“I give from the heart, but I also think about impact – on the organizations I support, the people they help, and the broader community,” says J. Sebastian van Berkom. “That’s why the JGH is a perfect fit for me.” 
His father was cared for at the Hospital decades ago, and back then, the commitment of staff members made an impression on him. When Mr. van Berkom recently learned about the Hospital’s Command Centre from Foundation CEO Bram Freedman, he knew he had to be part of it. The Command Centre is an innovative hub designed to improve hospital efficiency and patient care through digital technology.
Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Command Centre was the first of its kind in Canada to use real-time data and predictive software to manage patient flow and reduce wait times throughout the healthcare network. Mr. van Berkom saw its potential right away.
“Ultimately, the Command Centre is about trying to pinpoint and fix the bottlenecks that cause patients to get stuck in the system,” he says. “If more hospitals adopt this model, sharing technology and best practices, it could change healthcare not just here but around the world.”
In addition to the Command Centre, Mr. van Berkom also supports the JGH’s Virtual Care Program, which allows certain eligible patients to be followed remotely in the comfort of their own homes. He believes virtual care can be part of making the healthcare system more flexible and accessible.
Family roots and career path
Mr. van Berkom’s commitment to giving is rooted in a life shaped by resilience and creativity. His father, a skilled artist and musician, brought the family from Holland to Canada when he was a young child. They settled into a modest life with his six siblings, where his father worked as a commercial artist to support the family. At the time, philanthropy wasn’t financially possible.
That was destined to change for Mr. van Berkom. His investment career began in 1971 at the Bell Canada Pension Fund. In 1991, he acted on his entrepreneurial instincts and founded his own successful investment management firm. In 2021, he stepped down as President to focus on his philanthropic goals.
Giving widely with heart and vision
Mr. van Berkom has also supported Concordia and McGill University, funding programs that equip students with real-world skills in investment management. He’s a generous donor to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and the Montreal Neurological Institute, where his family members received care. And through his support of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, he’s helping keep culture accessible to all.
These are just a few of the organizations Mr. van Berkom passionately supports. Today, Mr. van Berkom continues to give not only with his heart, but with intention.
“It’s not just about the numbers or the causes – it’s about the people whose lives we can touch and improve,” he says.
There’s no doubt that lives are being improved with his donation to the JGH. At the Hospital, healthcare staff have better tools to make decisions, and virtual care patients have the tools they need to recover in their own homes with careful monitoring.
Mr. van Berkom’s story shows what’s possible when generosity is paired with purpose: real change, real progress, and more tomorrows for patients at the JGH and beyond.