The Jack Victor Foundation
The Jack Victor Foundation was established in Montreal by Herschel Victor in 1982. Over the course of his career, Mr. Victor was a strong believer in giving back to his local community. It was this generous spirit that motivated him to establish the Foundation, and in 1999 he was honoured by the Canadian government with the Order of Canada, specifically for his philanthropic activity.
The Order of Canada
As the first member of his family to graduate from university in 1944, Herschel Victor greatly valued education and considered it a critical element for a better life and future success. He talked often about his experiences earning a Bachelor of Commerce at McGill University, and expressed gratitude for the knowledge and skills he had acquired. Education-related projects have therefore been a priority for the Foundation. Mr. Victor also said frequently that “the greatest gift you can receive is good health”, so he had an intense interest in medical research and health care initiatives. All three of these areas became the priorities that he directed the Foundation to support. By devoting attention to these causes, he believed he could have the greatest positive impact on the lives of his fellow citizens.
Philanthropic Initiatives
The Victor family through the Foundation continues to support important charitable work in these and other fields, lead now by Alan Victor, CEO of Jack Victor Limited, together with a small number of immediate family members.
Hope and Cope
The Jack Victor Foundation supports a number of health care related causes, and in particular has focused on the needs of cancer patients.
In 2009, the Foundation made a multiyear commitment to fund the Christine and Herschel Victor/Hope and Cope Chair in psychosocial oncology at McGill University.
Hope and Cope is a Montreal-based charitable organization that provides psychosocial support and resources to cancer patients and their loved ones.
The current holder of the Foundation-funded Chair is Dr. Carmen Loiselle, a leading research scientist and author with major contributions to the field of psychosocial oncology. Dr. Loiselle is actively involved in developing, testing and implementing innovative web-based approaches that overcome patient and health-system barriers to provide support for individuals affected by cancer.
Dr. Carmen Loiselle alongside Christine Victor (L) and Alan Victor (R)
JDRF T1D Fund
The Foundation is a longstanding major supporter of JDRF, a non-profit organization actively involved in research aimed at breakthroughs that can potentially cure, prevent and better treat Type 1 diabetes.
The Foundation has made numerous significant contributions to JDRF over the last 20 years. In 2021, the Foundation moved forward on a major commitment to JDRF through a pledge to the JDRF T1D Fund. This venture philanthropy fund uses its capital and expertise to incentivize venture capital, pharmaceutical and biotech companies to make investments needed to cure T1D.
The Foundation also supports the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital through the Arthur Victor Movement Disorder Travel Award. The Award funds the activities of deserving graduate students who attend international scientific meetings.
McGill University
Since its inception, the Jack Victor Foundation has prioritized education, most notably through contributions to McGill University.
In 2005, the Victor Family made a major contribution to McGill University's School of Management to fund the renovation of its building’s main lobby. The Foundation has also funded scholarships in the university's education, and management faculties. The Foundation has as well supported the Rideau Hall Foundation's Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Scholarship Diamond Jubilee Fund. This Fund is centered around leadership development and community engagement by funding overseas educational and real work experiences for Canadian students.
