The year 2015 brought growth and change to the Foundation. In June, Carol Biely stepped down as Chair after many years of exemplary leadership, and I am honoured to be following her in that role. We added two new Board members who contribute valuable skills and experience. Along with Board changes, we bade farewell to Linda Frost, our Administrator, and welcomed Kisae Petersen as our first Operations Director. Kisae has quickly become an indispensable member of our team.

In late 2014 we leased an office at 158A Fulford Ganges Road, which has provided us with much-needed space for meetings and records storage and gives us a physical presence in the community for the first time.

The changes made during the past year are important and necessary investments in the Foundation’s capacity to serve islanders. As our funds grow, so do the demands on our largely volunteer-run organization. We are committed to strengthening the Foundation so that we can better meet the increasing needs of our community in the future.

While 2015 brought many exciting steps forward, it was also a challenging year. Like most Canadians, the Foundation experienced lower investment returns than in recent years, which is reflected in our year-end revenues. Fortunately, our expertly managed portfolio is well structured to weather these economic woes, and we look forward to more asset growth in 2016, while keeping operating expenses stable.

I sincerely thank our donors, committee and Board members, and the volunteers and staff working in Salt Spring charities. Your commitment today and in the future is essential to making our island home a healthy community that cares for all. Thank you.

The Board of Directors: (l to r) Terry Bolton (Chair, Investment Committee), Lesley Reynolds (Vice Chair and Chair, Communications Committee), Brian Lawson (Director), Kate Merry (Secretary), Mary Rose MacLachlan (Liaison, Foundation of Youth), Kees Ruurs (Chair, Board of Directors), Carol Biely (Chair, Donor Relations Committee), Sharon Glover (Director), Janine Fernandes-Hayden (Chair, Grants Advisory Committee), Bob Moffatt (Treasurer and Chair, Finance and Audit Committee). Missing: Gary Morrison (Chair, Governance Committee)

A Year of Transition

2015

Highlights

SSI Foundation, Box 244, Ganges PO, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 2V9http://ssifoundation.ca TEL: 250 537 8305

Connecting your giving with island needs

• Over $179,000 in grants were given to local charities

• Donations and bequests totalled $152,781

• Our Community Endowment Fund reached $6.26 million

• More than 35 volunteers contributed their time and expertise to your community foundation

• To meet its growing needs, the Foundation hired our first Operations Director

• Foundation grants supported projects in many areas, including mental health, affordable housing, environment, recreation, seniors’ and youth services, our island heritage, the arts and volunteerismKees Ruurs, Chair, Board of Directors

Annual Report

Fulford Community Hall Association For overall maintenance and to refresh the curbside look of this important heritage building, which hosts a broad range of community activities.

Greenwoods Eldercare Society To fund a family liaison pilot project to explore and share new ways to bring efficiency and effectiveness to the way families are supported as they navigate the world of a complex-care facility for seniors.

Gulf Islands Marine Rescue Society For the purchase of Forward Looking Infra-red (FLIR) cameras for use by RCMSAR Station 25 in searching and nighttime lookout. While FLIR cameras have some daytime uses, for the most part they will be used in darkness or conditions of low visibility. The cameras detect tempera-ture variations and represent those as an image.

Island Pathways For two sections of the Ganges Village Pathway Network, which promotes safe, non-motorized transportation on Salt Spring Island: a new pathway from Rain-bow Road to Atkins Road, and two path-ways on Upper Ganges Road.

Island Stream and Salmon Enhancement Society Toward riparian restoration of areas in Mouat and Duck Creek Parks that have been damaged by heavy pedestrian use. Schoolchildren will help with the planting and benefit from hands-on environmental learning.

Japanese Garden Society of Salt Spring Island Toward the restoration of a pit kiln in Mouat Regional Park, built in the 1920s to make charcoal that was sold to canneries for the process of soldering cans. The pit kiln will become a heritage site of educa-tional value to tourists and residents.

The Foundation granted a record $179,000 to 19 charitable organizations in 2015. These grants would not be possible without our many generous supporters, who share our goal of making Salt Spring Island a healthy and caring community for all its residents.

2015 Grant Recipients

Fulford Community Hall AssociationJapanese Garden Society of Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding Association

2 Salt Spring Island Foundation 2015 Annual Report

2015 Grant Recipients

Salt Spring Arts Council Toward the repair of Mahon Hall’s front entrance and stairs, unused for many years due to wood rot. The repairs will benefit hall visibility and accessibility and make it more attractive to visitors.

Salt Spring Farmers’ Heritage Foundation • To improve the safety and accessibility

of the historically significant Bittancourt Agricultural Museum. Improvements will include a new path to the entrance, an extension of the existing ramp for easier wheelchair accessibility, and fencing to separate the pedestrian area from the parking area.

• For the acquisition and installation of an improved propane forge for the black-smith group, which provides workshops and year-round skills development for children and youth, as well as demonstra-tions for Heritage Day and the Fall Fair.

Salt Spring Film Festival Society For the purchase of projectors, portable screens, Blu-ray players and a public- address system. The film festival plays an important educational and awareness role in our community.

Salt Spring Hospice/Bessie Dane FoundationFor the development of an enhanced bereavement education curriculum and training material for Hospice volunteers. This is an important program to address mental health.

Salt Spring Island Community Services • For Core Inn programming for youth

in grades 6 to 12. The centre is the only such facility on the island and serves a critical need.

• To provide support for a final hard-copy edition of the SSICS Community Directory.

• For the Yellow Submarine/New Begin-nings programs, which support people with mental illness and/or addiction issues, providing vocational rehabilita-tion, employment mentorships and work opportunities. This is the third year of a multi-year grant.

• For the repair of decks and fire escapes at Family Place, which offers an import-ant resource and support network for children and families.

• To fund a review of the Core Inn youth drop-in program.

• To support the purchase of games for Fri-day Night Games Night, a popular youth program currently hosted by the Salt Spring Island Public Library that draws close to 50 young people to the library on Friday nights.

• To fund the position of Mental Health Navigator to provide families and indi-viduals with assistance in navigating the new Island Health system and accessing the services they need. This is a multi-year grant.

Salt Spring Island Conservancy For expansion of the solar voltaic system on the roof of the multi-use facility at Blackburn Lake Nature Reserve. With the addition of the new panels, 43% of the building’s energy use will be offset. This grant is partially funded by the Jacqueline Booth Memorial Fund.

Salt Spring Literacy SocietyTo support the One-to-One Reading pilot project in four island schools. Run by volunteers, this program aims to provide early intervention for children with reading difficulties.

©Ron Watts

Salt Spring Film Festival Society

Gulf Islands Marine Rescue Society

Gulf Islands Marine Rescue Society

Salt Spring Farmers’ Heritage Foundation

Island Pathways

2015 Grant RecipientsSmart & Caring Salt Spring Grants Tackle Critical NeedsAs part of its Smart & Caring Salt Spring initiative, the Foundation has established funds to target two major critical needs—housing and mental health—and to help grow philanthropy and volunteerism on Salt Spring. The following organizations received Smart & Caring Salt Spring grants in 2015.

Island Women Against Violence (IWAV) For updating the 2009 Housing Survey. This is in accordance with IWAV’s new strategic goal of demon-strating leadership in the provision of affordable housing and in encour-aging collaboration and partner-ships among housing providers.

Salt Spring Island Water Preservation SocietyToward a volunteer, citizen-science field study to monitor and evaluate water quality in Blackburn Lake, which is a critical part of the Cusheon Lake watershed.

Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding AssociationFor the purchase of three new saddles. The association and its volunteers assist physically, mentally or emotionally challenged children, youth and adults.

School District #64• Toward the replacement of the 21-year-

old GISS gymnasium scoreboard. A high-calibre scoreboard is vital for com-petitive sports, which involve close to 200 students, and for hosting league tourna-ments that attract off-island teams.

• To support district library resources for a new K-12 sexual health education program.

SWOVA (Salt Spring Women Opposed to Violence and Abuse Community Development and Research Society)Toward the Healthy Masculinity for Boys and Young Men Project. This project will engage participants in age-appropriate round table discussions and activities to support their needs for healthy masculinity, allow their voices to be heard, and to deter-mine ways to prevent behaviours that put them at risk of violence and/or abuse.

Volunteer Community Resources Salt Spring SocietyTo assist with organizational development. Volunteer Community Resources aims to build connections between community members and organizations by promoting volunteerism on Salt Spring Island through leadership and education. This is a multi-year grant.

Salt Spring Island Conservancy

Volunteer Community Resources Society

Salt Spring Island Water Preservation Society School District #64

Foundation of YouthThe Foundation of Youth (FOY) is a volunteer advisory committee of the Foundation that aims to improve the qual-ity of life for youth on Salt Spring Island. Composed of GISS students, FOY awarded four grants in 2015. For more information about FOY, please go to www.ssi-foy.org.

Salt Spring Island Community ServicesTo fund a music program at the Core Inn aimed at youth who lack the means for professional lessons. The program will connect youth with local mentors and provide instruments and opportunities for performances and recording their work.

Salt Spring Island Conservancy To help fund the Families Together in Nature program, which aims to get young people and their parents excited about our island’s wonderful ecology and help them to learn more about it together.

Salt Spring Island Public Library To improve the selection of French mate-rials for youth, in collaboration with the Salt Spring Island Middle School’s French Immersion Program.

School District # 64, Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts (GISPA) To assist students with costs for the GISPA program.

4 Salt Spring Island Foundation 2015 Annual Report

Our Stories Reclaiming a Legacy: The Japanese Garden Society

A short walk into Mouat Park takes you to a piece of Salt Spring history that has been hidden for almost a century. Last year the Japanese Garden Society of Salt Spring Island (JGS) and PARC celebrated the official opening of a restored charcoal pit kiln. With a significant grant from the Salt Spring Island Foundation and the support of the community, they have created an historical attraction while reclaiming a Japanese-Canadian legacy.

Early Japanese settlers on Salt Spring brought many skills with them, including how to manufacture the high-quality charcoal that was an important fuel for the salmon-canning industry and blacksmithing before coal became widely available in the 1920s.

Salt Spring’s two pit kilns were originally built by Isaburo Tasaka, who left his home in in Japan, lived in Steveston for a while, then moved to Salt Spring in 1905. According to his grandson, Chuck Tasaka, he built the kilns near where he and his large family lived in Ganges. He made charcoal during the fishing off- season, which he sold to canneries in Steveston, to local blacksmiths and to a soap factory in Victoria.

When Isaburo and his family moved back to Japan, the kilns were reclaimed by the forest and almost forgotten. In 2015, Rose Murakami spearheaded the restoration of the largest kiln with Steve Nemtin, who had restored kilns on Galiano, stonemason Andrew Currie and PARC staff.

Today, display boards at the site illustrate the history and process of charcoal making. The Foundation is pleased to have played a role in enrich-ing local understanding of island history and the contributions of its early settlers.

A Special Bond: Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding AssociationLeah Ostlund recently stood up in front of her fellow students to talk about why she loved her therapeutic riding program. Gail Muise, her mother, was thrilled with her 14-year-old daughter’s enthusiasm and self-confidence and proud of how she inspired other chil-dren to come forward to contribute their own money to support therapeu-tic riding on Salt Spring. “We love the program!” Gail says. “Leah has received lots of wonderful instruction and sup-port. She learns about bonding, being responsible for another living being and her core strength is amazing!”

The Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding Association (SSTRA) provides quality, professional equine-assisted activi-ties for both children and adults with special needs. Therapeutic riding is a unique way to obtain healthy

physical exercise, improving muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination and motor development as well as psy-chological, cognitive, behavioral, com-munication and emotional well-being. And it’s a lot of fun for both riders and volunteers!

Over the years, the Foundation has recognized the positive impact of SSTRA and its dedicated volunteers, most re-cently with a 2015 grant for new saddles.

Supporting Families: Greenwoods Eldercare SocietyIn the course of a day, Brandy-Lee Borley may be making a home visit to support a family who is about to move a loved one into Greenwoods, advising some-one how to manage a day trip for a resident with dementia, or even helping to find missing dentures. It all comes with her Family Liaison position, which was supported by a 2015 Foundation grant. “Having this position funded gives me extra time to spend with people and build personal connections with families,” Brandy explains. “It has made things so much better.”

Brandy has become the point person for any concerns or questions from family members of Greenwoods or Braehaven residents. She provides a personal touch, attending Family Council meetings that keep families abreast of activities, support services and her work on their behalf. In ad-dition, Brandy organized the recent

Business of Aging event, open to all community members, which brought together a panel of experts, including a family physician, lawyer, community care nurse and others providing services to Salt Spring seniors. She also reaches out to seniors and caregivers in the community who need informa-tion and support, linking them to ser-vices and helping them to plan ahead.

Brandy, who is also Manager of Ther-apy Services for Greenwoods Eldercare Society and Site Manager of Braehaven, is much appreciated by residents’ family members. Judi Francis says, “Having a Family Liaison is marvellous. Brandy is the first person we meet in the initial stage for families coming to Greenwoods and Braehaven. She listens, she laughs, and she has a toolbox of information on how to care. Brandy is our glue.”

ssifoundation.ca 5

Mark Fraser is a supergeek. If it plugs in, buzzes, tweets, or glows in the dark Mark has either owned one, built one or searched for one on eBay. And it is this lifelong love of electronics that recently resulted in a substantial donation to the Foundation.

Mark was already surfing the fledg-ling World Wide Web in 1995, when eBay was still little more than an idea and a lot of wishful thinking by its founder Pierre Omidyar. And when Omidyar put his own broken laser pointer up for sale on line “as a test item,” Mark pounced.

“I’d wanted a new one for a while, but they were over a hundred bucks,” he says. “Then someone pointed me to a brand new online auction site which turned out to be eBay. And to my amazement, there was this broken laser pointer.” His bid of $14.83 was accepted—and the first-ever eBay deal was struck.

Mark’s love affair with electronics began as a 10-year-old with his first crystal set and really took off when his dad took him to meet a local ham radio operator. It carried him to the University of Alberta where he

studied electrical engineering and then to a career on the cutting edge of electronics and computer technol-ogy. If anyone could fix the broken eBay laser pointer, he could.

But in the end, Mark lost interest in fixing the pointer and stashed it away at the back of a drawer where it joined his collection of vintage integrated circuits and the paraphernalia of a lifelong electronics buff. But two decades later that dusty old gizmo would turn into a little gold mine for the Salt Spring Island Foundation.

When eBay celebrated 20 years as the world’s first e-market, Pierre Omidyar told the story of the very first thing he had sold—a broken laser pointer. So, in between his sideline of machining bespoke cribbage pegs (with another gizmo he’d bought and convinced his long-suffering wife he’d find a use for), Mark contacted eBay and announced that he was the item’s buyer and still had it. It was, after all, a little piece of eBay history.

Devin Wenig, eBay CEO, leapt at the opportunity, offering to purchase the item from Mark and to make dona-tions to charities of his choice. So eBay got back the 20-year-old broken laser pointer to present to Pierre, eBay’s founder. It will likely reside in the museum at the company’s HQ. As for the selling price, Mark said, “I’m

still driving my 12-year-old second-hand Jeep, but the living room looks a lot better.”

Mark, who retired to Salt Spring from North Vancouver in 2002, nominated two charities to receive the eBay donation: “Lady Minto was a no-brainer,

but my wife, Lynne, actually suggested the Foundation,” he says. “And I really like the way almost all Foundation funds go towards projects that are tangible, in the here and now. And it is very local.”

Mark’s Little Bid of History Roy Lamont: Farewell to a Friend

In March 2015, Salt Spring Island lost a dear friend and community builder. Roy Lamont was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, in 1915. He joined the RCAF in 1940 and was seconded to the RAF, serving in the Middle East and North Africa as a pilot, air gunner and wireless operator.

After the war, Roy returned to Regina, where he met Mollie. They were married in 1945. Roy was a celebrated Squadron Leader until his retirement from the RCAF in 1964. Roy then went into business in Saskatoon, and he and Mollie also conducted farm tours, which took them to many countries in Europe and Africa.

In 1975, Roy and Mollie moved to Salt Spring, purchasing a farm in the Cranberry Valley where he would fulfil his ambition of raising Hereford cattle. Roy loved his island home and was always keen to talk about farm-ing. Today, his Fitz-Roy farm legacy continues as Salt Spring Seeds.

Roy was an active community member. He was a devoted supporter of the Farmers’ Institute and the Fall Fair and a member of the Legion, Ma-sonic Lodge, Salt Spring Island Sailing Club and the Community Justice Program.

When Roy and Mollie lost their only son, George, in a vehicle accident in 1998, they wanted to do something in his memory. They decided that a fund in his name with the Salt Spring Island Foundation would be most appropriate, since it would benefit islanders in perpe-tuity. Both Roy and Mollie’s names were later added to the fund to recognize their generosity.

Mark’s love affair with electronics began as a 10-year-old.

With Supporters Like These…

6 Salt Spring Island Foundation 2015 Annual Report

Many islanders know Helen Hinchliff from her Gulf Islands Driftwood column, “Aging with Grace.” Readers appreciate her candid and often funny stories of caregiving and aging issues. “I’m a storyteller,” she says, “and I have many experiences caring for older people, so I hope the column is helpful.” But Helen is also a member of the Board of Directors of Greenwoods Eldercare Society, among other volun-teer activities, and a long-time support-er of the Salt Spring Island Foundation.

It’s no wonder that Helen spends so much time supporting local charities—philanthropy is in her blood. Helen’s great-great grandfather, a self-made businessman and manufacturer in Rockford, Illinois, gave away much of his wealth to build his community and also founded a school for ex-slaves in the southern US. Other family members were part of the Under-ground Railway on the Ohio River, helping slaves travel north to freedom.

This liberal tradition is also reflected in Helen’s education, career and wide range of interests. After earning a B.A. in political science, an M.A. in speech arts and a Ph.D. in communications, she began a teaching career at the City University of New York in 1967, where she researched the portrayal of women in the media. In 1974, she was invited by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to research the portrayal and employment of women and minorities in American television. The subsequent report led to a career of producing research reports for the Commission on various aspects of systemic discrimination against women, minorities and what was then termed “the handicapped.”

By 1984, Helen was disillusioned by the Reagan administration’s systematic dismantling of many social and environmental programs. Around this time she met Donald Simmons,

who worked in the Office of the Provincial Secretary of British Columbia. She immigrated to Canada in 1985, and she and Donald were soon married.

After Donald retired in 1986, they moved to Fulford Harbour, complet-ed their dream home and spent time gardening and travelling. Helen also turned her hobby of genealogy into a profession, teaching others how to conduct a successful genealogical research project.

Helen became a fulltime caregiver in 1999 after Donald experienced a massive stroke. While he was in Lady Minto Hospital, she teamed up with Murray Anderson, a volunteer in the Extended Care Unit. Murray played the piano, and Helen sang for the residents. Donald came home in early 2000 but died later that year.

Throughout this period, Helen main-tained her equilibrium by continuing to sing with Murray at Lady Minto,

Greenwoods and Braehaven. In 2003 Murray, by now Helen’s partner, began showing signs of dementia, which progressed until Helen was no longer able to care for him at home. Before he passed away in 2012, Murray resid-ed at Greenwoods for two and a half years, continuing to accompany Helen on the piano as he was able.

Helen made her first donation to the Foundation many years ago. “I received a personalized thank-you card and a letter the following year from Bob Rush, the Foundation’s chair,” she recalls, “and I was impressed by the personal touch. There are many needs to be met on the island, and it’s hard to keep up. I trust the Foundation to have a handle on community needs so I don’t need to think about it too much. I also appreciate that my donations stay on the island and go farther because of the Foundation’s low administrative costs.”

“I’m a story-teller, and I have many experiences caring for older people.”

With Supporters Like These…

Helen Hinchliff: Aging with Grace

ssifoundation.ca 7

Bryan and Lucile Adderley

Nighean Anderson

Diane E. Armstrong

Karen Arney

Derek and Jennifer Barrio

Steuart Beattie

Elizabeth and Paul Beckmann

Seth Berkowitz

Alan and Terri Bibby

Bob and Carol Biely

Susan Bloom

Astha Bolliger

Terry and Bev Bolton

Laurence Bongie

Bob and Judith Borbas

J.N. Braithwaite

Bob Brawn

Margaret Briggs

Tony and Betty Burridge

Grace Byrne

John and Gladys Campbell

Tom Cartwright

Beth and Gary Cherneff

Barry and Sharon Cooke

Frank and Lynne Cooper

Country Grocer

Kathy Darling

Don and Arlene Dashwood

Maurice Davis

Marilyn Thaden Dexter

N. Dinsmore and Sally Plunkett

Doherty Career Management

Charles and Gloria Dorworth

Darlene Drever

Gary and Jan Dunn

Jim and Joy Eastman

Lyle and Susan Eide

A. Jean Elder

Derek Emmerson

Jill Evans

Sharon Farquharson

Curt Firestone and Gwen McDonald

Bob and Judi Francis

Basil Franey

Mark and Lynne Fraser

Richard A. Fraser

Jean Gelwicks and Peter Lamb

Niels and Nixe Gerbitz

Linda Gilkeson

Sharon Glover and Doug Wilkins

Laurel Gordon

Pat and Bob Gorman

Paul Gravett and Mark Hand

Ken and Marian Hargrove

Janice Harkley

David Hart and Linda Siegel

Ron Hawkins

Marshall and Rose Heinekey

Jim and Carol Helset

Emily and Duncan Hepburn

Doug Herchmer

Ashley and Wendy Hilliard

Helen Hinchliff

Ernst W.B. and Sheila Hoen

Nancy Holcroft

Marion Holmes

Ross and Elaine Howard

Ian and Rae Jessiman

Betsy Johnston and Derek Hill

Peggy Johnston

Robert Jones and Dorothy Finnigan

Wendy Kaye

Paula Kiffner

Hu and Ann King

Walton Langford

Mary Laucks and Brian Swanson

Marilyn Lawrence

Don Layzell

Garry and Carol Leach

Patrick Lee

Nick and Marge LeMoine

Timothy Leutwiler and David Rumsey

Nomi Lyons and Marc Davis

Jay and Anne MacAulay

Debbie Magnusson

Ron Martin

The Mauro Family Foundation

Rollie and Elaine McCallum

Joan McConnell

Hugh and Nancy McCullough

Bob and Verity McKenzie

Donald McLennan

Gina McMahon and Ross Harvey

Sara Menzel and Derek Brackley

John and Bev Menzies

Doug Mitchell

Bob and Pat Moffatt

John Moore

Neil Morie—Architect

Norm and Carolyn Mouat

Barbara and Ken Mugridge

Richard Murakami

Patricia Herchmer Murray

Janellen Neil

Cedric and Catherine Newman

Judy Norget and Charles Kahn

Alex and Victoria Olchowecki

Sylvia J. Ommanney

Wilfried and Wiebke Ortlepp

Linda and Mike Overholt

Harold and Gladys Page

Louis and Ruth Pepin

Anil and Sheryl Pereira

Kisae Petersen

Edgar and Lois Peterson

John and Claire Pickering

Fred and Nancy Powell

Louise and Bob Quart

Murray and Karen Reiss

Victor and Lesley Reynolds

Ron Reznick

David Roberts

Alan and Rita Robertson

H. Ruckle

Bob and Jinny Rush

Denis and Susan Russell

Kees and Margriet Ruurs

Ann Saddlemyer

Salt Spring Garbage Service Ltd.

Salt Spring Winery

Stanley Shapiro

Joyce and Peter Sharpe

Jeremy and Jackie Shrive

Hamish and Tricia Simpson

Janet Smith

Sandra Smith

Joanna and David Southwell

Barry and Sheila Spence

SS Garbage Blackburn Mall

Sheri and Jim Standen

Hans and Susan Stoffelsma

Lorrie Storr and Gary Adams

N.E. Stout

Ann M. Taylor

John and Barbara Taylor

TELUS

Lynn and Betty Thompson

Gérald Tibbits and Kate Merry

Mary Toynbee

Tom and Yvonne Toynbee

Ruth Volquardsen

Rosemary and Len Wallbank

Wettstein Family

Mrs. Terry Wilkinson

Anne Williams

Jane and Jeremy Winter

Michael and Rosamund Woolley

Sheila Wowchuk

Plus 44 donors who wish to

remain anonymous

2015 Donors

8 Salt Spring Island Foundation 2015 Annual Report

In RemembranceThe Foundation notes with sadness the passing in 2015 of Jack Hallam, Roy Lamont (see p. 6) and Margaret (Biz) Stratton. All were generous long-time supporters of the Foundation.

In Memory DonationsWe are most appreciative of the many people who made donations in memory of the following much-loved individuals: Elizabeth Bastien, Hubert and Jean de Burgh, Pat Herchmer, Alec Houston, Bob Nicholson and Bob Bobby Wood.

Foundation donors are accustomed to supporting us with donations made by cash, cheques, credit card transactions, and increasingly through investment shares. But how can you make an extraordinary gift to the Foundation at a manageable cost without reducing what you give to family and friends through your estate? The answer may be through a donation of life insurance.

When an individual absolutely assigns a life insurance policy to a registered charity and makes the char-ity the registered beneficiary of the policy, the individual qualifies for the tax relief applicable to charitable gifts in respect of such a donation. Further-more, if the individual continues to pay the premium on the life insurance policy, such premiums also qualify

as a charitable gift in the year.Donors may name the Foundation

as both the owner and beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance policy. The donor will receive a tax receipt for the annual premiums payable on behalf of the Salt Spring Island Foundation. Or, the donor may transfer an existing policy to the Salt Spring Island Foundation. The donor will receive a tax receipt for the cash surrender value and for any subse-quent premiums paid by the donor after the transfer to the Foundation. The Foundation will have immediate access to the cash surrender value.

Another option is to name the Salt Spring Island Foundation as the benefi-ciary only of the insurance policy. This option leaves the donor in full control

of the policy, since policy proceeds are paid directly to the Foundation at the end of the donor’s lifetime. The tax receipt may be used to offset taxes in the donor’s final tax return, with a one-year carry-back for any unused credits. Donors often choose this method in

order to take advantage of the signifi-cant tax benefit.

If you think this way of giving to the Foundation is right for you, we recom-mend that you talk to your professional financial and insurance advisors.

Tax-Smart Giving: Insurance

You can make an extraordinary

gift to the Foundation at a

manageable cost.

We have a strong team of

Board and staff.

The Foundation Board welcomed two new members in 2015. With the addition of Sharon Glover and Brian Lawson, we have a strong Board to tackle the goals and challenges of the years ahead.

Sharon brings a wealth of experience from her career in education and counselling and a deep understanding of seniors’ and community health issues. She served for many years as Wellness Programs Coordinator for Salt Spring seniors and also worked with Meadowbrook residents and staff. She has chaired the Salt Spring Community Health Com-mittee, volunteered with the Salt Spring Island Restorative Justice program and joined the Salt Spring Health Advancement Coalition in 2013.

Brian earned a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and became a lawyer at a non-profit community legal clinic in Hamilton, Ontario, representing low- income clients. Subsequently, he practised refugee law, employment law and civil litigation. In the latter part of his career he focused on representing a variety of labour organizations and associations within Ontario. In addition to representing membership, he provided legal and strategic advice to executive boards and boards of directors.

The Board is very pleased that Kisae Petersen, our book-keeper since 2014, has taken on an expanded role with the Foundation. As our part-time Operations Director, Kisae manages the day-to-day running of the Foundation and our office, looks after our database and IT requirements, works closely with the Treasurer and Finance and Audit Committee, and plays a large role in grants and donor administration, as well as supporting all committees in many ways.

Board members Brian Lawson and Gary Morrison

Building Our Team

ssifoundation.ca 9

BequestsRuby Alton Estate ....................................................................................... $298,672

Elizabeth Baker Estate .................................................................................... 25,000

Rosmaria Behnke Estate .............................................................................525,775

Margaret Briggs Estate** .................................................................................4,500

Ruth Crane Estate .............................................................................................. 35,463

Helen Margaret Franey Estate .................................................................. 10,165

Tom Gossett Estate ........................................................................................... 50,000

Valerie Gyves Estate ................................................................................................500

JDB Trust (John Ward, Dorah Ward, Bertha Cameron) ............401,370

John H. Kavelin Estate ........................................................................................1,000

$5,000 +Anonymous #1

Anonymous #6

Anonymous #8

Anonymous #9

Birgit and Robert Bateman Fund

Sheri Berkowitz Fund

Carol and Bob Biely Fund

George William Brown Fund

Migs Edwards Fund

Jack Hallam Fund, on behalf of G.L.O.S.S.I.

Kirby and Pat Herchmer Fund

Lee G. Hurd Fund

Drs. Albert and Peggy Mouat Johnston Fund

Anita Kahn Memorial Fund

Kay and Ralph Magee Fund

Ann and Gundy McLeod Fund

Don and Betty McMahon Fund

Mary Moat Fund

Judy Norget and Charles Kahn Fund

Ortlepp Family Fund

Joyce and Joseph Ovenden Fund

Dick and Chris Pattinson Fund

Al and Mary Pike Fund

Leslie Ramsey Memorial Fund

Dave Rayment Memorial Fund

Dennis and Sanchia Seward Fund

Terry and Sue Strain Fund

Allison and Mel Sumner Memorial Fund

$10,000 +Anonymous #4

Art Botham Memorial Fund

James A. Brown Fund

Robin Gibbard Scholarship Fund

Marc and Jean Holmes Fund

Nancy and D. Keith-Murray Fund

Irving Levin and Stephanie Fowler Fund

Brian and Gisèle McDermott Fund

E.A. (Effie) and W.M (Will) Mouat Memorial Fund

Norman and Carolyn Mouat Fund

Olivia D. Mouat Fund

Harold and Gladys Page Fund

Hector Perry Fund

Stowel Lake Farm Fund

Mort and Biz Stratton Fund

Manson and Mary Toynbee Fund

Nels Vodden Fund

Cam and Terry Wilkinson Fund

$15,000+Anonymous #2

Anonymous #5

Brown/Sanderson Fund

William David Dexter Memorial Fund

Stanley and Roberta Shapiro Fund

Richard Mouat Toynbee Fund

Cordula Vogt Fund

Audrey and Robert Wild Fund

$25,000 +Anonymous #3

Jacqueline Booth Memorial Fund*

Bob and Sharon Brawn Fund

Grace and Pat Byrne Fund

Dorothy Cutting Fund

Basil and Margaret Franey Fund

Laurel Gordon and Murray Sumpton Fund

Roy, Mollie, and George Lamont Fund

Allen and Joan McConnell Fund

John and Bev Menzies Family Fund

John and Claire Pickering Fund

Hubert and Margaret Robinson Fund

Dr. Raymond Rush Fund

Wettstein Family Fund

$50,000 +Anonymous #7

Barnie and Bill Cowan Fund

Helen Elizabeth Langford Memorial Fund

Hugh and Nancy McCullough Fund

Linda and Mike Overholt Fund

Bob and Jinny Rush Fund

Al Stubbe Memorial Fund

$100,000 +Rosmaria Behnke Fund*

Tom and Mimi Gossett Memorial Fund

Saltsea Holding Fund

Jessie Mouat Toynbee Fund

The Unger Family Fund for Children and their Mothers and Senior Women in Need*

Milestone and Field of Interest FundsWe are grateful to our many Milestone Fund donors, who provide an enduring legacy to our community through their donations and bequests. All Milestone and Field of Interest Fund gifts are held in our Community Endowment Fund.

John Lees Estate .....................................................................................................9,000

Gordon Parsons Estate ......................................................................................5,000

Gwen Ruckle Estate ........................................................................................137,781

Shaw Family Estate.........................................................................................861,776

Fred Slaney Estate ................................................................................................1,000

Cordula Vogt Estate .......................................................................................... 10,000

Dorah Ward Estate ............................................................................................ 15,060

* Field of Interest Funds**2015 bequest

The following funds have come to the Foundation through bequests or other deferred gifts. As with Milestone Funds, Estate Funds will be recognized in perpetuity. All are held in our Community Endowment Fund.

10 Salt Spring Island Foundation 2015 Annual Report

Summary of Financial StatementsAs at December 31, 2015 Please refer to our website for the full audit report and notes

Statement of Operations 2015 2014*REVENUE Donations $ 152,781 $ 307,981 Donations, flow-through 500 1,629 Investment income 177,584 195,891 Gain on investments 112,355 293,688

Total Revenue 443,220 799,189

EXPENSES Advertising and promotion 2,536 3,676 Amortization 375 – Bank charges and interest 5,903 4,270 Building occupancy 29,328 14,860 Computer and software 4,453 1,320 Contracts, administration 31,273 20,468 Equity management fees 66,495 55,566 Fees, meetings and general 9,186 6,907 Foundation projects 4,500 28,250 Grants 164,000 123,856 Grants, flow-through 500 4,193 Insurance and legal 1,691 13,030 Printing, postage and publishing 6,407 6,145 Professional fees 5,663 6,500 Stationery and supplies 1,992 734

Total Expenditures 334,302 289,775

Excess of Revenue over Expenses 108,918 509,414

Statement of Financial Position ASSETS Current Cash $ 280,809 $ 276,726 Accounts receivable 10,485 16,821 GST receivable 1,820 986 Prepaid expenses 1,045 857 Investments 6,082,628 5,923,088 Capital Assets 1,042 –

Total Assets 6,377,829 6,218,478

LIABILITIES Current Accounts payable and accruals 7,373 10,167 Undistributed grants 176,387 146,449 Flow-through funds 505,933 508,419

Total Liabilities 689,693 665,035

NET ASSETS Endowment funds 1,248,844 1,223,069 Internally restricted 2,884,451 2,808,836 Unrestricted 1,554,841 1,521,538

Total Net Assets 5,688,136 5,553,443

Total Equities Plus Liabilities 6,377,829 6,218,478

**Certain 2014 comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.

Notes to Financial Statements

(1) As of January 1, 2011, the SSI Foundation was a society registered as a public foun-dation with the Charities Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency. As such, it is exempt from income tax and can issue tax receipts. The Foundation’s charitable organization number is BN 811053255 RR0001.

(2) The Foundation has prepared these financial statements in accordance with Cana-dian Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (ASNPO).

(3) The Foundation has adopted the financial instrument standards issued by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Handbook Section 3855, Financial Instru-ments—Recognition and Measurement, and Section 3861, Financial Instruments—Dis-closure and Presentation.

(4) Investments are recorded at fair value as determined on the last day of the fiscal period using published market quotations.

ssifoundation.ca 11

Ways to Give

Special Thanks

n Milestone Funds help build the Community Endowment Fund and are suitable for donors who prefer to have the Foundation make granting decisions on their behalf. Create a Milestone Fund with your donation (or accumulated donations) or bequest of $5,000 or more. The fund may be in your name or the name of someone you wish to honour.

n Field of Interest Funds enable donors to specify a particular field of interest to which the income of their fund will be directed, for example, social services, children and youth, arts and culture, or the environment. A Field of Interest Fund can be established by your donation (or accumulated donations) or bequest of $15,000 or more and can be in the name of your choice.

n Advised Funds are useful options for those who wish to specify a particular island charity (or charities) as the recipient(s) of the annual distributions made possible by their funds. It’s possible to create an Advised Fund with your donation (or accumulated donations) or bequest of $25,000 or more. As with the fund types above, your Advised Fund can be in the name of your choice.

n Partnership Funds allow donors to work with the Foundation to decide how best to enrich the quality of life on Salt Spring. Partnership funds may be estab-lished with your donation (or accumulated donations) or bequest of $50,000 or more. Donors can meet with a Foundation representative each year to provide direction about the distributions made possible by their funds.

n All our generous donors—past and present

n Our dedicated 2015 committee volunteers: Communications Committee: Paul McElroy, Diane Thomas, Jane Winter

Donor Relations Committee: Kathleen de Jong, Carol Johnson, Sylvia Ommanney

Finance and Audit Committee: Richard Fraser, Dennis McCluskey

Grants Advisory Committee: Nighean Anderson, Barry Cooke, Susan Eide, Adina Hildebrandt, David Norget, Bob Rush, Phillippa Tattersall, Greg Taylor, Glenn Woodley

Investment Committee: John Binsted

Foundation of Youth: Andrea Sanchez Aguila, Charlie Beaver, Nigel Bisnar, Maddy Cooper Smith, Norees Gasper, Hannah Grant, Ella MacQueen-Denz, Simone Miller, Gwen Patrick, Owen Twaites, Maddison Wesley-Plambeck

n Our Friends of the Foundation group: Tom Toynbee (chair), Gladys Campbell, Emily Hepburn, Wendy Kaye, Patrick Lee, Judy Norget, John Pickering and Eileen Stubbe

n Our auditors, with great appreciation: Grant Thornton (2015) and Janice Harkley (2008–2014); Mark Horne for his legal advice

n The Gulf Islands Driftwood, Thrifty Foods, Mouat’s Trading Company, Contour Grafix and the Salt Spring Exchange for their ongoing support

n Country Grocer for their donations to community charities, including the Foundation (Box 87)

n Tom Vergalen of TNT Signs for his generous donation of services

n Our graphic designer, Carolyn Howse

n Louis Pepin and all those other volunteers and community members who made it possible for the Foundation to operate with minimal administrative costs

n Joni Ganderton and Sandee Kent of the R. Joni Ganderton group, BMO Nesbitt Burns

Tax-deductible donationscan be made through our website at:

ssifoundation.ca

BY PHONE: 250 537 8305 BY MAIL: SSI Foundation, Box 244, Ganges PO, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 2V9

AT OUR OFFICE: 158A Fulford Ganges Rd (UPSTAIRS)

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12 Salt Spring Island Foundation 2015 Annual Report