07 Jul Doug Allan Appointed as Board Chair of the Sunshine Coast Foundation

We are happy to announce the appointment of J. Douglas (Doug) Allan as the Chair of the Sunshine Coast Foundation’s Board of Directors following our Annual General Meeting held on June 5, 2023. He takes over the role from Manjit Kang, who has completed his three-year term as Board Chair and expressed his support for the change in leadership.

“It has been my distinct privilege to be involved with the Sunshine Coast Foundation,” said Kang. “Particularly to work with an engaged and spirited Board and a team of staff who remain dedicated to connecting our caring community with causes that make a difference. I am honoured to have served in the capacity of Board Chair for the past three years, and I am very pleased to have Doug assume the role. The Foundation is in good hands.” Manjit has dedicated more than six years on our Board and will continue to volunteer his time as a member of the Foundation’s Investment & Oversight Committee.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, and a long-time resident of the North Shore, Doug settled on the Sunshine Coast in 2017 following a career in local government and management consulting that spanned over 40 years. Having worked with various community groups throughout his professional life, Doug was eager to devote his time, energy, and passion into making the Coast a better place for all its residents. Prior to joining the Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2020, Doug spent two terms as the Board Vice President for Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society, a bereavement support group that established Camp Kerry, Canada’s first family grief retreat program.

“Against the backdrop of climate change, exceptionally high prices for food and shelter, and the continued ramifications of COVID, I think the Sunshine Coast community will continue to face some difficult challenges going forward,” said Allan. “I believe the Foundation is uniquely positioned to assist with helping people recover and rebuild through initiatives like our Responsive Community Grants program and the recent Community Services Recovery Fund, which provide much-needed support to a diverse range of local programs and charitable organizations.”

Allan added, “It is an honour to be given the opportunity to serve as Board Chair of the Sunshine Coast Foundation, and I would like to thank Manjit for his insightful and steadfast leadership.  He’s left some big shoes to fill.”

We are also pleased to welcome newly appointed Board Director, Elizabeth Doucette. Originally from Vancouver, Elizabeth holds a Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh and works for the Sunshine Coast Credit Union.  She also lends her time to other local charities, including the Sunshine Coast branch of the BC SPCA and the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. You can find Elizabeth’s full biography, along with the other Board members, here.

Executive Director Erin Storey commented that the work of the Sunshine Coast Foundation would not be possible without a dedicated group volunteers who participate on the various Committees, including the current nine-member Board of Directors.

“We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented group of volunteers who are generous with their time and fully committed to our vision of creating a vibrant and healthy community where everyone belongs. Our people are truly the backbone of our organization, and I am honoured to be working alongside them as we advance our mission of supporting charities across the Sunshine Coast.”

Storey also noted, “This is a very exciting year for us because it marks the Foundation’s 20^th Anniversary. What started as an exploratory idea among a handful of community members in the spring of 2002, led to our incorporation in 2003 and, through the receipt of our inaugural donation of $100,000, the establishment of our very first endowment in 2004. Since then, the Sunshine Coast Foundation has blossomed into a full-fledged community foundation stewarding 79 permanently invested funds with nearly $9 million in assets and having granted out $2.8 million into the local Sunshine Coast community. I am inspired by what has been accomplished over the last two decades and I look forward to continuing the great work that’s already in motion at the Sunshine Coast Foundation.”