. Now, it's truly suited for training the
next generation of highly qualified legal professionals.
- Kinesiology-student Karina
Goulet views the kinesiology clinic as ideal for putting her
knowledge into practice while tangibly helping members of the
population improve their physical condition.
- For postdoctoral fellow Steve Dagenais
Bellefeuille, partner engagement had an incalculable impact
on his university career, particularly his research work. Whether
from CanTRA's support of Immune Biosolutions, the Mitacs fellowship
program, or the contribution of the Université de Sherbrooke's Business Partnership Group, the
aid he received propelled his innovation project into a business
reality. And it was all made possible, in particular, through a
gift from the City of Sherbrooke
to the Pôle entrepreneurial.
- Jean-François Dufault and Dino
Mehanovic see partner engagement as having had an
inestimable impact on their university careers, particularly in
developing their entrepreneurial spirit. Whether the support came
from CanTRA or CREATEK, the mentoring they received propelled their
business-creation project to unprecedented heights.
- François Rheault (computer-science student) considers that the
support received to create the Research Chair in Neuroinformatics
will yield better means for diagnosing and treating diseases
affecting the human brain. About a hundred patients have already
benefited from this research.
This sixth campaign stands out as the most ambitious
philanthropic achievement since the Université de Sherbrooke was founded. The campaign started
with the University community in 2012 and with partners in 2015.
This historical campaign promotes major projects with benefits in
all spheres of society.
[Video – french] Completion of the Promising Futures, Shared
Passions Major Campaign
Learn more about the Promising Futures, Shared Passions
Major Campaign [French]
SOURCE Université de Sherbrooke