On January 30, the Maison des étudiants canadiens (MEC) kicked off the celebrations marking this milestone year in its history.
To launch the MEC’s 100th anniversary, we rolled out the red carpet for no fewer than 187 distinguished guests, residents, friends, and colleagues. Everyone wore their finest attire, transporting us back to 1926 : the year it all began.
The evening opened with a speech by Thomas Windisch, President of the 2025–2026 Residents’ Committee, who reminded us that:
“This centennial is therefore not only a celebration of the past. It is a bridge. A bridge between 1926 and today. A bridge between Canada and France. A bridge between the generations of students who have been, who are, and who will be. Tonight, as we launch the celebrations of these one hundred years, we pay tribute to a house that has never ceased to be alive.”
Through musical performances and the reading of stories from our past by our residents, steadfast allies of the MEC took the floor :
Ms. Hélène Viau, Minister-Counsellor for the Political-Economic Program at the Embassy of Canada, highlighted the importance and cultural significance of having our Canadian House in France.
Mr. Marc-André Allard, Political Affairs and Cooperation Advisor at the Québec Delegation in Paris, spoke about the special bond between Québec and France and the role an institution like ours plays in maintaining it.
Mr. Robert Panet-Raymond, Chair of the Committee in Canada, emphasized his family connection to the House, taking us through the past while propelling us toward the future.
Mr. Jean-Marc Sauvé, President of the National Foundation of the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP), reminded us of CIUP’s mission of openness to the world and how the MEC has contributed profoundly to this over the past century.
Ms. France Mainville, Director of the Maison des étudiants canadiens, officially launched the celebrations by presenting the four flagship projects and the official program of activities.
How Were the News Shared in 1926?
Following this question, newsboys entered the room to deliver the special edition of the newspaper Les Échos de la MEC.
Inside, readers could find descriptions of all the creations and events planned for our anniversary, along with editorials, games, and small columns. Everything a real newspaper should contain!
Finally, the event came to a close with small bites, festive drinks, laughter, dancing, long-awaited reunions, conversations, connections, and above all, our MEC family. ❤
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed, near or far, to the success of this launch. It is thanks to your support and close collaboration that we achieved it, together. A special thanks to the entire MEC team, a fantastic group that worked like pros to make this evening possible.
Master of Ceremony Thomas Windisch
Musical Performances : Lexie Krakowski, Jon Gill, Christophe Groulx
Speeches: Hélène Viau, Marc-André Allard, Robert Panet-Raymond, Jean-Marc Sauvé, France Mainville
Stories : Joey Tallon, Anika Vojvodic, Béatrice Lafaille, Claire Michaud, Élisabeth Prégent-Bastien, Zachary Flahaut, Alicia Prieur-Couture, Siddhartha Jassar Minhas
PS : All stories were selected by residents from across Canada.
Newsboys : Maxime Poignand et Alexis Charrier
Happy 100th anniversary to all! Join us for the rest of the festivities!