The Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) Foundation, the Société de Saint-Vincent de Paul de Montréal, St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, and the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation have been named the beneficiaries of a remarkable legacy gift from Paul Durocher.
Representatives from four of Quebec’s most prominent foundations were gathered in Montreal on June 17 to celebrate Mr. Durocher’s unprecedented act of generosity. His bequest will have a lasting impact on the future of the communities they support. Mr. Durocher was an entrepreneur who was deeply committed to various social causes and his posthumous gift is one of the biggest ones ever made in Quebec, marking the history of philanthropy in the province.
A discreet act of kindness
Mr. Durocher worked in the hospitality industry and was always involved in his community. He was also profoundly humble and shied away from the spotlight, making his bequest a surprise for the charities named as beneficiaries. This posthumous donation is a sign of Mr. Durocher’s true intentions and a reflection of his altruistic nature. “He always knew that the impact of his actions could only be measured by how they benefited charitable organizations. For the Société de Saint-Vincent de Paul de Montréal, this donation will greatly increase our ability to pursue and strengthen our mission in these difficult times. With high inflation, we’re seeing more and more young people and workers coming to us for food aid services. Thanks to Mr. Durocher, we’ll be able to boost our distribution capacities and meet the growing needs of our community. It’s a gesture that will have an immense positive effect on us,” said Pierre Pratte, Chair of the Société de Saint-Vincent de Paul de Montréal’s Board of Directors.
Treating more people, saving more lives
Health was a cause that was very close to Mr. Durocher’s heart. His exceptional bequest will not only fund the research and innovations that will shape the medicine of tomorrow, it will also be used to improve the day-to-day lives of countless people. “The advances made possible by his generous contribution will provide healthcare teams and researchers with an invaluable head start in the fight against disease. Thousands of patients will benefit from this,” said Pascale Bouchard, President and Chief Executive Officer at the CHUM Foundation.
Mr. Durocher received attentive care at St. Mary’s Hospital over the course of several years. The bequest he leaves will ensure others will benefit from the same excellent services. “St. Mary’s is humbled to receive Mr. Durocher’s transformational gift, which is a moving gesture of faith in our Hospital’s mission and in the people who make up our outstanding community,” said Cynda P. Heward, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation. “As we celebrate our 100th anniversary this year, I am certain that Mr. Durocher’s contribution will have nothing short of an extraordinary impact as we embark on the next century of care at St. Mary’s.”
Leveraging the power of philanthropy
Philanthropy, as envisioned by Mr. Durocher, is a way to explore new avenues and his actions will no doubt inspire other donors. With this bequest, he has cemented his legacy as a vector for change and he will be remembered for his significant impact on our collective future.
According to Alain Gignac, President of the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation, Mr. Durocher’s contribution will motivate other Quebecers to embrace philanthropy. “Mr. Durocher was very involved in the community. For more than 20 years, he was part of a very active group of philanthropists who support the MHI Foundation. Thanks in large part to people like him, we are able to improve the quality of life of patients with heart disease. His generosity, vision, and immense heart will live on through the four foundations he’s chosen to support posthumously,” he added.
