When we’re not busy ensuring commercial buildings across Quebec, Laval, and Montreal stay warm in winter and cool in summer, we at SMP LeBlanc are passionate about extending our mission of comfort and safety beyond our borders. For us, comfort isn’t just about temperature – it’s about creating safe, healthy spaces for everyone, everywhere.

That’s why in 2024, we took our mission beyond HVAC, beyond Canada, and straight to the heart of a community in need. As a Gold Sponsor of PRÉCI 2024 (Programme de Regroupement Étudiant pour la Coopération Internationale), we proudly played a role in the construction of a lifesaving maternity center in Gasiza, Rwanda – a remote region where expectant mothers had to walk for over 4.5 hours to access the nearest healthcare facility.

The Crisis That Called for Action: Why Gasiza Needed Help

For most of us, the idea of a hospital being four and a half hours away by foot, over rugged mountain terrain, is hard to comprehend. But for over 50 pregnant women every month in Gasiza, this was their reality. 

More than 80% never made it in time and were subsequently forced to give birth on the roadside, without medical support or proper sanitation, and often alone. So, as you would expect, this led to skyrocketing maternal and infant mortality rates. What should be one of the most joyous moments in life often became a desperate, dangerous struggle for survival.

Something had to change.

The Solution: Building a Safe Haven for Mothers and Babies

PRÉCI 2024 – a student-led international cooperation initiative from the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Montreal – took on the challenge. This was their 30th philanthropic project: to build Gasiza’s first-ever maternity center, a place where women could safely give birth, receive medical attention, and access postpartum care.

We at SMP LeBlanc knew this was a cause worth standing behind. Our expertise is in creating optimal environments, and this project was an opportunity to do just that – on a global scale.

With $125,000 in funding needed, PRÉCI 2024 launched a massive fundraising campaign, gathering support from engineering firms, philanthropic organizations, and passionate businesses like ours. 

Our contribution helped cover construction materials, medical equipment, and essential infrastructure to ensure this center would not only be built but would stand strong for generations to come.

Celebrating a Milestone for Gasiza 

The maternity center was successfully completed in December 2024 and has already begun transforming lives. The first birth in the facility took place on December 17, 2024, a moment that confirmed just how urgent and necessary this project was.

On February 27, 2025, a special event took place to officially celebrate the impact of this achievement, recognizing the hard work of PRÉCI 2024, the dedication of the local community, and the contributions of sponsors.

The maternity center now stands as a beacon of hope in Gasiza (Rwanda), featuring:

• Modern consultation rooms where expectant mothers receive prenatal care
• Safe, clean delivery rooms equipped with essential medical supplies
• An analysis laboratory
• Proper sanitary facilities with clean water access
• Comfortable waiting areas for families
• Staff offices for healthcare providers

Most importantly, the center is now operated by Fosacom, a local organization that provides a skilled midwife and ensures ongoing medical supplies – creating a sustainable healthcare solution that will serve generations to come.

Seeing the impact firsthand – the relief, the gratitude, the hope in the eyes of new mothers who no longer have to fear childbirth – is a powerful reminder that business success isn’t just about what we do. It’s also about how we give back.

Building on a Legacy of Community Support 

Our participation in the PRÉCI 2024 Rwanda project builds upon the program’s impressive 30-year history of student-led humanitarian initiatives. Recent projects have included building a primary school for Maasai children in Tanzania (2023) and rehabilitating a high school in Guinea (2022).

For us at SMP LeBlanc, this partnership aligned perfectly with our core values. Just as we bring expertise in creating optimal indoor environments throughout Quebec, we recognize the opportunity to help create a safe, comfortable environment for one of life’s most important moments – childbirth.

Moving Forward Together

The maternity center project is more than a charitable contribution – it’s a reminder that our expertise in creating comfortable, safe environments extends beyond business. It’s about human dignity, health, and well-being.

We invite our clients and partners to join us in celebrating this successful project and to consider how their own expertise might translate into global impact. As we continue providing top-tier HVAC solutions across Quebec, we remain committed to extending comfort and safety to communities both near and far.

If you’d like to learn more about PRÉCI and their ongoing humanitarian engineering projects, visit preci.etsmtl.ca.