ANNUAL REPORT 2023

We are pleased to present our annual report for 2023, which showcases the impact of our Foundation work in the community. In 2023, we were able to distribute a total of $618,812 in donations, which was used to fund various programs and initiatives that align with our mission. This report provides an insight into our Foundation’s work and hope that it will inspire others to join us in our efforts to support and initiate programs benefiting the relief of poverty, health, education and other purposes beneficial to the community.

1. Nova Home Care

This partnership with Nova Home Care was to finance Home care of patients with Type II diabetes and kidney diseases. This donation provided for 1352 hours of Home care.

2. Association des pompiers auxiliaires de Lanaudiere-Laurentides (APALL)

APALL is an organization created in 2008 to assist firefighters by keeping individuals and families who lost their residence and/or are relocated due to fire damage and provide them with emergency support. This donation was made to meet APALL’s needs to repair, update, and improve their fleet of vehicles, purchase medical equipment for emergency vehicles and purchase of fire radio equipment.

3. La fondation du Québec pour les grands brûlés

This organization raises and disburses funds for victims of fire (grands brûlés) including men, women, children and even firefighters. With funds raised, this organization is able to carry out research and re-adaptation programs, buy equipment, finance a summer camp and other services.

The donation of the John R. McConnell Foundation was made to support a special project, “Feu Follet”, renamed “Flambo”, whose purpose is to educate young persons about fire prevention and security. The objective is to widen access to this program through technology and educational material, including development of a website, videos and communication material.

4. City of Metis-sur-mer (volunteer fire department)

A donation request was received from the Metis-sur-Mer Volunteer Fire Department, for a fit test machine and a firefighter inshore Marine rescue boat to be custodied by the Metis-sur-Mer Volunteer Fire Department but benefiting its partners Price, Ste Angèle, Amqui, Baie-des-Sables, Saint-Ulric and even Matane.

The fit test machine tests that firefighter’s facemasks are sealed as any leak is toxic. The inshore rescue boat is for response to calls on rivers, lakes and even open sea.

5. McGill university health center foundation

This research grant was made to support the RESET for Diabetes Remission Program, carried out by the Research Institute of the MUHC in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

A controlled dietary program can reverse diabetes in a number of people living with Type II diabetes. The purpose of the RESET project is to add a weekly exercise regimen on to clinically proven dietary program. When combined, it is expected that the positive benefits conferred by the diet approach will be amplified.

6. Canadian coast guard auxiliary – Quebec ( CCGA-Q)

There are no full-time Coast Guard (CCG) or National Defence rescue stations within or even near the over 200 km Rimouski-Mitis-Matane-Ste-Anne marine corridor. The closest Canadian Coast Guard or National Defence Marine rescue stations are in Tadoussac, Sept-Iles and Rivière-au-Renard, with response times of many hours. Québec does not provide offshore rescue. CCGA-Q volunteers in Québec protect a massive swath of open sea and focus on the more congested areas where marinas and see activity exist. This effort is self-funded, locally staffed responding to over 70% of all distress calls in the described region.

This donation to CCGA-Q is anchored in the Rimouski-La Mitis- Matane corridor seeking to provide an all-weather fast rescue boat to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary based in Rimouski. This project will benefit a three-county area spanning approximately 185 km of shorelines significantly improving response time in helping citizens impacted by tragedy and distress on the waters of the St. Lawrence.

The vessel to be purchased costs $357,000 manufactured by Titan Boats of Ontario, Canada, through their agent in Québec. Placing the vessel in Rimouski would allow to have an all-weather capable fast rescue boat in the most valuable geographical position to complement CCGA-Q’s existing vessels in La Mitis and Matane.

7. Initiative of the John R. McConnell foundation to improve the well-being of patients undergoing dialysis treatments at the centre hospitalier de Lanaudiere (CHDL)

This project was presented to La Fondation pour la Santé du Nord de Lanaudière and its purpose is to put measures in place to improve the well-being of patients undergoing dialysis treatments. The following are examples of the measures that we are trying to implement at the dialysis department of the CHDL:

If successful, this joint project with La Fondation pour la Santé du Nord de Lanaudière could be replicated in other institutions and ultimately, the results could be used to convince health authorities to include the tested measures in their budget.

8. Generations foundation

Generations Foundation provides nutritious breakfast, hot lunch and a snack daily to over 7700 schoolchildren in 96 schools and learning centres. This donation was requested for a new roof at the Generations Foundation’s premises. The John R. McConnell Foundation contributed for half of the repair costs.

9. Ottawa volunteer search and rescue

This organization’s mission relates to search and rescue, emergency measures response, prevention and education. It is 100% volunteer and self-funded. The donation was made for the purchase of the equipment (generator, GPS and Starlink Internet kept).

10. General operating support

Our foundation made a donation in the amount of $10,000 to each of the following Charities for their general operations: