Who We Are

The Foundation’s origins

The Foundation owes it all to four extraordinary women who were touched by cancer each in their own way. In 1994, they decided to mobilize and create The Montréal Breast Cancer Foundation. Their mission was to help people who had breast cancer. The Foundation was established in 1994 thanks to Pam McLernon. Its first vocation was to be a fundraising organization. Important events, such as Dans le Jardin, helped to collect large sums of money that were then distributed to breast cancer research projects or for laboratory equipment. 

In 1998, the Foundation’s fundraising activities increased with its first edition of the CIBC Run for the cure. That same year, the Circle of Friends program of external initiatives in support to the Foundation was also created. In 2000, Micheline Cloutier Coffin became the Foundation’s President. In 2003, the Foundation became the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, under the presidency of Cynthia Price Verreault. In full expansion, it spread its activities throughout the province, symbolized by the opening of the Quebec City office. From 2007 to October 2009, the chairman was France Margaret Bélanger. Nathalie Le Prohon is now the new chairman of the board.

In only a few years, the Foundation has become incredibly successful. The donations coming from our partnerships, donors, or during events and initiatives from the Circle of Friends help us pursue our mission.

Thank you all for your irreplaceable support!

A few milestones to remember

1994

  • Pam McLernon, along with many devoted volunteers, creates the Montréal Breast Cancer Foundation
  • First Dans le Jardin event: $150,000 is raised

1996

  • Funded the purchase of breast biopsy equipment for the Montréal General Hospital thanks to donations amounting $500,000

1997

  • First time participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure: 1,000 people participate and $79,680 is raised
  • First Awareness Breakfast

1998

1999

  • Dominique Dufour becomes the Foundation’s spokesperson
  • Fifth Dans le Jardin event

2000

  • Micheline Cloutier Coffin is named President of the Board of Directors
  • First Mix 96 Shave to Save event: $15,000 is raised

2001

  • The Foundation takes on a simple and effective Web address: www.rubanrose.org

2002

  • Fifth time participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure: 5,000 people participate and $575,000 is raised
  • Fifth Awareness Breakfast: 800 high school students participate

2003

  • Cynthia Price Verreault is named President of the Board of Directors
  • The Foundation’s regional office opens its doors in Quebec City
  • First CIBC Run for the Cure in Quebec City: 1,200 people participate
  • Founding of a support program for people touched by breast cancer. Commitment from the National Bank Financial Group makes it possible to create the program with a donation of $190,000.

2004

  • Manon Durocher, the Foundation’s first Executive Director, is hired
  • The books Tu n'es pas seule and You are not alone are published through the Sérénité program
  • First Breast Health Clinic in collaboration with Wal-Mart’s 42 Le Comptoir pharmacies: thousands of visitors participate throughout Québec.
  • Tenth Dans le Jardin anniversary event

2005

  • Sérénité activities begin in Laval
  • Mitsou Gélinas becomes the Foundation's spokesperson: her message is to “Keep an eye on your health.”
  • The Foundation focuses its education and awareness efforts through its Harmonie program
  • For the fifth year, Mix 96 organizes the Shave to Save event: $500,000 is raised
  • Celebration of the 10th anniversary Annual Luncheon, lead by Co-Presidents Denise Robert and Denys Arcand
  • Foundation volunteer Jasmin Uhthoff receives the Excellence Ovation prize from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) prize for the 2004 CIBC Run for the Cure
  • Circle of Friends grows and grows: it now brings in more than half a million dollars
  • Production of the Foundation's first television advertisement BELIEVE. FIGHT. WIN. in collaboration with PKCOM, communication agency.

2006

  • La Presse, Le Soleil and regional publications at Éditions Gesca publish a special section (French only) on breast cancer
  • The Foundation is given a six-week radio campaign valued at more than $50,000, sponsored by the Canadian Traffic Network  

2007

  • Suzanne LeBreux, the Foundation’s second Executive Director, is hired
  • Mitsou launches her campaign “Hands on”
  • France Margaret Bélanger is named Chairman of the Board of Directors
  • The CIBC Run for the Cure exceeds $2 million ($2.2 million to be exact!) for the first time
  • First meetings of the National Bank’s Rendez-vous Allure are held

2008

  • Four million-dollar research grants are awarded to Quebec researchers
  • 20th edition of the Le Ruban Rose, the Foundation’s magazine
  • The CIBC Run for the Cure becomes more successful: $2.4 million are collected
  • Virgin 96’s Shave to save beats a record by raising $433,000
  • Ultramar, a loyal partner, donates $303,000, for a total of over $1 million in the last four years
  • A first: RockDétente’s campaign Osez le donner during which a bra is worth a dollar. Result: $80,000 raised

2009

  • The Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary
  • The Lynda Turner Commemorative Golf Tournament takes place for a 15th consecutive and last year. A total of $1.6 million were raised throughout the years
  • The CIBC Run for the Cure moves to Maisonneuve Park
  • Nathalie Le Prohon is named President of the Board
  • National Bank Financial Group donates $415,000 to the Foundation for the second consecutive year

2010

2011

  • The Foundation donates $400,000 to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec toward the modernization of the two mobile mammography units.

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