A 25th Gala to Celebrate People with Heart!

17 recipients were honored in various categories for their contributions over the past year, and two special tributes were the highlights of the evening, which was masterfully hosted by Priscillia Quirion.

List of Honorees

The Jean-Besré Award recognizes outstanding contributions:
Jean-François Bérubé has been involved with the CHUS Foundation’s Board of Directors for many years, completing his term as Chair in 2024. For more than eight years, he showed exceptional leadership, helping the Foundation exceed its goals—even during the pandemic!

Philanthropic Achievement Award:
Jean-Guy Roy and Louis-Charles Durocher are at the helm of an event that truly lives up to its name: the Défi SKI TA VIE! For four years, these two men have poured their energy into making this fundraiser a growing success that benefits several organizations in the Estrie region, including the CHUS Foundation.

Loyalty Award:
Dr. Pierre Charron and Linda Hubert — This duo helped the Brigitte-Perreault Fund celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024! Their long-standing dedication and passion for the fund’s development deserve praise. Their values align closely with the fund’s mission to promote quality, safety, and compassionate care at CHUS.

Safia-Leblanc Award:
Marie-Andrée Quirion regularly speaks about the care she received at CHUS. A cancer survivor, she also contributes as a patient-partner in research and is a strong ambassador for the Foundation. She even organized a black-and-white ball to celebrate her remission and raise funds.

Community Initiative Award:
Annie Paquin, with her camera in hand, convinced numerous public figures in Quebec and beyond to open their doors and share their favorite room. She compiled this original content into the beautiful book Pièce, sold in support of healthcare.

Business Ambassador Award:
Marie-Christine Marcoux and Chantal Lessard are stellar ambassadors of the CHUS Foundation’s mission. They notably led the golf tournament committee, which raised over $1 million in 2024.

Community Ambassador Award:
Marie-Claude Bilodeau is a patient who wants to give back while still battling cancer. Without hesitation, she agreed to speak to the media to highlight the importance of access to specialized care in her region and the necessity of supporting the Foundation’s mission.

Philanthropic Favorite Award:
Johanne Charest and Suzanne Ouellet organize a fundraiser every year in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac in memory of Alexandre Charest, who passed away from brain cancer in 2016. The funds support the Cœur en tête fund, which finances research led by neuro-oncologist and neurosurgeon Dr. David Fortin.

Always Ready Award:
Lucie St-Martin devotes a great deal of time selling tickets for the Grand Tirage de la santé | Groupe Beaucage. She kindly manages many volunteers, coordinates schedules, and answers numerous calls—all with a smile!

Valued Partner Award:
Alain Patry makes our lives much easier! A generous construction professional, he offers the finishing work for the Grand Tirage de la santé | Groupe Beaucage chalet free of charge and rallies others around the cause.

Rookie of the Year Award:
Guylaine Bergeron says volunteering is in her DNA! She proves it by showing up several times a week to lend a much-needed hand with various office tasks.

Youth Award:
Émile and Lauralie Brisson are the cheerful elves seen on our social media promoting the Encan sous le sapin (Holiday Auction). They also took part in Sherbrooke’s Santa Claus Parade and lend a hand on school breaks to support our team.

Special Tributes

To commemorate the inspiring commitment of young patient Safia Leblanc, who passed away from cancer in June 2024 at age 17, the CHUS Foundation renamed the Patient Award in her honor. The Safia-Leblanc Award will now be presented to someone who has received or is receiving care at CHUS and contributes to the Foundation’s mission through advocacy and awareness efforts. Her parents, Isabelle Lapointe and Nicolas Leblanc, accepted the tribute, recalling how important it was to Safia to share her story and thank the donors supporting pediatric cancer research.

“Safia left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She made an indelible mark on people’s hearts. That’s why naming this award after her is a perfect choice and a great honor for us,” said her mother.

A special tribute was also paid to businessman André L’Espérance, who passed away last fall. A visionary and devoted philanthropist, he founded the Fonds de l’Espérance of the CHUS Foundation. For the past 12 years, this fund has provided financial support to families with children hospitalized or receiving care at CHUS.

“It was important for us to honor this generous gesture, which the L’Espérance family has continued year after year. It’s a wonderful legacy he leaves to our community,” said Martin Clermont, Executive Director of the CHUS Foundation.

His daughter, Élyse L’Espérance, accepted the tribute award on her father’s behalf.