2021-2022 Annual Report

We’re dreaming bigger than ever.
See what we’ve accomplished together.

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Foundation leadership posing for photo

Thank you, from our leadership

Thank you for your remarkable generosity this past year. With your support, we raised nearly $27 million to benefit ground-breaking medical research and excellent patient care.

Quality health care is a government responsibility, but we strive for excellence. When our loved ones are sick, we all want the very best care to ensure they get better. You are helping the MUHC Foundation provide opportunities for innovation that ensure every one of us has access to top notch care. Through gifts large and small, we are creating excellent health care for everyone. That’s the power of your generosity.

Nearly two years into the Dream Big Campaign, we’re proud to say that we’ve raised over $100 million toward our goal. Together, we are changing health care for the better.

Norman Steinberg
Chair, Board of Directors

Julie Quenneville
President and CEO

Hospital leadership posing for photo

Thank you, from MUHC leadership

During the last year, our teams faced myriad challenges during the ongoing waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, our community never lost sight of how important it is to support one another.

We are grateful to the MUHC Foundation and its generous donors for enabling continuous improvements and innovations in patient care, research and education, and for funding initiatives to boost frontline workers’ morale.

On behalf of the MUHC family, please accept our heartfelt appreciation.

Peter Kruyt
Chairman of the Board of Directors
McGill University Health Centre

Pierre Gfeller, MDCM, MBA
President and Executive Director
McGill University Health Centre

We've come a long way,
and created an even bigger impact.

With the help of our dedicated donor community, the MUHC Foundation has grown...

1973
black and white image of royal victoria hospital
The RVH Foundation is created to support the work of the Royal Victoria Hospital.
1999
woman holding bags in scrubs happy
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation is established.
2015
Glen hospital
The new MUHC hospital at the Glen site opens, consolidating the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal Chest Institute, the Montreal Children's Hospital and more than 60 research sites.

The MUHC Foundation and the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation integrate to boost support for the hospital.

2018
The MUHC Foundation and the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation merge to create the MUHC Foundation as we know it today.

Following three years of partnership with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation, the RVH Foundation officially changes its name to the MUHC Foundation.

"At the MUHC Foundation, patients and their families are at the heart of our mission, and we understand the importance of having world-class patient care available to them when they need it most."

– Julie Quenneville, President and CEO, MUHC Foundation

2020
Three people posing for photo
The MUHC Foundation launches its $200M Dream Big Campaign to change the course of lives and medicine.
2021
hospital staff posing for photo
The Montreal Chest Institute (MCI) Foundation merges with the MUHC Foundation.

The $10M Dream Big. Breathe Easier campaign is launched in support of the MCI.

2022
rendering of new HOP lachine
The Lachine Hospital Foundation integrates with the MUHC Foundation.

Together, we launch the $5M Dream Big: Lachine Hospital campaign.

Today,
The MUHC Foundation has become a powerhouse of fundraising, bringing together several health foundations under one cohesive vision:
Logo: MUHC Foundation
Montreal Chest Institute Fund
Lachine Hospital Foundation
Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation
Together,
we have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to support patient care and cutting-edge research at the MUHC.

Our Impact in 2021-2022

Your support is having a vast impact on patient care, research and teaching at the MUHC. Thanks to you, our physician-scientists are innovating in the lab to improve patient care at the bedside.

$27M
Raised

23,111
Donations

12,670 Donors

#1Research hospital in Quebec

$13M
Benefited research

$23MBenefited the MUHC

Recent Milestone Gifts

We are so grateful to our donors for believing in our expert scientists, passionate clinicians and the lifesaving care at the MUHC. We are pleased to recognize just a few of the many impactful gifts we received in fiscal year 2021–2022.

$5,000,000 to support nursing and more

This extraordinary anonymous gift is providing crucial funds to enable modern approaches to nursing practice, heart health and surgical innovation.

$1,000,000 to crucial respiratory care

The Jones family is supporting the Montreal Chest Institute to help patients breathe easier.

$1,000,000 to infection & immunity research

Suzanne Legge Orr and R. Jeffrey Orr's gift created the Legge Orr MI4 Leadership Award.

“Montreal is this great centre for medical research. We can make a real difference by supporting the MUHC. Our city came together to build this hospital, and now we are supporting the research happening inside.”

–R. Jeffrey Orr

$1,000,000 to improve health care access

TD Bank Group’s gift is improving health care access in remote communities by using AI to read and prioritize medical scans.

A generous gift to support understanding of genetic disease

The Albert and Florence Aziz Family Foundation gave to purchase critical equipment for the diagnosis of genetic diseases, which are not well understood.

$600,000 to advance cancer research

The Canadian Cancer Society gave their Emerging Scholar Award to cancer researcher Dr. Julia Burnier.

“We are determined to increase our investment in research, technology and innovative solutions that are focused on helping to provide equality of access to health care.”

–Sylvie Demers, Chair, Quebec Market, TD Bank Group

$500,000 to improve vision care

The Mike & Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation’s gift supports vision care for cancer patients.

The Dream Big Campaign

Since the Dream Big Campaign launched in October 2020, we have raised over $100 million to provide life-changing care, help patients live happy, healthy lives, and fund innovative research that will create the cures of tomorrow. Thank you for dreaming big with us.

$200,000,000
$106,000,000
Campaign leadership posing for photo

A message from our campaign leadership

We are so proud to have surpassed the halfway point of our transformative Dream Big Campaign. With over $106 million raised, we are helping push the boundaries of medical research, funding discoveries that will change lives, and ensuring excellence in care for millions of Quebecers.

We are so inspired by you, our many supporters, who are working alongside us to help our physician-scientists find treatments and cures for cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases, respiratory illnesses and more.

Together, we have accomplished so much. Thank you.

Marc Parent
Dream Big Campaign
Co-Chair

Suzanne Legge Orr
Dream Big Campaign
Co-Chair

Jean Charest
Dream Big Campaign 
Co-Chair

View Our Campaign Stories

UNCOVERING THE CAUSES OF MYSTERIOUS GENETIC DISEASES

InFECTION & IMMUNITY

NEW CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE KEEPS HEARTS IN RHYTHM

CARDIOLOGY

A LIFESAVING TEST FOR WOMEN’S CANCERS

DOVEE


HELPING OUR PATIENTS BREATHE EASIER

RESPIRATORY

MAKING PRECISION CANCER TREATMENT A REALITY

CANCER


EASING THE BURDEN OF BREAST CANCER

BREAST CANCER

Our Year in News & Media

MI4 in the news

Infectious disease experts Dr. Don Sheppard, Dr. Donald Vinh and Dr. Dao Nguyen made dozens of media appearances in 2021 to provide accurate, up-to-date information on the COVID-19 pandemic. They are members of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4). Learn about MI4’s amazing work to combat infectious diseases.

Top Highlights

News about powerful patient stories, innovative research and generous donations appeared in media of all kinds. We invite you to look back on some of our top headlines from the past year.

Two nurses in a hallway wearing scrubs and masks

$5 MILLION DONATION FOR NURSES, RESEARCH

Montreal Gazette, 5 May 2021

View Story
nurse with cart overflowing with food donations

NURSES GIVEN 2,000 FREE MEALS AS THANK YOU

CTV News Montreal, 14 May 2021

View Story
doctor in scrubs

FUNDRAISING FOR BREAST CANCER SERVICES

Montreal Gazette, 8 September 2021

View Story
Cheque presentation with group

BMO DONATES $2M FOR PRECISION CANCER CARE

Financial Post, 14 December 2021

View Story
donor posing in lab with staff

PRECISION ONCOLOGY IS CHANGING CANCER CARE

CTV Your Morning, 18 February 2022

View Story
Man and woman posing for photo

SHAWNEA ROBERTS CHAMPIONS CARE FOR GENETIC DISEASES

CTV Montreal, 28 February 2022

View Story
See All

Health Matters Podcast

Our Events

After over a year without any gatherings, the MUHC Foundation is delighted to have hosted and partnered with a number of virtual and in-person events in 2021.

Mother and two children

Bourse Michel Lessard Cycling Challenge

As a former board member of the MUHC Foundation, Michel Lessard devoted countless hours to supporting the MUHC and our community. Sadly, he passed away from cancer in 2018. In his honour, the Lessard Family created the Michel Lessard Studentship to support up-and-coming cancer or kidney researchers. The inaugural Bourse Michel Lessard Cycling Challenge—otherwise known as the Moose Ride after Michel’s high school nickname—took place virtually in 2021 to raise funds for the studentship. The event raised $13,550.

Softball players

Raymond James Charity Softball Game

The Raymond James Charity Softball Game supports breathtaking research and breath-giving care at the Montreal Chest Institute (MCI). This annual charity game between the MCI Lobes—made up of staff from the MCI—and the Raymond James Bulls has raised over $250,000 since 2013 to support vital projects at the MCI. This year, the event raised $31,901 to support the creation of the Post-COVID-19 Clinic at the MCI, which supports the many patients who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms six months or more after diagnosis.

Two women posing back to back

Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal Virtual Event

The Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal raised over $31,000 with their virtual fundraiser, the Joanne and Melina Virtual Event, in May 2021. The event included heart-wrenching testimonials from ovarian cancer survivor Joanne Photiades and current patient Melina Tsagaropoulos. It featured opening remarks by former Minister of Health Patty Hajdu, Member of Parliament for Saint-Laurent Emmanuella Lambropoulos, and Justine Frangouli, President of the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal, and also included a Q&A with Dr. Lucy Gilbert about her ground-breaking DOvEEgene test.

runners posing for photo

Run for a Reason 2022

In April 2022, nine teams comprised of 66 runners laced up their sneakers and ran in support of the MUHC Foundation in the 21k de Montréal. Together, they raised over $38,000 to benefit a variety of causes at the MUHC. Special shout out to top teams The Chest, Chronic Viral Illness Service Patient Fund and MUHC Survivors.

Giant cheque being presented

Fondation Yvon Michel helps knock out breast cancer

Fondation Yvon Michel’s founder Stéphanie Drolet is passionate about fighting metastatic breast cancer, having lost her mother to the disease. Starting with a charity dinner in 2019 and continuing with a 50/50 raffle during the pandemic, Fondation Yvon Michel has raised $135,000 in support of cancer researchers Dr. Peter Metrakos and Dr. Anthoula Lazaris.

people golfing

Drive for the Cure Golf Classic

Dan Klimas created Drive for the Cure – Dan Klimas Friends and Family to fundraise in support of lymphoma researcher Dr. Chaim Shustik. The event had its best year ever in 2021, raising $127,230! First held in 2001, the event has raised a total of $1,100,000.

“Infectious diseases—like COVID 19—are among the greatest threats to humanity, and have been from time immemorial. Our ability to survive these diseases is one of our species’ greatest achievements. We are proud to lead the Solve Humanity’s Deadliest Puzzles campaign to ensure that the most dangerous infectious diseases are treatable and survivable now and into the future.”

—Heather Munroe-Blum and Claire Trottier, Solve Humanity’s Deadliest Puzzles Campaign Co-Chairs
“Infectious diseases—like COVID 19—are among the greatest threats to humanity, and have been from time immemorial. Our ability to survive these diseases is one of our species’ greatest achievements. We are proud to lead the Solve Humanity’s Deadliest Puzzles campaign to ensure that the most dangerous infectious diseases are treatable and survivable now and into the future.”

—Heather Munroe-Blum and Claire Trottier, Solve Humanity’s Deadliest Puzzles Campaign Co-Chairs

Thank You from Our Community

When we work together, our big dreams become reality. From our hearts to yours, thank you for supporting innovative research and outstanding patient care at the MUHC.

“Receiving a free meal from a donor through the MUHC Foundation reminds us that our work is valued and not forgotten.”

–Benoit Cousineau, Nurse Manager in the ER, on receiving free meals from an anonymous Westmount couple
Image of two nurses with cookies
“This has been without a doubt one of the most beautiful and fulfilling experiences of my life. Nothing short of magical. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

–Ferron Campbell on the outstanding response to his matching donation to precision oncology
Image of man in suit
“Dr. Essebag told me that 20 years ago the procedure I had was impossible because the tools were not yet invented. Philanthropy enables innovative research to invent new procedures like the one that saved my life. I want to give back.”

–Hugo Perrin, arrhythmia patient
Image of man smiling

Board of Directors

Our Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that includes members from the medical, scientific, academic and business communities. These dynamic leaders ensure that we maintain the highest standards with regards to ethics and best accounting practices.

Norman M. Steinberg, Ad. E.
Board Chair
Vice Chair, BFL Canada
Jane Craighead, PhD, CPA, CA
Co-Vice Chair
Independent Director, Park Lawn Corporation
Michael Denham
Co-Vice Chair
Vice-Chairman, Commercial Banking and Financial Markets at National Bank
Marc P. Tellier
Co-Vice Chair
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Claire Trottier, PhD
Co-Vice President
Associate Professor, McGill University
Stefanie Pelletier, CPA, CA
Treasurer
Vice-President of Finance, Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ
Patrick M. Shea
Secretary
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Mark Beaudet
Corporate Director
Daniel Buron, CA, CPA
Senior Vice President & CFO, Domtar Corporation
Richard L. Cruess, MD, CC, OQ, FRSC
Professor, McGill University
Jacques Filion
FCPA, FCA
Bryan Fitzpatrick
Director of Business Development, Pomerleau Civil Infrastructure
Lili Fortin
President, Tristan
Gerald Fried, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
Former Surgeon-in-Chief, McGill University Health Centre
Michael Goodman
President, Orange Phoenix Holdings
Lucie Guillemette
Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Air Canada
Micol Haimson
Senior Vice President and Branch Manager, Raymond James
David Hewitt
President, Hewitt Group Inc.
Sacha Haque
Partner, General Counsel & Secretary, Sagard
Matthew Marchand
Corporate Director
Anna Martini
Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Club de Hockey Canadien Inc. and Evenko
François L. Morin, LL.B
Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais
Erin O’Brien
Corporate Director
Marc Parent
President and Chief Executive Officer, CAE
Dexter Peart
President & Co-CEO, Goodee
Maria Della Posta
President, Pratt & Whitney Canada
Lucy Riddell
Designer, Five Faces
Mark Smith
President, Pandion Investments Ltd
Alexandre Viau, MBA, CIM, FCSI
General Manager, Deragon
Honour RollFinancials
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