A Ray of Hope? The Institut du Radium de Montréal Against Cancer

In 1922, the founding of the Institut du radium de Montréal was greeted with huge enthusiasm. As Quebec’s first university research centre, the Institut was a sign the province had joined the great march of Western scientific progress. At the time, radium was seen as a crucial discovery that would revolutionize the future. Unfortunately, the Institut du radium failed to live up to its initial promises and, in 1967, quietly closed its doors. On May 9, 2026, explore the period during which Québec reshaped its scientific practices with researcher Yves Gingras. On May 31, 2026, engage in conversation with archivists from the Université de Montréal to gain insight into history.