Macdonald Stewart Foundation legacy
The story of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation begins with the legacy of Sir William C. Macdonald, an industrialist and philanthropist who left an indelible mark on the history of philanthropy in Canada. He set forth a long tradition of family patronage that would give rise over the years to the Macdonald Stewart Foundation.
It all began in Prince Edward Island where Sir William C. Macdonald was born in 1831. His grandfather, John, came from Scotland in 1772 leading the Glenaladale Macdonalds. After his first job in a Boston trading house where he learned the business, William moved to Montreal where he established, in 1858, what quickly became known as the Macdonald Tobacco Company. It specialized in the manufacture of chewing and pipe tobacco. While at the helm of the company, he was interested in various sectors of the community's activities. Convinced of the importance of education, he generously supported university education and schools dedicated to practical training. His donations to several academic chairs, for example, in medicine, architecture, law, and music; and the presence of buildings, including the Macdonald physics, engineering and chemistry buildings at McGill University and the Macdonald Agricultural College in Sainte-Anne de Bellevue, bear witness to his farsightedness even to this day.
Under his leadership, the company continued to prosper and before his death in 1917, Sir William turned over the company to his successor and confidant Walter M. Stewart. The latter would introduce fine cut tobacco known as "Export A". In addition to managing the company, he and his wife May continued the founder's philanthropic work with special support for hospitals. Their son, David M. Stewart, joined the company and upon the death of his father in 1968, became president of the company while continuing the family tradition of patronage.
In 1973, he sold the family business with the proceeds endowing the Macdonald Stewart Foundation. It was an opportunity for him and his wife Liliane, associated with all his interest, to pursue their philanthropic endeavours with a new vigour.
A Montrealer of Scottish origin, at an early age, David M. Stewart was made aware of social problems through the influence of his mother, a nurse with the Victorian Order of Nurses. In particular, she had participated in setting up the milk distribution program for underprivileged families in the Montreal area. The nature and scope of her activities would serve as a model and inspiration to his son to be always actively involved in promoting the growth, well-being and enlightenment of the community.
In his childhood, he collected many objects associated with military history and developed a real passion for the great explorers who came to found a new world in North America. He was proud of the origins of Canada, of the role of the two great European nations, France and England, which, together with the Aboriginal peoples, forged the uniqueness of his country's historical and cultural heritage.
Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to safeguard witnesses of our national heritage, especially the French origins of Canada and the settlement of the first Europeans in the St. Lawrence Valley. He had always dreamed of reviving the heroic exploits of the pioneers. He passionately believed that museums were the solemn custodian of this unique heritage.
He had a global view of history that was reflected in his various acquisitions. For him, it was not limited to facts, to specific and precise events, but embraced the whole of life.
His wife Liliane, of European origin, was nourished from her youth by the classical tradition in art and literature. This tradition strengthened her interest in aesthetics and artistic creation in various modes of expression. She lived for several years in Egypt and her studies at the Cairo International French Lycée gave her an enlightened notion of history by drawing on the Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilization. From the very beginning of her professional career, she was won over by the dynamism of North America. She moved to Montreal, a hub between Europe and America, and married David Stewart. Under their leadership, the Macdonald Stewart Foundation was established in 1973. Upon David Stewart's death in 1984, she took over the presidency of the Foundation in order to continue the work they had set out together. She held this position until her death in 2014.
David and Liliane Stewart had very much at heart the knowledge and appreciation of the history, customs and traditions of the military in Canada as an important legacy of our national heritage. One of their early thrusts was the establishment of the Stewart Museum as a military museum, followed by the reconstitution of two historical regiments, la Compagnie franche de la Marine and the 78th Fraser Highlanders. David Stewart served his country as a member of the Victoria Rifles of Canada and worked closely with a number of Regiments including the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, the Régiment de Maisonneuve and the Royal 22nd Regiment. From 1973 to his death in 1984 he was Honorary Colonel of the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) in Toronto. He was succeeded in this appointment by his wife Liliane until her passing in 2014. They felt that the understanding of Regimental history, the encouragement of soldiers and cadets and the welfare of veterans were a civic obligation.
To date, the Foundation's accomplishments reflect the shared commitment of its two founders, who have made tangible and lasting, but always discreet, contributions in fields as varied as the preservation and enhancement of historical and cultural heritage, education, medicine and community well-being. The many distinctions and awards they have received over the course of their lives are a testimony to the value of their many accomplishments.
David and Liliane Stewart have left a permanent imprint on the mission of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation. Since their departure, the Foundation has been chaired successively by a member of the Board of Directors. Its offices are housed in the Maison Forget, a Québec classified historical building acquired by the Foundation in 1974 and located at the heart of the Golden Square Mile.
For more information: Fong, William, Sir William C. Macdonald, A Biography, McGill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, 2007 and http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/macdonald_william_christopher_14F.html
It all began in Prince Edward Island where Sir William C. Macdonald was born in 1831. His grandfather, John, came from Scotland in 1772 leading the Glenaladale Macdonalds. After his first job in a Boston trading house where he learned the business, William moved to Montreal where he established, in 1858, what quickly became known as the Macdonald Tobacco Company. It specialized in the manufacture of chewing and pipe tobacco. While at the helm of the company, he was interested in various sectors of the community's activities. Convinced of the importance of education, he generously supported university education and schools dedicated to practical training. His donations to several academic chairs, for example, in medicine, architecture, law, and music; and the presence of buildings, including the Macdonald physics, engineering and chemistry buildings at McGill University and the Macdonald Agricultural College in Sainte-Anne de Bellevue, bear witness to his farsightedness even to this day.
Under his leadership, the company continued to prosper and before his death in 1917, Sir William turned over the company to his successor and confidant Walter M. Stewart. The latter would introduce fine cut tobacco known as "Export A". In addition to managing the company, he and his wife May continued the founder's philanthropic work with special support for hospitals. Their son, David M. Stewart, joined the company and upon the death of his father in 1968, became president of the company while continuing the family tradition of patronage.
In 1973, he sold the family business with the proceeds endowing the Macdonald Stewart Foundation. It was an opportunity for him and his wife Liliane, associated with all his interest, to pursue their philanthropic endeavours with a new vigour.
A Montrealer of Scottish origin, at an early age, David M. Stewart was made aware of social problems through the influence of his mother, a nurse with the Victorian Order of Nurses. In particular, she had participated in setting up the milk distribution program for underprivileged families in the Montreal area. The nature and scope of her activities would serve as a model and inspiration to his son to be always actively involved in promoting the growth, well-being and enlightenment of the community.
In his childhood, he collected many objects associated with military history and developed a real passion for the great explorers who came to found a new world in North America. He was proud of the origins of Canada, of the role of the two great European nations, France and England, which, together with the Aboriginal peoples, forged the uniqueness of his country's historical and cultural heritage.
Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to safeguard witnesses of our national heritage, especially the French origins of Canada and the settlement of the first Europeans in the St. Lawrence Valley. He had always dreamed of reviving the heroic exploits of the pioneers. He passionately believed that museums were the solemn custodian of this unique heritage.
He had a global view of history that was reflected in his various acquisitions. For him, it was not limited to facts, to specific and precise events, but embraced the whole of life.
His wife Liliane, of European origin, was nourished from her youth by the classical tradition in art and literature. This tradition strengthened her interest in aesthetics and artistic creation in various modes of expression. She lived for several years in Egypt and her studies at the Cairo International French Lycée gave her an enlightened notion of history by drawing on the Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilization. From the very beginning of her professional career, she was won over by the dynamism of North America. She moved to Montreal, a hub between Europe and America, and married David Stewart. Under their leadership, the Macdonald Stewart Foundation was established in 1973. Upon David Stewart's death in 1984, she took over the presidency of the Foundation in order to continue the work they had set out together. She held this position until her death in 2014.
David and Liliane Stewart had very much at heart the knowledge and appreciation of the history, customs and traditions of the military in Canada as an important legacy of our national heritage. One of their early thrusts was the establishment of the Stewart Museum as a military museum, followed by the reconstitution of two historical regiments, la Compagnie franche de la Marine and the 78th Fraser Highlanders. David Stewart served his country as a member of the Victoria Rifles of Canada and worked closely with a number of Regiments including the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, the Régiment de Maisonneuve and the Royal 22nd Regiment. From 1973 to his death in 1984 he was Honorary Colonel of the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) in Toronto. He was succeeded in this appointment by his wife Liliane until her passing in 2014. They felt that the understanding of Regimental history, the encouragement of soldiers and cadets and the welfare of veterans were a civic obligation.
To date, the Foundation's accomplishments reflect the shared commitment of its two founders, who have made tangible and lasting, but always discreet, contributions in fields as varied as the preservation and enhancement of historical and cultural heritage, education, medicine and community well-being. The many distinctions and awards they have received over the course of their lives are a testimony to the value of their many accomplishments.
David and Liliane Stewart have left a permanent imprint on the mission of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation. Since their departure, the Foundation has been chaired successively by a member of the Board of Directors. Its offices are housed in the Maison Forget, a Québec classified historical building acquired by the Foundation in 1974 and located at the heart of the Golden Square Mile.
For more information: Fong, William, Sir William C. Macdonald, A Biography, McGill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, 2007 and http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/macdonald_william_christopher_14F.html