Montreal, February 4, 2021 – The COVID Québec Consortium supports local action plans to curb COVID‑19 in the communities most affected. These plans, developed in collaboration with the community, municipal and health sectors and supported by the Red Cross, allow organizations in the Greater Montreal area to support awareness, screening and, soon, vaccination, in addition to offering material and psychosocial assistance to those most vulnerable to COVID-19.

A substantial commitment

The first phase of the initiative began in July 2020. Action plans funded by the Consortium then reached 1.2 million people in the Greater Montreal area. The objective of the second phase is to expand the same approach to reach 3 million people. This will be made possible thanks to the commitment of more than 200 community organizations. The deployment of such action plans obviously involves considerable investments. Therefore, foundations and their partners will invest an additional sum of $4.2 million. By the end of the second phase, nearly $7 million will have been invested by the Consortium.

The Secretariat for the Metropolitan Region of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is collaborating with the Consortium by providing $150,000 in funding. It will support certain promising projects that will result from local action plans. “Montreal and its region is particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why community mobilization is essential. The action plans funded by the COVID Québec Consortium are implemented by community players who know the field. That is the strength of this model,” said Chantal Rouleau, Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region.

An innovative approach

For its part, the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal has entered into a formal partnership with the foundations. This is a noteworthy innovation. “The community plans supported by the COVID Québec Consortium are of undeniable importance in the fight against the pandemic. That is why we are pleased to support their deployment. In the coming weeks, the presence of volunteers in the field to carry out prevention, promotion of screening and vaccination activities will be essential,” said Frédéric Abergel, President and CEO of the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.

“The addition of financial support puts an additional seal of approval on the community action plans that have been supported by the COVID Québec Consortium since the summer of 2020. The model we have implemented has proven its worth in the Greater Montreal area and is now being deployed elsewhere in Canada, notably in Alberta and Ontario,” said Mr. Félix-Antoine Véronneau, COVID-19 Coordinator of the COVID Québec Consortium.

Results flowing from the action plans

Local action plans have demonstrated their effectiveness and impact in the fight against COVID-19. In the first three months of their deployment by 116 organizations and local leaders, they have reached more than 110,000 people. Local organizations informed them, supported them for screening and supported their safe isolation in the event of contagion. Nearly 12% of those reached were referred for material or psychosocial assistance, including more than 1,200 seniors. These interventions have helped to both prevent COVID-19 and strengthen the social safety net.

“Bringing together so many partners so quickly and developing a common vision requires a great deal of coordination. The Foundation of Greater Montreal is pleased to have been chosen to manage the sums invested by the Molson, Trottier and Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundations, while Philanthropic Foundations Canada will be a partner in monitoring the action plans and accompanying their implementation. We are very proud to support the implementation of this philanthropic initiative. It has proven its worth in several neighbourhoods hard hit by COVID” said Karel Mayrand, President and CEO of the Foundation of Greater Montreal.

About the COVID Québec Consortium

Coordinated by the Foundation of Greater Montreal and Philanthropic Foundations Canada, the COVID Québec Consortium was created in March 2020. It is currently made up of three major philanthropic families: the Trottier Family Foundation, the Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundation and the Molson Foundation. It supports compelling interventions that can support communities and public authorities in the response to the pandemic.

About the Foundation of Greater Montreal (FGM) 

The Foundation of Greater Montreal (FGM) helps individuals, families and organizations support their community by creating philanthropic funds. FGM manages the funds’ assets and guides donors by identifying key issues and supporting community organizations. It also encourages philanthropy as a major driver for well-being in Greater Montréal.

Source: COVID Québec Consortium