Montreal, QC – Canada’s most modern animal teaching hospital and university research centre, the cornerstone of the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine campus, will be inaugurated in St-Hyacinthe following some $70 million in upgrades and renovations.

University leaders, dignitaries, provincial and federal government representatives will be on-site to celebrate the University Veterinary Hospital Centre (UVHC), which is now the most technologically advanced veterinary hospital in the country.

• When: 11 am, Friday, May 23, 2008.

• Where: 1525 avenue des Vétérinaires, St-Hyacinthe. Parking at 3200 Sicotte St.

• Featuring: Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Monique Jérôme-Forget, Quebec Minister of Finance, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for the Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière constituency, Université de Montréal Rector Luc Vinet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dean Jean Sirois.

Open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, the UVHC was designed to provide the best possible care for equine, farm and domestic and exotic animals. Exclusive media tours will be provided after the inauguration. Come see how veterinarians:

• Bathe a cow (12:15 pm);

• Use a treadmill to measure arthritis in a horse (12:30 pm);

• Provide an MRI screening to a cat (12:45 pm);

• Examine a dangerous reptile in a specially outfitted cage (1 pm).