Stories

As part of VCF’s commitment to strengthening social enterprise, and in order to help vendors with their sales our social enterprise developer worked with Megaphone to develop a workshop that would give vendors some tools to better understand where their customers are coming from.

Open each winter season, Aunt Leah’s lots sell high-quality Christmas trees and accessories, including stands, wreaths, swags and greenery, across Metro Vancouver. The lots are run by a combination of employees and volunteers and also provides training and employment opportunities to at-risk youth.

At just 19 years old, youth in the BC foster care system “age out” of eligibility for services and supports and are assumed to become fully independent. The effects of this loss of support are devastating. Former youth in care are over represented in homelessness, poverty and the mental health and justice systems.

In 2017 the Kathi Fund reviewed its first round of applicants; solopreneur, Chelsey Allen, was selected as the Fund’s inaugural recipient. Chelsey is based on the Sunshine Coast, where she loves being part her vibrant ocean-side community and is inspired by the healing and nourishing power of the sea...

BC has had one of the highest poverty rates in Canada for the last 15 years. There are almost 600,000 people in our province desperately trying to make ends meet and keep their heads above water. The We Can’t Afford Poverty campaign is a community art-driven campaign to eradicate poverty from British Columbia, starting with raising social assistance rates.

Back in 2012, Central City Foundation approached Vancity and Vancity Community Foundation about financing the purchase of a building in New Westminster. Central City Foundation was interested in providing a low cost lease option to a local non-profit, Aunt Leah’s.

Together with Catalyst Community Developments Society, and Simon Fraser Society for Community Living (with SHARE Family and Community Services), St. Andrew’s United Church in Port Moody is pursuing a vision for a re-development of their existing Church property that will greatly benefit the Tri-Cities community.

Founded by West Coast LEAF and the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC and with a significant contribution from an anonymous donor, Rise Women’s Legal Centre is a full-service storefront family law legal clinic serving low income women in the Lower Mainland.

In 2006–2007, neighbours and community activists worked hard to preserve their much-loved Salsbury Garden, but were unable to save it from the pressures of development. Now, a decade later, a couple of those people have partnered with Vancity Community Foundation to create a Donor Advised Fund in the garden’s name.

The Centre is the only clinic in Vancouver with Indigenous doctors and provides access to traditional healers and a mental health counsellor. Earlier in 2016, the VanTel Safeway Credit Union Legacy Fund received an application from Lu’ma seeking funding to furnish patient examination rooms.

The Fresh to Families Project provides access to fresh, locally grown food for low income families, newly arrived refugees, and at-risk expectant mothers through its community partners at MOSAIC, Circles of Care & Connection, and VCH Healthiest Babies Possible.

When Peter Rodseth passed away in 2014, his network of friends in the Nechako Valley came together to support the family and celebrate Peter’s life. Together they learned so much about Peter, hearing about the lives he touched and how he mentored many young people.

There is growing public awareness and enthusiasm around building a sustainable local food and agriculture system in BC. By supporting the establishment of the Foodlands Cooperative and contributing to the acquisition of its first farm, we are helping lead the way to make foodland more accessible.

For the last quarter century, Vancity Community Foundation has been creating impact in a number of forward-thinking ways. One such example is by making Program Related Investments...

Loutet Farm came to fruition in a unique partnership between the North Shore Neighbourhood House, the City of North Vancouver, and the University of British Columbia. Designed to...