The Funds of the West Vancouver Community Foundation

The West Vancouver Community Foundation is a local charitable foundation that was founded in 1979 by a group of West Vancouver residents who wanted to inspire and steward local philanthropy for local benefit.

In partnership with donors, more than $5 million has been granted to community projects and organizations since then. Our Vision is a healthy and vibrant West Vancouver where everyone is valued, contributes and feels they belong.

The Audrey Chiswell Kershaw Fund

Established in 2018 by the family of Audrey Kershaw, this permanent fund supports a wide range of charitable initiatives in West Vancouver. It provides a source of funding for programs that help young people develop the skills and confidence to live happy, healthy and productive lives in the community.

It also offers a scholarship to an eligible student who graduates from a public secondary school in West Vancouver and has completed a post-secondary education program in Canada. The recipient of this scholarship must be in good academic standing and show evidence of leadership and volunteerism in school and/or community service.

A natural leader and mentor, Audrey touched countless students and families throughout her life. She believed that the community should support and encourage youth, and her work made a difference in so many young people’s lives.

In memory of Trajan Martin, an adventurous and compassionate leader, a scholarship will be awarded annually to a North Shore student who demonstrates compassion, adventure, integrity and exuberance for life. The fund will also offer an annual award to a youth hockey player demonstrating dedication and passion for their sport.

The Daphne Nicholson Memorial Fund

The Daphne Nicholson Memorial Fund, established in 2015 by her husband John, will support health and wellness programs, grief counselling or programs for the bereaved. It also annually provides an award (minimum $250) to a post-secondary student who is a member of the West Vancouver Field Hockey Club.

The Foundation receives donations through the following methods: cash pledges, split-interest agreements and irrevocable trusts. Net assets include the net value of gifts received plus a net discounted value of pledges and split-interest agreements.

These gifts are invested using a range of asset classes in the West Vancouver Community Foundation’s Endowment Portfolio. Income from these investments is used to disburse funds to the Foundation’s designated grant recipients, as determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The Caring Community Fund supports a wide range of important charitable causes and ensures your gift is directed to the areas of greatest need based on the Foundation’s VitalSigns research and recommended by the WVF volunteer Community Grants Committee. It is especially focused on projects that address vulnerable and marginalized members of our community, such as youth and women, the environment, education and healthcare, as well as arts and culture.

The Donald Alexander Lanskail Walkway Fund

Created through a bequest from former West Vancouver Mayor Donald Alexander Lanskail, this fund supports the development of the walkway from Cleveland Dam down the Capilano River and along the West Vancouver waterfront to Dundarave Pier. This walkway will serve to connect communities of the Lower Mainland by serving vulnerable and marginalized members of the community, the environment, education, health and wellness, arts, culture and heritage.

Donations to this fund are directed to the areas of greatest need based on the West Vancouver Foundation’s VitalSigns research and recommended by the WVF volunteer Community Grants Committee. Priority will be given to projects that serve youth, low income seniors, animal welfare, environmental conservation and access to nature, healthcare and food security.

Donations made in memory of Michael Sharp and Caroline Helbig will be used to support environmental stewardship, and to provide financial assistance to youth hockey players in West Vancouver. Two memorial scholarships recognizing their outstanding contribution to the West Vancouver community are also being offered through this fund.

The Adine Mees and David Van Seters Family Fund

The Adine Mees and David Van Seters Family Fund of the West Vancouver Community Foundation supports a wide range of important charitable projects and programs. In particular, grants from this fund will be made in the areas of visual arts, environmental conservation and access to nature, and food security.

The fund was established in 2018 by Adine Mees, who grew up in West Vancouver and now serves as the WVF’s Chief Executive Officer. In her role as a WVF executive, she and her husband have become familiar with the community and its needs, and have made it their mission to give back to the place they call home.

The Caring Community Fund is a permanent fund which ensures your gift is directed to the areas of greatest need based on the West Vancouver Foundation’s VitalSigns research and recommended by the WVF volunteer community grant making committee. In addition, it is the largest and best known fund of its kind in our community. This fund is also the best way to contribute to the West Vancouver community and make a real difference in your own backyard, today and tomorrow.

The Caring Community Fund

The Caring Community Fund is the West Vancouver Foundation’s community giving program. It supports a wide range of important charitable causes that are directed to the areas of greatest need based on our VitalSigns research and recommendations by our volunteer Community Grants Committee.

The Fund also includes an annual North Shore COVID-19 Response Grant and a Neighbourhood Small Grants program. Donations to these funds help the Foundation continue to support a diverse and vibrant North Shore community where everyone is valued, contributes and feels they belong.

This fund was established by the family of Joshua Goos in 2008 to honour his life-long passion for youth. Income from the Joshua Goos Memorial Fund will support projects that support troubled youth and encourage young people to live life to the fullest.

This fund is also used for grants to Ocean Ambassadors Canada, an organization that connects and educates the public about marine pollution and ocean health, and inspires them to care for our ocean. It is also a source of funding for the PickUp3 North Shore campaign, which is encouraging people to pick up three pieces of garbage every time they visit a beach, body of water or trail.

The Ian and Rosemary Mottershead Fund

Established by long time West Vancouver residents and philanthropists Ian and Rosemary Mottershead, this fund supports a wide range of charitable causes. It is directed to the areas of greatest need based on the Foundation’s VitalSigns research and allocated by the volunteer Community Grants Committee.

The Ian and Rosemary Mottershead Fund will be used to fund projects that address issues of the greatest need in West Vancouver, particularly health, education, and the arts. The fund will also be used to support community members implementing innovative solutions to problems.

A recent example is the PickUp3 North Shore program that inspires people to pick up three pieces of rubbish when they are on a beach, waterway or trail. Thanks to the generosity of the community and the Ian and Rosemary Mottershead fund, this program will continue.

Another project that was funded through this fund is the Seniors’ Activity Centre’s meal program, which began as the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light a genuine need amongst West Vancouver’s most vulnerable seniors who did not have the financial means to access regular meals. Thanks to the efforts of the Community and an anonymous matching donor, this program will continue to provide much needed meals to vulnerable seniors for years to come!

The Cindy Dekker Education Fund

Outgoing West Vancouver Board of Education chair Cindy Dekker made a generous donation in 2014 to kickstart the school district’s newly established endowment fund. The money will be used to enhance opportunities for students.

The Community Foundation is a key partner in supporting the work of the West Vancouver School District and its schools. Trustees share concerns immediately with a focus on problem-solving, and work to ensure the public education story stays front and centre in West Vancouver.

In addition, the Foundation’s Community Grants Committee has been an active and valued resource for identifying and directing funds to areas of greatest need. In this way, the Foundation supports local projects that address a wide range of needs, from basic necessities to health and well-being to animal care and conservation.

The Foundation also administers Agency Funds, which are established by local nonprofits to support their charitable needs and provide them with a stable source of revenue at low cost. The Foundation’s management and stewardship of these assets frees the nonprofits and their boards of directors to focus on their mission.

The West Vancouver Artists’ Fund

The West Vancouver Artists’ Fund of the West Vancouver Community Foundation is an important source of support for the visual arts in West Vancouver. Income from the West Vancouver Artists’ Fund supports meritorious visual arts projects by artists living in West Vancouver that encourage creative opportunities, develop artistic talent, initiate new ideas, and advance art education within the community.

The Trustees of the West Vancouver Artists’ Fund would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported the fund through their donations. Their generosity will help ensure that the arts remain a vital part of life in West Vancouver for many years to come!

The West Vancouver Artists’ Fund was established in 2004 by Ross Penhall, a visual artist who lives in West Vancouver. Through his generous donations, the Trustees of the West Vancouver Artists’ Foundation hope to encourage the development and recognition of West Vancouver’s talented visual artists.