MONTREAL, May 4 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - For many years she was closely associated with the numerous endeavours of her late husband David M. Stewart, with whom she established the Macdonald Stewart Foundation in 1973. Her leadership, interest in and commitment to culture, Canadian heritage, medicine, education, international cooperation and youth have enabled the creation and success of many significant projects.
In addition to supporting many museums and cultural organizations, Mrs Stewart left her mark as president of two museums : the Stewart Museum and the Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts. Dedicated to the early history of Canada and the great discoveries, the Stewart Museum at the Fort on Île Sainte-Hélène has assembled a unique collection of rare books, maps, globes, navigational and scientific instruments, which allowed the museum to organize major international exhibitions and publish award winning catalogues. The museum is also known for its pioneering animation program with the Compagnie Franche de la Marine and the Old 78th Fraser Highlanders. The Stewart Museum is now joined with the Mc Cord Museum in order to establish a major museum of Canadian history, the Mc Cord-Stewart Museum .
The Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts gathered one of the most remarkable collections of twentieth century international design and decorative arts. This collection was given to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 2000, one of the largest donations in the history of this institution. In 2001, she instituted The Liliane and David M. Stewart Program for Modern Design to enhance the Stewart Collection through acquisitions, travelling exhibitions and the publication of catalogues.
Many universities have benefited from her stewardship and she has been unwavering in her support of agricultural and environmental sciences at Macdonald College. In the field of medicine, she equipped several hospitals with state of the art technology. She was also very active in the development of cytology and cancer research.
Her philanthropy has extended beyond North America, building links between Canada and other countries. In France, she participated in the acquisition and restoration of the Jacques Cartier manor house in St-Malo, Brittany, today a museum of remembrance dedicated to this illustrious navigator. In Brouage, birth place of Samuel de Champlain, with the cooperation of Canadian municipal and provincial authorities, she played a major role in the restoration of the local church with the presentation of stained glass windows to celebrate the memory and legacy of this great explorer.
In recognition of her many achievements, Mrs Stewart has received in Canada and abroad numerous decorations and awards, including being named Officer of the Order of Canada and Officier de l'Ordre national du Québec and Officier de la Légion d'Honneur.
Liliane Stewart was Governor Emeritus of McGill University, Life Governor and President of the Board of Trustees of the Château Ramezay Museum, Life
Governor of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association, Colonel Emeritus of the Queen's York Rangers, and Honorary member of the Société des Musées québécois,
Image with caption: "Liliane M. Stewart, President of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation, died in Montreal on May the 3rd at the age of 85. (CNW Group/Macdonald Stewart Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140504_C1312_PHOTO_EN_2039.jpg
SOURCE: Macdonald Stewart Foundation
Guy Ducharme, 514 284-0723 local 229
Share this article