The Montreal General Hospital Foundation (MGHF) is pleased to announce a major gift of $900,000. This generous donation was made by Mr. David Laidley, Chairman Emeritus of Deloitte LLP (Canada), to help fund our Impact Investment Program for healthcare startups.

The MGHF’s Impact Investment Program offers convertible loans to selected startups that want to scale their healthcare innovations for the benefit of patients in Quebec and Canada, and who develop their ideas through the Clinical Innovation Platform (CLIP) – a unique incubator at the heart of the Montreal General Hospital and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.

While he recognizes there are so many needs out there, Mr. Laidley explains that supporting the MGHF’s Impact Investment Program appealed to him because of its support of entrepreneurship and the potential for renewal inherent in the program’s structure.

“I like the concept of entrepreneurship, of encouraging people who come up with ideas, and converting them into ways to help the public,” says Mr. Laidley. “If a company becomes successful, the investment can be converted, the shares could be cashed out, and the proceeds go back to provide more support to other entrepreneurs and worthwhile causes. It’s wonderful to see that money go back into the bin and be used to finance others.”

Active on many boards, Mr. Laidley is retired and passionate about making a difference. He graduated from McGill University in 1967 and in 2022 made a gift to his alma mater to create the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity, among many other acts of generosity.

Ultimately, Mr. Laidley says that he deeply values making gifts that will be truly useful. He knows his donation to our Foundation will have a meaningful and lasting impact.

“We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Laidley for his generous donation, which will help our innovative Impact Investment Program grow and invest in qualified healthcare startups,” says Margaux Watine, Vice President, Development, MGHF. “Moreover, Mr. Laidley’s donation showcases the human and creative side of philanthropy, as he felt a connection with our project and its purpose. We are honoured by his trust in our Foundation to realize our shared vision.”

Mr. Laidley’s gift is an example of our Foundation’s mission brought to life: Our mission is to inspire the philanthropic community to invest in transformative initiatives, conceived and guided by our medical leaders, that have a significant impact on patient lives.

Thanks to Mr. Laidley for his generous gift and for sharing his story, and to all our donors, you have our deepest gratitude.

The MGHF’s Impact Investment Program is possible thanks to the support of National Bank, the John Dobson Foundation, Birks Family Foundation, and other generous donors.

Let’s transform healthcare together!

A Generous Donation to Support Innovation in Healthcare

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