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Wikipedia Profile –The Masonic Foundation of Quebec

The Masonic Foundation of Quebec (MFQ) is the main branch of Masonic charity in Quebec, Canada. It operates, as a non-profit organization with a mandate for benevolence throughout Quebec with primary functions to coordinate charitable endeavors of Quebec Masons, purchase equipment for hospitals and research facilities, provide academic and religious bursaries, as well as to manage and maintain the Masonic Memorial Temple of Montreal. (1) History The organization began with a charitable donation from a Montreal Freemason named Walter K. Stinson in 1964. (2) Mr. Stinson, an active member of Freemasonry in Quebec for much of his life, bequeathed his estate to the fraternity upon his death requesting that it be used for charitable purposes. (3) Following his generous donation, the Masonic Foundation of Quebec was born with two distinct purposes: to maintain the property of the Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple and to manage and cultivate the capital fund left by Mr. Stinson in order that charity and benevolence be the result. Although the Masonic order is a fraternity its real work is charity, with perhaps the best-known benefactor being the Shriner's Hospitals. The Masonic Foundation of Quebec although not as renowned, also endeavors to aid the community from which is hails by giving back through various channels (4) (5)

Masonic Memorial Temple In fulfilling it’s mandate to maintain and preserve the beaux-arts style building known as the Masonic Memorial Temple, The MFQ lobbied to have the building designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. Since the designation was granted in 2001 the MFQ had applied for and in 2010 received $425 000 in funding from Parks Canada to undertake major restorative projects during the coming years. (5) (6)

Charitable Activities (7) As stated the second function of the foundation is charity towards those outside of the fraternity in Quebec. Throughout the years the MFQ has made numerous donations in the form of bursaries, purchases of medical equipment and donations in support of other groups making a contribution to a cause. It should also be noted that the foundation has been known to occasionally make anonymous or discrete donations. The MFQ has made donations of medical equipment to various hospitals in the Montreal area and the rest of Quebec. The following is a brief list of the equipment purchased for hospitals: Montreal Children's Hospital - X-Ray equipment; Montreal General Hospital - Atomic absorption spectrophotometer; Radiation leakage detector; Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Anesthetic ingestor; Sherbrooke Hospital - Electro-coagulator; Montreal Chinese Hospital - Coulter counter hematology unit; Brome-Missoquoi Hospital - Knee surgery equipment. (8) Educational and Religious bursaries are also provided to outstanding students or various faith based groups whom lack the funds to pursue higher education or religious affairs. Aside from these bursaries, the foundation has made various contributions to support the relief of poverty in Montreal and its surrounding area. Such groups as the Old Brewery Mission, The Quebec Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, The Montreal Association for the Blind and the West Island Women’s Shelter to name a few have all received financial contributions in the past. (9) According to www.charityfocus.com the Masonic Foundation of Quebec distributed over $110 000 in charitable contribution in 2010. (10) The Masonic Foundation of Quebec operates out of the Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple located at the corner of St. Marc and Sherbrooke Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (1) http://www.glquebec.org/masonic_foundation.shtml (2) http://www.glquebec.org/masonic_foundation.shtml (3) http://www.glquebec.org/masonic_foundation.shtml (4) http://roughashlar.com/cgi-bin/pub9990186683916.cgi?action=viewad&page=1&itemid=9990252720408&categoryid=9990191986314 (5) http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100516/mtl_masons_100516?hub=MontrealHome (6) http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=12542&pid=0 (7) http://www.glquebec.org/masonic_foundation.shtml (8) http://www.glquebec.org/masonic_foundation.shtml (9) http://www.glquebec.org/masonic_foundation.shtml (10)http://www.charityfocus.ca/en/pages/charitysummary.aspx?charityid=107676892RR0001