1948
- The Gold Cross was the first endeavour created by Paul-Émile Léger to help victims of the Second World War in Europe. Its goal is to help children in need throughout the world by providing health care, training, and literacy programs.
1962
- The Cardinal Léger Institute for Health was born during a mission to Cameroon. Its objective is to promote health and fight endemic diseases (leprosy, malaria, tuberculosis, tetanus, polio and AIDS).
1969
- Cardinal Léger and his Endeavours expands the mission of the first two endeavours. This new division aims to reduce poverty by encouraging communities to appropriate sustainable development.
1981
- On December 18, The Jules and Paul-Émile Léger Foundation is created through a special act of the Canadian Parliament to honour two great humanitarians: Cardinal Paul-Émile Léger, Archbishop of Montréal, and his brother, Jules Léger, Canadian ambassador overseas (1953-1964) and Governor General of Canada (1974-1979). The Foundation ensures that the objectives it has set to fulfill its mission are reached by overseeing the work of its divisions.
For more information.
1983
- Partners of the Cardinal was Cardinal Léger’s first local endeavour. Its aim is to support organizations that assist families in need to remedy hunger, poverty and family violence, problems that mainly affect women and children in Quebec.
1985
- Partnership publishing is a division company set up to design, produce and distribute all kinds of publications that promote and support activities and educational or philanthropic endeavours in Canada and abroad.
1986
- Elderaid is specially designed to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged and isolated seniors.
Partners of the World is an endeavour that fulfills its mission through international and Quebec endeavours. It seeks to initiate projects in partnership with other foundations or corporations to promote sustainable development for the populations these partnerships target.
1992
- Homeless Recourse is the only endeavour founded after the death of Paul-Émile Léger. It supports homeless people who are momentarily unable to take responsibility for their lives.
2008
- L’ŒUVRE LÉGER celebrates its 60th anniversary! On this occasion, the Jules and Paul-Émile Léger Foundation and the divisions it oversees decide to unify under one name: L’ŒUVRE LÉGER, an appropriate choice since all have been contributing to the same mission for 60 years.
Yesterday and today
- L’ŒUVRE LÉGER is present in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and in all regions of Quebec.
It has distributed over $228 million and helped more than 29 million people!
For more information
The Jules and Paul-Émile Léger Foundation
On July 9, 1981, the Canadian Senate approved a bill incorporating The Jules and Paul-Émile Léger Foundation. The approved bill received Parliament assent on December 18 of that same year.
The creation of this foundation was in keeping with the two brothers’ wish to help the poorest people of the world.
The Foundation bases its action on solidarity and humanist values and is non denominational. Its main role is to ensure that the objectives it sets to fulfill its mission are reached through overseeing the work of its divisions. The Foundation is also the guardian of the Léger heritage and ensures its continuity.
Today The Jules and Paul-Émile Léger Foundation oversees all of its endeavours—also called divisions. Each is a distinct legal entity with its own charity number.
