A Successful Evening for the Back-To-School Happening at the Saint-Hyacinthe Graduate Studies Quarter

On September 11, nearly 3,000 people took part in the Back-to-School Happening to mark the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. Students, researchers, teachers, professionals, families, and citizens gathered in the heart of the Saint-Hyacinthe Graduate Studies Quarter (QES), once again confirming the importance of this place in the collective life of the Maskoutain community.

Hosted by a student from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the evening offered a festive program that concluded in a country atmosphere thanks to the highly anticipated performance by the band Lendemain de veille.

Beyond the celebration, the Back-to-School Happening highlights the mission of the Graduate Studies Quarter. The QES asserts itself as a space where knowledge, research, innovation, and community meet. The presence of the Cité de l’innovation agroalimentaire, which contributes to the international influence of Saint-Hyacinthe, illustrates this desire to build a unique environment for collaboration and exchange.

“This event demonstrates the importance of the Graduate Studies Quarter for the Maskoutain community. By bringing together students, researchers, teachers, professionals, and families, we create a sense of belonging that fosters both innovation and collective life. It also reflects what we achieve within the Agri-Food Innovation City and its influence far beyond our region,” stated Karine Guilbault, Executive Director of Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole.

The success of the 2025 Back-to-School Happening was made possible thanks to the support of its partners: Desjardins, Biophilia, the MRC des Maskoutains, Sonart, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Member of Parliament for Saint-Hyacinthe–Bagot, and Chantal Soucy, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Saint-Hyacinthe, in addition to the support of the members of the Graduate Studies Quarter: the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire de l’Université de Montréal, the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire du Québec, the Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole, and the Ville de Saint-Hyacinthe.

About the Saint-Hyacinthe Graduate Studies Quarter
The Saint-Hyacinthe Graduate Studies Quarter (QES) brings together the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire de l’Université de Montréal, the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire du Québec, the Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole, and the Ville de Saint-Hyacinthe. This partnership aims to make the Maskoutain campus a place of academic excellence recognized internationally, attracting students, researchers, and talent from around the world, while contributing to innovation in the agri-food sector within the Cité de l’innovation agroalimentaire.