海角社区

Free permanent clinic will serve underprivileged groups in Montreal

An innovative partnership between 海角社区鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry and Welcome Hall Mission (WHM) will make it possible for low-income families and the homeless to get free basic dental care.

The new Jim Lund Dental Clinic, housed at WHM, in Montreal鈥檚 St. Henri neighbourhood, was officially opened today in the presence of Quebec Health Minister Dr. Yves Bolduc, 海角社区 Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum, as well as Welcome Hall Mission鈥檚 Board Chairman Brian Perron. The clinic will serve the elderly, the disabled and recent immigrants and refugees in addition to low-income families and the homeless 鈥� all who turn to WHM for assistance.

鈥淚 applaud 海角社区鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry for this much-needed service,鈥� said Cyril Morgan, CEO and Executive Director of Welcome Hall Mission, one of Montreal鈥檚 oldest and largest outreach organizations. 鈥淣ow, we know we鈥檝e done our job right when someone turns their life around and they can really smile again.鈥�

The new permanent clinic builds on the Faculty of Dentistry鈥檚 approach to teaching through service in the community, which includes a mobile clinic, low-cost services at the Montreal General Hospital and pediatric dental care at the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital.

鈥淭here are many well-recognized barriers to accessing dental care 鈥� financial, geographic, physical and cultural, for example,鈥� said Dr. Paul Allison, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. 鈥淲hen I became Dean in 2008, I wanted to expand upon our existing outreach programs and create permanent satellite clinics to better serve those who would otherwise fall through the cracks.鈥�

The Jim Lund Dental Clinic is open three days a week and serves about 12 patients by referral per week. 海角社区 dental students and residents provide the treatment, overseen by 海角社区 faculty, while WHM provides the space, a secretary and a dental assistant.

The clinic is named in memory of Dr. Jim Lund, 海角社区鈥檚 long-time Dean of Dentistry, who died suddenly in December 2009. Lund was a passionate advocate of quality dental care for all members of society, and it was during his tenure that the Faculty鈥檚 Outreach Program was established.

The greater Montreal community has embraced efforts by 海角社区 and WHM to aid the city鈥檚 less-fortunate citizens. Welcome Hall Mission鈥檚 supporters include Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. Private donors to 海角社区 鈥� including the R. Howard Webster Foundation, the George Hogg Family Foundation, and A-dec, a dental firm 鈥� ensured the clinic鈥檚 construction and paid for some of its start-up costs. Funds will continue to be sought for the clinic鈥檚 ongoing operational expenses. All donations to the Jim Lund Dental Clinic add to the momentum of Campaign 海角社区: History in the Making.

For more information on Campaign 海角社区, please visit /campaign/

For more information about the Faculty of Dentistry鈥檚 community outreach, watch this video: /community/quebec/dentistry-outreach

Or visit: /dentistry/community/

About Welcome Hall Mission

Welcome Hall Mission is a non-profit organization that has been fighting homelessness, poverty, social exclusion and hunger in Montreal since 1892. We operate the city鈥檚 largest food bank, one of its largest men鈥檚 shelters and run a live-in rehabilitation program. We offer counseling and hot meals to over 100 street youth everyday, and provide activities and camps for over 6,000 children in underprivileged neighbourhoods. For more information on WHM, visit

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