MONTREAL, April 25, 2024 - METRO makes a $1 million donation to its long-time partner, Université de Montréal (UdeM). Involved with UdeM for more than 20 years, METRO, a leader in food and pharmacy, aims to enhance the contribution of cutting-edge technologies to the fields of pharmaceuticals and animal health in agri-food, two sectors linked to its activities. METRO also aims to promote the best educational approaches among students, who represent tomorrow's future.
This contribution testifies to a deep commitment to innovation, and is clear proof that METRO has answered UdeM's call to unite in building tomorrow's world as part of its major philanthropic campaign L'heure est brave. By joining forces, they are giving university researchers the means to propel innovation even further.
Promoting new pedagogical approaches in pharmacy practice labs
An amount of $500,000 has been granted to encourage training rooted in the current realities of pharmacists within the Quebec healthcare system. This initiative is specifically aimed at modernizing the technology and equipment used in professional practice laboratories, in order to facilitate the training of tomorrow's pharmacists. "As leaders in the field, supporting the next generation of pharmacists remains a priority for our banners. This donation will have a tangible and positive impact on the careers of hundreds of people destined to play a key role in our healthcare system," says Jean-Michel Coutu, President of The Pharmacy Division of METRO.
This donation will help modernize the laboratory consultation and teamwork rooms with more "flexible" furniture and a state-of-the-art audiovisual system. New cameras will be installed to make the most of practical and collaborative exercises, allowing observation of non-verbal language during pharmacist-patient consultations. These new pedagogical approaches will consolidate the learning of future pharmacists in a lasting way.
"The changing role of pharmacists requires not only that they fully integrate all their knowledge, but also, and above all, that they are competent, comfortable and confident in applying it at ease in action, when joining the job market. In this regard, simulation and virtual reality approaches can make an effective contribution to achieving these objectives," adds Simon de Denus, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
This commitment is in addition to the initiatives put in place by Jean Coutu and Brunet to help future pharmacists enter the job market. Since 2011, the company has been making its RxPro prescription management software available, to enable them to familiarize themselves with it. In addition to fostering a structured clinical approach throughout the university curriculum, learning the software simulates real-life work experience in a community pharmacy, thus facilitating integration into the job market.
Animal health through artificial intelligence in agri-food: as many possibilities as challenges
An additional donation of $500,000 was awarded to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for the development of research projects in collaboration with the industry to better meet its needs and improve agri-food production and animal health in Quebec and Canada.
In particular, this contribution will support the operation of the Plateforme IA-Agrosanté (PIAAS), which draws on the unique expertise of a wide range of animal health and data science specialists to promote the integration of AI into the agri-food and animal health industry. "The emergence of new technologies enables the collection of detailed animal data in order to develop or adapt tools that aim to prevent or detect the early development of diseases in animal production. Thanks to METRO's donation, we will play a leading role in Quebec and Canada," enthuses David Francoz, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Consistent with this vision, Marie-Claude Bacon, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications at METRO, adds: "Our ambition is to implement responsible practices in our supply chain in order to offer our customers products that respect workers, the environment and animals. Animal health and welfare are important to us, and we believe that technological advances in this area can only benefit our industry and society."
With this $1 million donation, METRO is continuing its long-standing tradition of commitment and that of the founder of The Jean Coutu Group, who, in 2002, enabled the construction of a complex featuring two pavilions at the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Pavillon Jean-Coutu and the Pavillon Marcelle-Coutu. Over the years, more than $15.6 million has been donated to the Université de Montréal by METRO and The Jean Coutu Group.
About METRO inc.
With annual sales of more than $20 billion, METRO Inc. is a food and pharmacy leader in Québec and Ontario, providing employment to more than 97,000 people. Its purpose is to Nourish the health and well-being of our communities. As a retailer, franchisor, distributor, manufacturer, and provider of eCommerce services, the company operates or services a network of some 980 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, Food Basics, Adonis and Première Moisson, and 640 pharmacies primarily under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Food Basics Pharmacy banners. For more details, visit corpo.metro.ca.
About Université de Montréal
Montréal by its roots, international by vocation, the Université de Montréal ranks among the world's top universities. Along with its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal, UdeM raises over half a billion dollars in research funding each year, making it one of Canada's leading university research centres. It brings together more than 67,000 students, a faculty of 2,300 and a network of 450,000 active graduates around the world.
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