Dr Allan Carswell
Dr. Allan Carswell is the founder and president of the Carswell Family Foundation supporting community work in education and healthcare. He has served as a board member of several research institutes, charitable, and industrial corporations.
In 1974 Dr. Allan and Helen Carswell launched Optech Incorporated which grew to 300 employees serving global markets from its location in Toronto, Belgium, and the United States. In 2015 Optech was purchased by Teledyne Technologies Incorporated and continues today as Teledyne Optech, playing an ever-leading role in the international provision of advanced laser systems.
Guiding Principles
Carswell Family Foundation
The Carswell Family Foundation (CFF) is focused on supporting charitable activities in the sectors of Education and HealthCare.
Our Goal
The goal of CFF is To Make a Difference, and this is difficult to do since both are multi-billion-dollar economic sectors. Thus, CFF has to choose our projects with extreme care if our support is to have any significant impact.
To focus CFF support as close to the “front line” as possible.
To support our projects typically for time durations of 3 years or less.
To augment our funds as much as possible by matching them in cash or in kind from other sources.
The choice of CFF projects is ours alone.
Highlights of Our Work

Celebration recognizes new Carswell Scholars, gives thanks to Carswell Family Foundation
A new group of graduate students from the Faculty of Science and Lassonde School of Engineering are inspired to push the limits of their research thanks to The Carswell Family Foundation.

Carswell Family Foundation gift opens new D.A.Y program spots
Thanks to the Carswell Family Foundation, 10 more York Region families will have access to the Alzheimer Society of York Region’s (AS York) D.A.Y programs.

From our archives - Local Article June 11 2001
Former Nurse Helen Carswell wrote out a $1 Million prescription yesterday for the hospital she once called home.