By Kyla Trkulja & Alyona Ivanova

Graphic design by Lauren Jones

This spring, two IMS Magazine team members, Kyla and Alyona, journeyed to Chicago for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. Every year, over 25 000 cancer researchers from around the world convene to share advancements across all areas of cancer research, from drug discovery to survivorship.

The conference was held at McCormick Place, a massive convention centre spanning four buildings. The week was filled with talks, posters, and networking sessions that allowed attendees to connect and celebrate the exciting new research from the past year. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre even hosted a fun Vegas-themed mixer at a rooftop bar, bringing the Toronto community together for a night of yummy food, casino games, and skyline views.

McCormick Place Convention Center spans four buildings and five floors to fit over 25 000 conference attendees

The days were packed with learning, but that didn’t stop attendees from taking some breaks to explore. Kyla took an architecture tour on a boat that cruised through the river in the heart of the city. Guests on the boat sipped refreshing cocktails while learning about the history of Chicago’s beautiful skyscrapers—some of which are over 100 years old.

Views of old and modern skyscrapers during the architecture boat tour

At night, Alyona embarked on a sunset cruise. Dazzled by the sparkle of the city at night, the boat took Alyona from the heart of the Magnificent Mile through the flood gate and into Lake Michigan. Watching the sun set behind the stunning skyline of Chicago from the open-air deck—it was a night to remember. A fun fact Alyona learned was that Chicago’s “Windy City” nickname originated from the frigid breezes that sweep from Lake Michigan through the narrow streets of the city, but also from Chicago’s reputation for verbose politicians.

The sunset cruise provided beautiful views of the Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan

Chicago’s food scene was unmatched; no matter where you were in the city, delicious eats were always close by. At the recommendation of her supervisor, Kyla visited The Dearborn to try their legendary fish and chips that beat Bobby Flay during his cooking show challenge—and the dish definitely lived up to the hype! 

Alyona opted to try one of Chicago’s specialties – the deep-dish pizza. Instead of a thin, crisp crust, deep-dish pizza is more like a pie with its thick, buttery base. The pizza’s pie structure is filled with layers of melty cheese and delicious tomato sauce. Alyona recommends Labriola Ristorante.

Legendary fish and chips at The Dearborn (top) and Chicago’s signature deep-dish pizza at Labriola Ristorante (bottom)

Between the thrilling cancer research breakthroughs and memorable tourism experiences, the week in Chicago flew by, leaving everyone inspired, optimistic, and looking forward to the next meeting in sunny San Diego!