Frédéric Martel, President and CEO of Claridge Inc., was appointed Chair of the Board of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation in June 2025, after seven years of service as a board member. He shares what led him to Sainte-Justine and his vision of philanthropy.
It is a great honor to take on the role of Chair of the Board of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. My attachment to this cause goes back many years. It is a story rooted in my upbringing, and one that continues to grow, driven by the will to help secure a healthy future for all children.
A culture of mutual support
I grew up in Saguenay, where mutual support is part of who we are. My parents, through their generosity, instilled strong values in me that shaped my philanthropic spirit early on. That awareness deepened when I saw how present genetic diseases were in my region. Losing a cousin to muscular dystrophy left a deep mark on me. Sadly, his story is one among many. I was especially moved to learn about the research being carried out by Dr. Nicolas Dumont and his team here at Sainte-Justine on myotonic dystrophy type 1.
It is to see promising advances like these that I am involved with the Foundation, and why I am committed to rallying the community in support of this cause.
When commitment takes shape
At Claridge, I had the privilege of working alongside inspiring leaders such as Stephen Bronfman and Pierre Boivin. Their dedication showed me how philanthropy can change lives and gave me the drive to deepen my commitment. They helped me see that philanthropy draws its greatest strength from bringing people together around a common cause.
That conviction took on even greater meaning in my personal life. As a father of three, supporting Sainte-Justine felt natural. My children are healthy, and even our few minor hospital visits made me realize just how fortunate we are. Watching them thrive constantly reminds me of how essential it is to support an institution like Sainte-Justine, so that every child has access to the very best care.
These experiences have strengthened my belief that philanthropy is at its most powerful when it belongs to everyone — through the time, energy and resources each of us can give. The next generation is already showing the way, with initiatives like L’élan pour Sainte-Justine and the Youth Tree of Lights, which are moving mountains for Sainte-Justine and inspiring those who will follow.
Moving forward with Sainte-Justine
At a time when philanthropy is evolving rapidly and our economic and social landscape is unsettled, I want to continue mobilizing the community, expanding our reach and strengthening the ties that unite us.
At the heart of our Grow Beyond campaign, my ambition is to build on the momentum initiated by my predecessor, Pierre Pomerleau, and to push beyond the ambitious goal we set for ourselves. But I cannot do this alone: I will need all of you to help make it a reality.
The needs are immense. As long as children are ill, as long as rare diseases have no cure, we must continue to grow beyond limits, advancing medical excellence and igniting hope for a better future.
These are the two pillars on which I want to build the next chapter of this campaign, together with you.
Fellow Quebecers, let us aim higher so that every child can grow up with health and hope. Together, in solidarity, we will make it happen.
Frédéric Martel
Father of three and Chair of the Board, CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
