Donation of $5 million to support innovative pediatric centre project initiated by Indigenous community
BMO, in partnership with the Hewitt Foundation, has announced a donation to Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation to support social pediatric services in Northern Quebec Indigenous communities, with a first of its kind project.
The Minnie’s Hope Social Pediatric Centre was established more than five years ago by and for members of the Cree community of Whapmagoostui and the Inuit community of Kuujjuaraapik, both located on the southern shore of Hudson’s Bay. In partnership with the Children’s and others, Minnie’s Hope provides pediatric care and evaluations as well as therapeutic, social and educational programs, developed — with the involvement of community members including elders — to reflect the values and knowledge of both communities. This unique partnership approach that focuses on combining their traditions, values and knowledge and dedicated experts has made Minnie’s Hope a Canadian leader in its field.
The $5M in new funding will support the construction of a larger centre to accommodate the growing communities with more administrative, medical and paramedical staff and new services and programs—all offered in a way to ensure cultural safety.
“Montreal Children’s Hospital is a world-class institution renowned for pediatric healthcare. Working with The Children’s Hospital and Minnie’s Hope, we saw a unique opportunity to boldly grow the good alongside our customers and communities. This unprecedented partnership, made possible through collaboration and dialogue with community elders, will double the number of Indigenous families served and provide local resources for Indigenous youth. These outcomes are directly aligned with BMO’s commitment to building an inclusive society and supporting Indigenous communities.”
– Darryl White, Chief Executive Officer, BMO, and Co-president of the Children’s Foundation Campaign Cabinet
Learn more about BMO’s approach to supporting Indigenous communities with banking services, advice, donations, and employment initiatives, including the recent $2M donation to St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation in Vancouver supporting Indigenous health.
