At Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, partnerships are central to our work. We work with individuals, donors, park associations, park staff and many others.
Since 2000, we have witnessed the power of partnerships and the value in working together. There are many players that work to protect, conserve and enhance our regional parks for future generations. We can’t help but get excited when all of these players come together for one common goal: to love our community’s regional parks.
These individuals continue to strengthen our communities and ignite change by helping us execute projects that will benefit nature, wildlife and park users within their communities. From protecting endangered frogs to planting native trees, our partners work with the Foundation to bring projects in the regional parks to fruition.
Ongoing Relationships
Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Metro Vancouver’s core utility services include drinking water, sewage treatment, and solid waste management, along with regional services like regional parks, affordable housing, regional land use planning and air quality and climate action that help keep the region one of the most livable in the world.
Regional parks contribute to a livable and resilient region by protecting natural areas and connecting people to nature. They enhance the quality of life of all residents and provide opportunities to experience nature.
The natural areas protected in regional parks provide wide-ranging benefits (known as ecosystem services) to the region including human health and well-being , support for biodiversity, carbon storage, and increased resilience to climate impacts.
Not only do we have the pleasure of sharing an office with CTS Youth Society, we also share the same vision to connect every youth in Metro Vancouver with nature. Often referred to as our “sister organization,” MVRP Foundation supports CTS Youth Society on an annual basis and enables CTS to provide amazing FREE summer camps to children all over the Lower-Mainland. Your support is essential for us to help the youth in our communities develop important leadership skills as-well-as giving them great opportunities to love and appreciate the nature around us!
Every Earth Day, MVRP Foundation partners with The Reel Green™ at Creative BC team to host the REEL Earth Day Challenge. The REEL Earth Day Challenge is a #BCFilm industry fundraiser competition to raise money for the environment and enhance the local community. With venues ranging from pristine wilderness to immaculate heritage homes only a short distance from the city centre, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks has some of the Lower Mainland’s premier filming, production, and adventure locations. This 10 day fundraising event is a chance for the BC Film industry to give back to those beautiful natural spaces and the community that surrounds them.
Park Associations
The Foundation works with six park associations that support our efforts in a variety of ways, proving time and time again that they are a key pillar to our success in the regional parks system, increasing the impact of every dollar we raise.
Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation works with Park Partners on many projects and programs each year. Donations to Park Partners’ fundraising pages support this cooperative work to:
- Protect important wildlife habitats;
- Enhance and grow park facilities and infrastructure;
- Inspire youth to connect with nature;
- Build a strong future for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
Burnaby Lake Park Association (BLPA) is the catalyst that ensures Burnaby Lake Regional Park is a legacy for future generations. BLPA works improving native biodiversity, increasing public awareness, building a broad community respects and cares for the park, and ensuring people of all abilities can enjoy being in nature in the Park.
Colony Farm Park Association (CFPA) works in ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park (formerly known as Colony Farm Regional Park) in a manner that respects the environment, the wishes of the general community and the principles of the area’s land use plan which recognizes wildlife values, passive recreation, and agriculture.
Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association (DRBIPA) is a nonprofit society providing the community with opportunities to preserve, protect and enhance the natural environment of Derby Reach and Brae Island Regional Parks in Fort Langley, BC through education events, community involvement, and land preservation opportunities.
Kanaka Education & Environmental Partnership Society (KEEPS) works to maintain the health of the Kanaka Creek watershed’s natural ecosystem in Kanaka Creek Regional Park through education, community involvement, scientific research, land preservation, and partnerships based on stewardship principles.
Minnekhada Park Association (MPA) works to preserve, protect and enhance the natural environment of Minnekhada Regional Park, while advocating respect, appreciation and enjoyment of the Park’s natural and historic attributes as well as recreation resources.
Pacific Spirit Park Society (PSPS) is a non-profit society that holds a vision of an urban forest and foreshore park that is protected and cared for in perpetuity, for the benefit of all. They focus on ecological restoration, data collection, monitoring, and environmental education, empowering community members through skills development and stewardship training in Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
Additional Park Partners
CTS Youth Society is a non-profit organization that aims to connect every youth in Metro Vancouver with their natural environment, their community, and each other through life-changing outdoor experiences. For youth and by youth, CTS provides free and accessible community education through environmental stewardship, leadership programs, and public service.
Stream of Dreams is an eco-education program that teaches entire schools and their communities about their local watershed, streams, rivers, and the ocean. They promote behavioural change to conserve and protect water, empower youth to make positive environmental impacts, and create a community art legacy.
Vancouver Avian Research Centre is a charity dedicated to wild bird research, conservation and education. Using birds as its focus, VARC’s mission is to nurture nature’s recovery through the provision of scientific data, action-driven education and conservation tools.
Visionaries
The Foundation relies on the generosity of our donors; their overwhelming support make all of the park protection, projects and programs possible. Our work is made possible by the many businesses and individuals who are making an investment in Metro Vancouver’s backyard. Our community is stronger because of individuals that truly believe in the importance of protecting natural spaces. We would like to extend our thanks to the following regional parks visionaries:
The Dr. M. Wosk Environmental Leadership Award was established by the Foundation for the development of youth leadership in 2006. The leadership fund is used to engage, train and empower today’s youth with the skills necessary for the future sustainability of our spectacular city and regional parks.
Participants will have training in ecological issues and environmental preservation as well as the organizational and communication skills necessary to make a profound difference. The impact of their work will be felt by all as they grow to become the leaders of the future.
“With one inspired leader there is the potential of attracting a thousand or more participants. Without those exceptional leaders, thousands of people may never get involved.” – Dr. Mordehai Wosk
The Dr. M. Wosk awards are open to students and individuals in the Metro Vancouver regional parks area. The value of each award ranges from $250 to $1,000 annually.
All applications and nominations are reviewed by the Foundation’s Environmental Leadership Selection Committee and they determine the number of recipients and the value of each of the awards presented annually.
George Ross loved trees and walking along the forested trails of our regional parks.
He lived for many years in Burnaby and treasured his time outdoors. He wanted to express his deep love for our regional parks by leaving a gift in his will. George was a true visionary for our parks.
When George Ross passed away, he left an extraordinary legacy for future generations. George’s $2.8 million bequest in his will is a gift that will just keep on giving for many years to come.
So far the funds have been used to:
- complete the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Centre, making a long-time community dream a reality;
- create the George Ross Learning Room, a multi-purpose classroom at Kanaka Creek, where tens of thousands of children and adults will learn about salmon, the habitats that they depend on, and how we can care for them;
- endow the George Ross Legacy Stewardship Program, administered by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation. The annual interest from this endowment – $50,000 to $60,000 a year – funds hands-on stewardship activities by our park partners and provides opportunities for citizen stewardship.
“[Mr. Ross] loved to enjoy many of the natural features of our regional parks system,” said Metro Vancouver Board Chair Greg Moore. “When we were informed of this donation we were just blown away by the generosity, how far it can go, and what it can do.”
“George Ross’s generous bequest is allowing our Foundation to leverage funds from the generated interest for years to come to create lasting projects and initiatives in the regional parks system,” said David Pohl, Past President of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation.
Gordon Smith was dedicated to serving people and the environment and was one of the finest people many of us ever met. He was passionate about stream and wetland stewardship and very active in conservation projects in Aldergrove and Delta.
To inspire others to follow his path, his friends and colleagues have initiated the “Gordon Smith Youth Environmental Stewardship Award”. This endowment fund provides an annual bursary to a student for his/her contribution to conservation in the region.
To continue Gordon’s legacy, a group of his colleagues and friends came together after his death to create the Gordon Smith Environmental Youth Endowment Fund. Supported by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, the Parks Partnership and private donors the fund is administered through the Foundation.
The fund allows a modest bursary in Gordon’s name to be awarded each year at the annual Metro Vancouver Regional Parks’ Celebrating Partnerships event which is normally held in March. The award is open to any youth in the Region who has shown a passion for involvement in the environment and who intends to pursue post-secondary education in an environmental field. Those of us who knew Gordon or had the opportunity to work with him are content in the knowledge that he would be pleased to see his passion and inspiration being passed on to the youth of the Region through this award.
Camosun Bog, a beautiful bog full of sphagnum moss and diverse life, was once almost lost to us. Drainage changes from urbanization in the region and the dumping of construction fill in the area nearly destroyed the millenia-old bog. Luckily, Camosun Bog was saved, thanks in large part to the Legendary “Crazy Boggers” of Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
In 1992, the Camosun Bog Restoration Group was formed, led by four Legendary members, known as “Crazy Boggers”: Laurence Brown, Gerry Mignault, Denis Underhill, and Brian Woodcock. Together with many individuals, volunteer groups, and other organizations, the “Crazy Boggers” have worked to remove invasive species, protect habitat, and enhance access and nature education for everyone in Camosun Bog for more than thirty years.
In 2022, The Legendary “Crazy Boggers” Fund was established at Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation to honour the remarkable contributions, lasting friendships and the enduring legacy of the four Legendary “Crazy Boggers”. Funds raised will support projects and programs in Camosun Bog and other regional parks for years to come.