Yellow flower growing out of moss
Photo by Alex Harris.

Local businesses and entrepreneurs are helping advance the KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest protection campaign

Small businesses have been instrumental in our fundraising campaign to raise the $2.1 million necessary to purchase and protect 45 acres of Coastal Douglas-fir forest on S,DÁYES, North Pender Island.

ByLauren Duboisset-Broust, Development Coordinator

On March 15th, 2022 Raincoast and our partners at the Pender Islands Conservancy launched a $100,000 matching campaign, made possible by the Sitka Foundation, toward the purchase and protection of KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest on S,DÁYES, North Pender Island. One month later, we were thrilled to announce that an anonymous donor had upped the ante by pledging an additional $100,000 to the campaign! Now we have until June 8, 2022, the first day of the Year of the Salish Sea, to match this combined matching total of $200,000. 

So far, support for this land protection work has largely come from individuals living on the Gulf Islands and other areas surrounding the Salish Sea. However, small local businesses and entrepreneurs have been significant supporters. Altogether, financial donations from these supporters has amounted to nearly $30,000 (and counting!), in addition to providing additional in-kind support such as product donations and event space.

Two owls looking at each other in the forest
Photo by Oliver Tweedie.

How your business participate in supporting our fundraising efforts

  • You can simply make a one time donation or monthly contribution right here.
  • You can also provide Raincoast with in-kind donations. Thanks to Cotton Carrier, a North Vancouver based family business, we were provided with great quality camera carrying systems, to be used for our field trips.
  • Spread the word: share on your social media channels, blogs, etc. We’d be happy to provide educational materials (photographs, scientific articles, etc.).
  • Come meet us! We’d love to give you a tour of the property or give your company a presentation.
  • Workplace matching: Employees can make a one-time or recurring donation to Raincoast. And you, as a business, can increase their impact with a corporate match. Talk to your HR department and find out if your workplace offers a matching program and how to make sure your donation will be matched.

Remember, if you support the protection of KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest between now and June 8th, the impact of your contribution will be doubled!

donate

We’d like to give our warmest thanks to some of the businesses who have been supporting our Kingfisher Forest acquisition campaign: Sea Star Vineyards, Jillian Harris, and Cotton Carrier. Realizing our conservation vision would not be possible without you.

donations to RaincoastGulf IslandsGulf Islands Forest ProjectKELÁ_EKE Kingfisher ForestPender Island ConservancyPender Islands

Become a Raincoaster

Monthly giving enables you to protect what you love. For 25 years, Raincoast has been furthering biodiversity conservation in BC. We have big plans and with your help we will: 

  • End commercial trophy hunting of large carnivores in the Great Bear Rainforest.
  • Acquire land in order to protect threatened Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems.
  • Support the recovery of endangered Southern Resident killer whales by restoring Chinook salmon habitat, and so much more.
Chris Genovali, executive director of Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
Chris Genovali, Executive Director

Protecting biodiversity is the most important gift we can give the next generation. Join us as a Raincoaster today!

Lauren holds a MSc. degree in Sustainable Development from Uppsala University, Sweden. Her master thesis dealt with indigenous peoples and biodiversity conservation through the analysis of two case studies: the Saami in Laponia and the Izocenos in Bolivia. She’s lived and worked in multiple countries including France, Peru, Mexico, and Ecuador, before making the decision of moving to British Columbia about four years ago. More about Lauren.