When Michel Poirier recently established the Fondation Famille André & Michel Poirier, he did so as a way of giving back to the community that has been part of his family’s story for generations. Through a gift of $250,000 to the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) Foundation, he is helping bring leading-edge cardiac and breast imaging services closer to home for local patients while honouring a legacy that began with his grandfather, René Carrière. The gift marks a new chapter in a story that spans three generations of entrepreneurship, community involvement, and now philanthropy.
Michel Poirier was the third-generation owner of Carrière & Poirier Equipment in Alfred, a company founded by his grandfather, René Carrière, and later built alongside his father, André Poirier. Following the recent sale of the business, Michel chose to establish a family foundation to continue giving back to the community that helped shape both his family and its success.
For Michel, the donation is rooted in gratitude. Gratitude for the community that supported the family business over the years. Gratitude for the care his family received at HGH, from the births of his two daughters to the cancer journeys of both his parents and his brother. And gratitude expressed through action.
“Our family has been fortunate to build a business here and raise our family here,” said Michel Poirier. “Over the years, we have also relied on HGH when we needed it most.
The donation is funding the acquisition of a new GE Vivid Pioneer echocardiography system and an advanced MRI breast coil, two important investments that will enhance HGH’s diagnostic capabilities and improve access to care for patients across the region.
“What resonates most about this gift is the spirit behind it,” said Erin Tabakman, Executive Director of the HGH Foundation. “Michel’s decision to invest in local healthcare is rooted in gratitude, community, and a desire to make a lasting difference for others.”
Michel and his spouse, Véronique, recently visited HGH to see the equipment firsthand and meet members of the healthcare team who will use this technology to improve the patient experience and support better health outcomes.
