History of Central Okanagan Foundation
By Frank Williams, February 24, 1999 

Like any history, this is a story about people – the people in this story have the common quality of caring about the needs of residents of their community, in perpetuity.

The Social Planning Council of Kelowna recognized in the early 1970’s that there was a shortage of funding to help address the needs that their inquiries exposed. A three-person committee was formed comprising of Ish Holmes, the President, Lionel Wace, the originator of the idea of a foundation, and Frank Williams.

The three-man committee first approached Jake Peters, their friend, a local Alderman, and a person who was known to support worthy causes. When the idea was shared with Jake, the three were astounded to have him so readily agree to contribute the first $5,000 with Naramata Centre as the beneficiary.

The Committee concluded that a “pool” of funds was essential with the use of as much of the income as possible left to the discretion of the Directors of the new foundation for allocation. Dick Stewart, also an Alderman, and member of a long established Kelowna family, agreed over breakfast to establish a family fund and to give leadership and vital assistance in the raising of the “pool” of funds. Dick was to become the first President and served as such for the first nine formative years till 1986, by which time the assets had grown to $537,297.

The original target was to encourage ten families to contribute $5,000 each over a period of no more than five years. The personal interviews that led to 16 positive responses were not only for funds but also were for interest in serving as founding Directors. Again, the Committee was pleasantly surprised at the support lawyer Ross Mollard, a friend of Ish Holmes, agreed to incorporate the new society on January 31, 1977. The sixteen founders were:

Honourable W.A.C. Bennett & Family Capozzi Family
Carruthers Family & Meikle Family Ephriam Arthur Day Family
Kelowna General Hospital Society D.G. McConachie Family
L.E. Marshall Family M. Jake Peters
Aubrey Roy Pollard Family Camillo Rampone Family
Jack & Helen Serwa S.M. Simpson Family
J. Bruce & Ann G. Smith Richard John Stewart Family
James H. Bannister & Madge Bannister Walden West Sunnyside Lands Ltd

Representatives of these Founders were the “core” of the working Board, some for as long as 21 years. Founding family members Dick Stewart and R.J. Bennett served as President. A review of the current funds reveals that many have added substantially to the original $5,000 fund.

From the outset, the under-noted quotation has been the guiding principle of the Foundation’s activities:

            “In all these ways will be bequeath our City, not diminished, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was bequeathed to us.”

Excerpt from the Oath taken by the defenders of ancient Athens as quoted by Lycurgus.

Lionel Wace served the Foundation during its first twenty years, acting as the first Executive Secretary for 18 years with remuneration of $100 per month, which amounted to about $1 per hour for many of the months. The Directors recognized that to be a “community” foundation, the many vital charitable organizations serving the community would need to “buy into” the placing of endowment funds in a single “storehouse” and the encouraging of their supporters to do the same. Lionel successfully encouraged this expansion as well as being the ears, eyes and hands for the “grant making” committee.

The first bequeath was received from the Estate of the late J.H. Hughes in 1980. A large bequest of $50,000 was received from the Estate of the late H.R. Fee and the first memorial fund was established upon the death of the late Honourable W.A.C. Bennett in 1979.

In 1981 the young foundation was bold enough to convene a conference for 14 public and private foundations to discuss common initiatives and successes. Even back then the collective assets of this group exceeded $300 million.

In 1983 the donation of an interest in an oil well in Alberta was received. The estimated market value of these assets was $30,000 so a receipt was issued. Over the next 15 years royalty income of $180,878 from this source was received and $50,000 was set aside as an endowment fund. The remaining dollars were distributed as grants at the discretion of the Directors. Without this substantial discretionary income the Parks & Wildlife Trust (referred to below) likely would never have been established. A writing contest to encourage young writers was established and many other charities received important support from this one gift.

Rutherford Bazett was a strong supporter of the Foundation, supplying secretarial services and office space without charge and reduced audit fees. Liz Heier was particularly helpful and three retired partners served as Directors and Officers at different times.

Ron Fowler, Manager of Royal Trust, was the first Secretary/Treasurer. Royal Trust provided banking services for a number of years and in 1983 established the first fund to help defray administrative expenses. During the first decade, J. Bruce Smith and Horace Simpson provided guidance and added credibility to investment practices and policies. With the assistance of Ted Dodd of Odlum Brown, they assembled a portfolio of high grade bonds that still provided good income and balance to the current portfolio.

The first $100,000 funds was established by Okanagan Neurological Association in 1987, followed shortly thereafter by such funds as Okanagan University College and Central Okanagan Bursary & Scholarship Society.

Jamie Browne succeeded R.J. as President in 1992 and took on several initiatives. During his term, a community celebration was held to celebrate the granting of a million dollars without diminishing capital. During Jamie’s five-year term the assets grew from $450,000 to $1,800,000. Jamie provided direction in marshalling funds that would defray operating expenses so that Janice Henry could be hired as Executive Secretary in January 1995 and a separate office was donated and set up in the premises of Pushor Mitchell. The eleven contributors of $10,000 each to the President’s Circle (funds used to defray costs) were:

Rutherford Bazett Pushor Mitchell Capozzi Family
Jack Newsom Dick Stewart Jamie Browne
Ron & Priscilla Russell J. Bruce & Ann Smith R.J. Bennett
Whillis Harding Insurance Gordon Geddes Family  

The Board became aware that gifts of property, to be held in perpetuity as sanctuaries, were both desirable and possible, but COF could not receive and hold real estate unless it was revenue producing. By setting aside $5,000 of discretionary grants money over five years, the COF challenged the City and Regional District to match these funds for the establishment of a separate society to meet this need. In 1991 the Central Okanagan Parks & Wildlife Trust was incorporated with assets of nearly $60,000 to commence the important task of preservation of sanctuaries and parks. This society has received significant gifts as anticipated by COF and has many accomplishments in its own right.

The Community Foundations “movement” in Canada has been eminently successful with its own national organization. In 1998 there were 80 foundations in Canada with combined assets of over a billion dollars. In 1977 when COF was established it was the 13th community foundation in Canada. COF can take some credit for this phenomenal increase in philanthropy through its example and through the assistance afforded prospective foundations, primarily through Lionel Wace.