July 2018

182 183 because of the University and the research centers. We have two main campuses, one in Lévis and the main one in Rimouski, and offer services over a large area. UQAR welcomes close to 7,000 students every year from 40 countries.We’ve been ranked in the top three in Canada in our category for the last six years, in terms of research performance.All as- pects of marine sciences are explored using our top- notch research facilities, a 50-metre-long research vessel, and a micro-culture laboratory supplied year- round with sea water.We are well equipped, and our highly-skilled researchers are known throughout the world.” The St. Lawrence River ‘Odyssey’ research program was just launched with a $15 million government investment.The mandate is to glean a better under- standing of the river–the impact of climate change and the increase of maritime transportation–and look for ways to reduce negative impacts. Parent acknowledges,“From a Mayoral point of view, the impact of global warming with higher tides, storms, and the ice coverage not as prominent as it used to be, has some residents worried.The University research provides us with a better understanding of this new reality and a mechanismwe could put in place to either modify the rules around the estab- lishment of properties or give guidelines before allowing folks to build a new residence. “One of the strengths of Rimouski in the blue economy–we’re not building ships, but we’re build- ing the knowledge around all those traditional activities.We have companies optimizing consump- UQAR is firmly established on a vast territory, home to its campuses in Rimouski and Lévis, stretching from Chaudière-Appalaches to Gaspésie- Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Côte-Nord. It has trained more than 50,000 graduates from the bachelor to the doctoral level, who contribute today to the development of their region, through their dynamism and their know-how. A GREAT SMALL UNIVERSITY. ANOTHER WAY TO GROW. Université du Québec à Rimouski www.uqar.ca PREFERRED VENDOR n Université du Québec à Rimouski https://www.uqar.ca/a-propos/langues/ english/university/choosing-uqar VILLE DE RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC tion of fuel for boats and we just signed a huge contract with the Coast Guard for that.”Smart buoys collect big data and interact with scientists to look at the impact of sailing on the environment and improving ship design. Rimouski has a new industry developing technology for diving that connects surveying and infrastructure data companies and the research centers. Parent is especially proud of all the small business spin-offs started by young people just out of university. “They look at innovating and we provide the tools; they do it locally, but they sell it globally,”he reports.“We work together to promote the entrepreneurial culture and help them succeed.Quality of life here is excep- tional. Folks can go salmon fishing along the Rimouski River in the morning just before going to work a short distance away.Almost everything is possible here in terms of activities,museums,music, art, history. Rimous- ki is a great place for families to live,work, and grow.”