A new partnership for CRPA: The Société française de radioprotection

by · September 22, 2026

CRPA is committed to expanding its international collaborations. Most recently, CRPA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Société française de radioprotection (SFRP), the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) associate society representing France and the French equivalent of CRPA.

Established as a non-profit organization in 1965, SFRP currently has more than 1,300 active members. Its board of directors comprises 21 elected members, supported by 5 administrative staff. SFRP’s areas of focus include ionizing and non-ionizing radiation protection, environmental protection, health research, and professional competency.

CRPA and SFRP have collaborated informally since 2018. In 2024, SFRP accepted an invitation from CRPA’s International Liaison Committee to formalize collaboration between the two associations. During the IRPA16 International Congress in Orlando, FL, in July 2024, CRPA members Manon Rouleau and Stéphane Jean-François introduced me to representatives of SFRP. I was subsequently invited to attend an SFRP reception, where I met my counterpart, Valérie Chambrette, director of international liaison, as well as other SFRP members. We all agreed that fostering collaboration on the many topics of shared interest would benefit both associations.

In May 2026, with the full support and participation of the CRPA and SFRP boards of directors, a five-year MOU was signed to formalize our shared objectives and establish an enduring transatlantic partnership.

Under the MOU, SFRP and CRPA will strengthen their exchanges and collaboration as follows:

  • Exchanging ideas about topics of mutual interest through webinars and other forms of online interaction
  • Extending member registration rates to members of either association attending the other’s annual conference
  • Encouraging members of both associations to submit abstracts for presentation at each other’s annual conferences

A CRPA/SFRP steering committee, comprising designated representatives from both organizations, has been established and will meet online annually to review the previous year’s activities and establish objectives for the coming year.

We are already working together on an exciting educational project for the 2027 CRPA conference in Vancouver: OpenRadiation. The project encourages interested parties, including students, to join a community of contributors helping to build the OpenRadiation database of environmental radioactivity measurements. More information is available on the OpenRadiation website.

We would love to hear your suggestions for topics that could be explored through joint webinars with SFRP. Please email radsafetyml@gmail.com.

 

Michèle Légaré

After a rewarding 27-year career at The Ottawa Hospital and a perfect Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) inspection this spring, Michèle chose to retire at the end of June.

Michèle’s 37-year journey in health physics/radiation protection began when she was a student working on a nuclear non-proliferation project with the Department of National Defence. She then spent 10 years at CNSC, where she evaluated nuclear power plants and trained foreign regulators. In 1999, she transitioned to a hands-on role as radiation safety officer (RSO) at The Ottawa Hospital, eventually becoming director and then corporate RSO of the Radiation and Laser Safety Department. Using her audit background, she set new hospital standards and built an engaged team known for their expertise, collaborative approach, and safety culture.

Michèle is a former CRPA president and remains active as chair of the International Liaison Committee, International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) associate societies liaison, and a member of the IRPA task group on safety culture in health care.

 

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