Since its first campaign in 1974, Centraide has become a key actor in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. Every year, it supports 375 community agencies and projects that help one out of five people in Greater Montreal.
(Click on the various thumbnails linked to the 50th)
Centraide of Greater Montreal stems from a group of charitable agencies that served different sectors of our community. It is the proud heir to a long tradition of community service.
Active slide is ““.
1966
1974
1975
1980
1983
1991
1992
1993
2010
2012
2020
2021
2023
1966
On May 17, 1966, five federations joined forces to create the Federated Appeal of Greater Montreal. From different cultural, language and religious backgrounds, these federations shared the goal of combining multiple fundraising efforts in Greater Montreal into a single annual campaign.
1974
On September 25, 1974, these federations handed over their responsibilities and powers for budgeting, planning and allocating funds. The organization that is now Centraide of Greater Montreal was born.
1975
André Mailhot became the first President and CEO of Centraide Montreal. He held this position from 1975 to 1980.
1980
Jean Lessard succeeded André Mailhot as President and CEO of Centraide Montreal. He served in this role for 11 years, until 1991.
1983
The global recession that began raging in summer 1981 severely affected Canada. Over 100,000 jobs disappeared in the Greater Montreal area, and poverty rose to new heights. Community agencies started feeling the strain.
1991
The year 1991 was an important milestone in Centraide Montreal’s history with the arrival of Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire as its President and Executive Director, a position she would hold for the next 20 years.
1992
In 1992, Centraide Montreal was renamed Centraide of Greater Montreal to reflect the true scope of its territory.
1993
Since 1993, Centraide of Greater Montreal has worked with a number of partners to set up and support highly innovative social projects, such as 1, 2, 3, GO!, the Leadership rassembleur programMC, the 211 service, and the Collective Impact Project.
2010
With the rise of online spaces and new tech platforms, the 2010s brought their share of challenges and changes for not only Centraide but the philanthropic sector as a whole.
2012
2012-2020 Lili-Anna Pereša, President and Executive Director
2020
On March 13, 2020, Quebec went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of people were temporarily out of work. The Centraide of Greater Montreal team set up an emergency fund to support vulnerable people.
2021
2021 to date. Claude Pinard, , President and Executive Director
2023
Today, Centraide of Greater Montreal invests over $60 million in its communities every year. Despite all our efforts, poverty and social exclusion remain major social issues that change as different crises crop up. Centraide is pursuing its mission.
Do you know Centraide of Greater Montreal?
Centraide of Greater Montreal employees share their organization’s history with you. From its origins to the major social projects Centraide has implemented over the past five decades, this video gives you a better understanding of the history and mission of a philanthropic organization that has contributed to Greater Montreal’s social development.
On April 18, members of Centraide’s Board of Directors and the management team were received by Mayor Valérie Plante as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, to sign the City of Montreal’s Golden Book. We are proud to receive this recognition of 50 years of social impact, solidarity and generosity alongside community agencies, for the most vulnerable people of Greater Montreal.
On February 3rd, the 50th anniversary of Centraide of Greater Montreal was honored at the National Assembly. To mark this significant milestone, the Minister responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action, Chantal Rouleau, also the Member of Parliament for Pointe-aux-Trembles at the National Assembly, highlighted the undeniable contribution of our organization in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. Claude Pinard, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal, and Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal from 1991 to 2012, were present for the occasion.
Welcome to this section dedicated to Centraide’s 50th anniversary, a year of exceptional programming that will look back at five decades of solidarity, generosity and social impact.
More than just a simple milestone, this year will be filled with activities that reflect our history, our action, and our commitment to the Greater Montreal community.
Read below for an overview of the program we have in store for this special year:
Concerts in parks
Event concluded
Immerse yourself in the magic of music with outdoor concerts starring the Orchestre Métropolitain, an iconic musical ensemble deeply rooted in the community.
Centraide is proud to partner with the Orchestre métropolitain to present three concerts of the series entitled “L’OM PREND L’AIR”, events designed to make classical music accessible to all audiences, and to promote social and cultural inclusion.
Under the direction of conductor Naomi Woo, these concerts scheduled for July 2024, are intended to be friendly, relaxed, and family-oriented gatherings, where music lovers and the curious come together in an outdoor setting. A wonderful way to celebrate 50 years of community solidarity.
Evenings you won’t want to miss!
JOIN US TO EXPERIENCE THE VIBRANT SOUNDS OT THE OM*:
Explore urban creativity with spectacular murals created by three artists: La Charbonne, and Francorama et Sarah Galarneau. These works of art will enrich the neighborhoods of Greater Montreal, aiming to illustrate our commitment to enriching local communities by celebrating urban creativity and highlighting the diversity that unites us.
A legacy from Centraide to be discovered starting this summer!
Dive into the heart of the action by participating in the open house days of local community agencies. Discover their inspiring initiatives, meet the faces behind the projects, and explore the tangible impact of your support.
This initiative is a unique opportunity to forge new connections, engage with the community, and, above all, learn more about the agencies that make up our network.
Come meet those who, day after day, work towards an inclusive Greater Montreal without poverty, and towards a caring society where every individual matters.
Rich emotional experiences await the whole family!
Join us throughout this special year, when every event will delve into our history, strengthen our bonds, and help us keep working for a better future.
This section highlights individuals and organizations who have collaborated with Centraide over the past 50 years, celebrating the transformative power of solidarity.
Browse through this selection of testimonials and portraits of individuals and organizations who have contributed to Centraide’s history, and whose impact continues to shape the future.
This section is dedicated to the social impact we have achieved thanks to our unwavering commitment over 50 years.
Over the decades, we have broken the cycle of poverty for many families, fostered the success of young people who are now accomplished adults, filled empty fridges, given a home to those without one, helped seniors overcome their isolation, promoted the inclusion of marginalized people, and much more. Our actions have changed lives, transformed neighbourhoods, and renewed hope.
As we celebrate half a century of social impact, get ready to relive key milestones in our history through a series of compelling articles:
From emergency food assistance to the creation of local food systems, explore how we have helped sustain hope and solidarity in Greater Montreal’s neighbourhoods and for people in a situation of poverty.
Centraide of Greater Montreal’s 50th anniversary is a chance for us to reflect on the essential role that our organization plays in society and to understand the full scope of its contributions over time.
This anniversary will also prompt us to look ahead and think about what we need to do to keep this mission going into the future.
A planned giving campaign has been set up to specifically encourage these other ways of giving. Gifts in wills, gifts of RRSPs and life insurance policies, and endowments are all ways that you can support Centraide’s mission over the long term.
Most of these deferred donations become pledges invested immediately in the community or to the Generations Fund, whose capital is invested to provide Centraide with sustainable revenue that is reinvested back into the community each year.