Congratulations to Winnipeg President Sheryl Rosenberg and her committee for an exceptional Scopus Award Gala Dinner in honour of Dr. Frank Plummer!

The Winnipeg Convention Centre was the place to be on Wednesday, May 14th for "A Celebration Of Global Research Scopus Award Gala". Over 475 guests gathered at the highly anticipated event to honour one of Winnipeg’s world leading researchers, Dr. Frank Plummer, OC, MD, LLD, FRCPC, FRSC Chief Science Advisor of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Scientific Director General of PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory and Distinguished Professor in Medical Microbiology and Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

Net proceeds from the gala will be used to help advance the battle against HIV/AIDS, West Nile Virus, Influenza and Tuberculosis through research into, and development of, vaccines. Proceeds will also be used to accelerate a new collaboration between the infectious diseases community in Winnipeg and the New Canadian Institute for Medical Research (CIMR) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for research into specific infectious diseases and the development of vaccines to combat them.

In attendance at the Gala (and bringing greetings) were The Honourable John Harvard PC OM, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba; The Honourable Gary Doer, Premier of Manitoba; His Worship Sam Katz, Mayor, City of Winnipeg; Dr. David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada; The Honourable Joy Smith, Member of Parliament, Manitoba Conservative Caucus Chair, House Standing Committee on Health Chair; Richard L. Frost, Chief Executive Officer, The Winnipeg Foundation.

The event was best summed up by Robert Gabor (Tribute Committee Chair) who stated: “I have been involved in many political campaigns where people worked hard and learned it is more fun when we succeeded than when we failed. Last night was an incredible success. Not only was it a great event, but we started something that should bring us great pride. The program that was started last night could make the world a much better place and could one day save thousands or millions of lives. We must dream big dreams and then implement them to make a difference. And we did.”