The annual Chief Delegate meeting of the International Federation of Biomedical Science, September 28 – 30, 2007 was attended by twenty-two (22) International Delegates representing 13 member countries.

For those delegates who had arrived early enough, tours of lab facilities at Mt. Sinai- Pathology and Microbiology and the Hospital for Sick children were arranged. Mt Sinai played a pivotal role in the SARS outbreak of 2003 and it was very interesting to learn and hear of the precautions now in place as a result of SARS.

Affiliated with the University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, is Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children's health in the country that has an interior atmosphere that can’t help but calm the anxiety of hospital visits or longer-term stays perhaps for both parents and children. The inside resembles a circus or children’s playground.

IFBLS Management Committee and council met on this same day, while delegates toured the lab facilities.

The agenda for the two-day weekend meeting was commenced with reports from each committee within the three blocks. Chief delegates had an opportunity to report to the Board and other members of National Association activities since Congress 2006 in Seoul, Korea.

The second day of the Chief Delegate meting was devoted to Workshops on pre-determined topics followed by plenary presentations from the results of workshop discussions.

Two (2) evening Social events had the Delegates travel to Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament on Saturday for a truly medieval feast and jousting tournament and a more formal IFBLS Presidential reception at the Estates of Sunnybrook on Sunday. The main Sunnybrook property, the McLean House was home the James McLean, President of Canada Packers and his family for 38 years. In 1966 the University of Toronto took over the property and Sunnybrook Hospital converted it to a Clinical Facility. After another revitalization in 1982 the home was opened as a location for social events with proceeds going to fund medical research at Sunnybrook Hospital.

The President’s Reception was held in another Sunnybrook Estates property; the Vaughan Estate. Built in 1931 in an Elizabethan Style this property was the home of John Vaughan, Vice-President of the T. Eaton Company. When Vaughan passed away the property was taken over by Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and converted into a clinical facility as well until 1991 when six interior designers donated the time and effort to revitalizing the property and it too, is now used as the venue for corporate and private social events.

Members will be notified shortly when minutes, complete with Committee reports, Chief Delegate reports and Workshop reports from the meeting will be posted on the website to down load.