MDPI Canada hosted the MDPI Montreal Editors Salon, welcoming more than 40 editors, researchers, and academics for an afternoon focused on discussions around MDPI’s open access vision and publishing processes for the future. Held at Hotel Omni Mont Royal, the Salon served as a forum for discussions, presentations, knowledge exchange, and networking opportunities between participants that will help guide MDPI’s continued efforts in supporting the global scientific community. The Salon also reinforced MDPI Canada’s commitment to researchers across North America, today and into the future.

The Salon featured a series of engaging presentations, panel discussions, and networking sessions. The event began with opening remarks given by our Operating Director, Mr. Elvis Wang, before transitioning to presentations from our Operations Manager, Ms. Summer Huggard, Institutional Partnerships Manager, Dr. Ryan Siu, who provided an inside look at MDPI Canada’s operations and initiatives in North America, open access and its entry into mainstream publishing, and the IOAP and Institutional Partnerships. Followed by an award presentation celebrating a selected few distinguished attendees, the event also continued with a presentation by our Society Partnerships Specialist, Ms. Maria Noguera, on the role that societies play in academic publishing, the range of services and publishing solutions we offer at MDPI for organizations, and a spotlight on successful partnerships. The final session consisted of a roundtable discussion on a variety of key topics.

Best Contribution Awards
The MDPI Best Contribution Award is presented to editors to recognize their outstanding dedication and efforts in supporting their journals and acknowledge their exceptional contributions in various key areas, including providing thorough and insightful reviews, making informed and fair decisions, ensuring the quality and integrity of the publication process, and facilitating the timely submission of high-quality manuscripts. Moreover, the award celebrates the recipient’s commitment to their journal's growth and success through their continued support and collaboration with both authors and the editorial team alike. This prestigious recognition honors this vital and demanding role in upholding the academic excellence and credibility of their journal(s).

The following four winners were recognized at the 2025 Montreal Salon:

	Prof. Dr. Réjean Couture, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal;
	Prof. Dr. Avi Friedman, School of Architecture, McGill University;
	Prof. Dr. Catherine N. Mulligan, Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University;
	Prof. Dr. François Gagné, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Looking Ahead
The MDPI Montreal Salon was a celebration of academic excellence, and our second North American Salon within Canada. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all attendees and award winners for their active participation and meaningful contributions. Your insights, enthusiasm, and dedication helped create a truly engaging and inspiring environment. As MDPI Canada continues its mission to support accessible and high-quality scientific publishing, plans are already underway for future Salons and academic events. These gatherings aim to build a vibrant scholarly community that bridges borders and encourages the free exchange of ideas. We look forward to welcoming you to future events as we continue to build a vibrant and inclusive academic community.