Christopher Reeve has been awarded the Université de Montréal Medal during his visit to the university as honorary chairman of the 23rd International Symposium on Spinal Cord Trauma. UofM rector Robert Lacroix made the presentation.

The well-known actor and director became quadriplegic in 1995 as the result of a horseback riding accident. Since then, he has devoted his energies to encouraging scientists around the world, who are extending our knowledge of the central nervous system. As chairman of the board of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, he also works to raise money for spinal cord research.

"Mr. Reeve is a source of inspiration for all of us," Mr. Lacroix said. "Through his support of scientific research, not only is he encouraging the people who devote themselves to the advancement of knowledge, but he is also giving a human face to this research and the hopes to which it gives rise."

The Université de Montréal Medal is an original work by artist Bernard Chaudron. It is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement by prominent figures, and is also presented to tenured professors upon their retirement.

Including its two affiliated schools, École Polytechnique engineering school and École des Hautes Études Commerciales school of commerce, Université de Montréal is one of Canada's leading research universities. It offers bachelor, master's and doctorate programs in nearly every field of knowledge. It has 1,700 professors and more than 47,000 students, and with 10,920 of them in graduate and postgraduate programs, UdM boasts the second highest number of graduate students in Canada. In terms of grants and research contracts, it ranks 2nd among all Canadian research universities.

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Sophie Langlois
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Université de Montréal
Telephone: (514) 343-7704
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