Louis Gagnon and Charles Brindamour
Credit: Intact
Intact and two of its leaders, Louis Gagnon, also co-president of the campaign The hour is brave, and Charles Brindamour launch the Intact Health Resilience Initiative, a flagship project of the very first center of excellence in infectious diseases in Canada dedicated to mother-child health. This initiative will be carried out as part of a strategic partnership between CHU Sainte-Justine and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal.
Resilience in health: what is it actually?
Through their donation, Intact and its leaders give meaning to health resilience by helping to build stronger communities. They focus on prevention and early intervention for the well-being of populations. This proactive approach to health is perfectly in line with the vision of UdeM and its faculty of medicine, whose strength is based on close collaboration with the University’s affiliated hospital centers, in particular the CHU Sainte-Justine. It is from this synergy that the center was born.
Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a grueling demonstration of the repercussions that infectious diseases can have both on individuals and on the overall functioning of society.
In response to this reality, the new Center of Excellence in Infectious Diseases CHU Sainte-Justine x UdeM aims to improve access to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in vulnerable populations. The Center will develop strategies and preventive interventions to improve the well-being of at-risk groups by making scientific discoveries, creating new treatments and training the next generation of clinicians and infectious disease researchers. The Intact Initiative for Health Resilience is a structuring project ranging from fundamental research to clinical research, focused on the prevention of infectious diseases and the development of new antibiotics.
A shared donation
This support combines donations of four million dollars from Intact and the contribution of one million paid in equal parts by Charles Brindamour, CEO of Intact Financial Corporation, and Louis Gagnon, CEO of Intact in Canada .
“Our support through this unique initiative demonstrates Intact’s continued commitment to building resilient communities and shaping a better future. By investing in the well-being of communities in the regions of Quebec, Canada and the world where we are present, we are taking concrete action to move things forward and have lasting benefits for all of society, says Charles Brindamour. This partnership shows that large companies and renowned health and education establishments can join forces to tackle major societal challenges.”
“For us, insurance should be about people, not things. Today’s announcement is a continuation of our investments to improve community resilience and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to one of Intact’s values: generosity. Building resilient communities benefits everyone. The essential advances in research and clinical care resulting from this partnership will accelerate health support for families at risk in Quebec and Canada,” emphasizes Louis Gagnon.
Decades of basic research have led to the rapid development of messenger RNA vaccines to combat COVID-19. This is a shining example of what is possible when fundamental research is matched with visionary support! The CHU Sainte-Justine and the University of Montreal would like to thank Intact and the Brindamour and Gagnon families for their support in the search for solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow that the hospital center and the University are tackling.
Louis Gagnon and the “The Hour is Brave” campaign
Louis Gagnon (economic sciences 1984) remained close to his alma mater since graduating. A great defender of the principles of equity and inclusion, he considers that education is one of the vectors of advancement in a society. Through his participation in UdeM’s most ambitious philanthropic campaign, he wishes to use his influence in the business world to mobilize people for whom education and university research have the same resonance.
The Center of Excellence in Infectious Diseases embodies the transformative momentum of this campaign, structured around four fundamental pillars building priority strategic projects. One of these pillars promotes a holistic and innovative perspective on health, encompassing the planet, humans and animals and recognizing the interdependence of all living organisms. A unique approach in the Canadian university landscape that is more essential than ever.
To find out more about UdeM’s major campaign, visit the L’heure est brave website.
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