Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 26
After obtaining funding from the Montreal Jewish Community in April 1980 a full-time center
called the Cult Project was started. Its objectives were:
1. To prepare young people in particular to anticipate the techniques and practices of
cult recruitment.
2. To create amongst young people, parents, parent groups, professional and
community institutions, a consciousness to the ramification of membership in cults.
3. To reveal to the public the duplicity of cult propaganda, the hidden aims of various
cult groups and the damaging influences they can exert upon individuals, the family
and society.
4. To assist families who are affected by this problem.
5. To aid and assist ex-members of cults in their reintegration into society.
6. To develop a resource center of information in English and French on the subject.
This information to be available to the public.
7. To continue using volunteers as a resource to pursue our goal of educating the
public. This volunteer group which consists of parents who have been affected by
this problem and ex-members to also serve as a self-help group to assist others with
the same problem.
The center‘s contention was that not all cults were problematic hence, a distinction
between ―cults‖ and ―destructive cults‖ was made.
The center‘s activities included providing information programs to high schools, colleges,
universities, community centers, and professional organizations principally in and around
the Montreal region. These programs were geared towards sensitizing and educating the
community to the issue of destructive cults and the techniques of mind control.
A documentation center was made available to the public containing books, newspaper and
journal articles, and audio-visual materials. In the beginning, information focused on the
experiences of families and ex-members. However, it soon became apparent that the
collection must be diversified to include other perspectives.
During the first ten years, the majority of our clients were parents of cult members, ex-
members, students, and teachers. Contact with groups perceived as ―cults‖, ―destructive
cults‖, or those with opposing points of view was minimal.
During this period, funding for operating costs and specific projects was obtained from the
Montreal Jewish Community, different grants from the provincial and federal governments,
and individual donations.
In 1990 the Cult Project changed its name to Info-Cult (―Info-Secte‖ in French), moved out
of the structure of the Montreal Jewish Community, and became an independent non-
denominational, bilingual center run by a board of directors.
The objectives of Info-Cult are:
1. To promote the study of cultic phenomena
2. To sensitize, inform and educate the public to these phenomena
3. To assist those with problems related to these phenomena.
(Original in French: Règlement No. 1990-C 1) Promouvoir l‘étude des phénomènes
sectaires 2) Sensibiliser, informer et éduquer la population à ces phénomènes 3) Assister
les personnes vivant des difficultés reliées à ces phénomènes.)

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 27
Info-Cult‘s funding comes in the form of an annual grant from the Quebec Ministry of Health
and Social Services, discretionary funds from different Provincial Ministers, foundations,
private groups, and individual donations, as well as fees for certain services.
Info-Cult‘s clientele has greatly expanded through the years. Besides parents, ex-members,
students and teachers, clientele now includes members of different new religions,
academics, mental health professionals, attorneys, law enforcement, media and others.
From 1990 to 2003 Info-Cult has had numerous contacts and meetings with members and
representatives of ―cult‖ groups, spiritual organizations, and new religious movements.
Increasing interest and communication from academics with varying viewpoints has helped
to broaden Info-Cult‘s analysis and perspective on the issue.
Info-Cult is the only full-time organization of its kind in Canada. It houses a documentation
center that is one of the largest in the world with over 2,500 books, 9,000 files, academic
reports, journals, newsletters, government and legal documents and more than 1,200
programs on audio and video cassettes. The material is collected from sources around the
world and includes group-generated and critical literature.
From 1991 to 1996 the documentation center was open by appointment to all interested
parties. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, it is open on a restricted basis until such
time as a process of reopening to the public is considered feasible.
Info-Cult is widely regarded as a major source of information and assistance for dealing with
cults, new religions, Satanism, the Occult and other non-traditional and secretive groups.
With this reputation comes enormous responsibility to respond to individual and family
concerns in a nuanced and balanced way. Info-Cult avoids simplistic ―yes‖ or ―no‖ responses
to complex questions such as ―Is Group X a cult?‖ or ―Is the group my loved-one joined
dangerous?‖
Although Info-Cult has evolved over the years, certain positions on accessibility, kidnapping,
and legislation have remained constant:
 Info-Cult has always operated out of a known location and is easily reachable by
phone.
 Contrary to a popular belief concerning ―anti-cult‖ groups, Info-Cult has not
supported or assisted in the use of coercive measures to remove someone from a
group. In situations where Info-Cult has been asked about that option, we have
consistently counseled against it and have suggested non-coercive alternatives.
 Existing laws are sufficient in dealing with the multiple problems associated with
―cults‖ and cultic groups. See:
http://www.math.mcgill.ca/triples/infocult/RESPONSE.htm.
Examples for Controversy
Labeled as an ―anti-cult group,‖ Info-Cult has been the target of inaccuracies that hinder our
mandate, which is to serve the public and promote balanced discussion of the issues.
Selected examples are presented to illustrate this point:
Order of the Solar Temple (OTS)
Members of the OTS created a world-wide sensation with the death of fifty-three members
in Switzerland in October 1994, sixteen members in France in December 1995, and five
people in Quebec in March 1997 (see Mayer, 1999, for a scholarly analysis of the Solar
Temple deaths).