Chip and Summer Wilson advance movement to preserve some of Canada’s most threatened island ecosystems
Lululemon founder Chip Wilson’s family foundation – Wilson 5 – pledges largest single donation of $4M to protect islands in B.C.’s Salish Sea
For Immediate Release: June 29, 2021
VANCOUVER, B.C. – The BC Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Wilson 5 Foundation – Chip and Summer Wilson’s family foundation – today announces a gift of $4 million towards the protection of 365 acres of threatened Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystems in the Strait of Georgia.
The $4 million gift by Chip Wilson, his wife Summer and their five sons comes through their Wilson 5 Foundation and marks the largest single donation the BC Parks Foundation has received to date.
“We stand today with thousands of British Columbians and people from across Canada and around world who have answered the call to help BC Parks Foundation purchase and forever protect sacred, threatened ecosystems such as these islands in the Salish Sea,” says Wilson 5 Foundation co-founder Shannon Wilson.
The $4 million Wilson 5 Foundation donation enabled the BC Parks Foundation to buy the whole of Saturnina Island and is a key source of funding in their upcoming purchase of a rare, large 256-acre waterfront parcel on Lasqueti Island. The gift also served as the anonymous matching donation used as the catalyst for the Foundation’s recent crowdfunding purchase and protection of West Ballenas Island – a story that made international news.
“We are thrilled that the Wilson family is participating in our fast-growing movement to keep Canada’s Pacific coast beautiful,” says Andrew Day, CEO of the BC Parks Foundation. “We are grateful for the Wilson 5 Foundation’s gift as we work with Indigenous groups, governments, Canadians, and friends around the world to protect threatened and fragile places in B.C.”
“I think everyone recognizes how important nature has been to our physical and mental health during the pandemic,” says Day. “They feel grateful and want to give back. People also recognize the urgent need to take action on climate change and species loss, and our work is a direct way to do that.”
Saturnina, West Ballenas and Lasqueti islands are located off the east coast of Vancouver Island in the Salish Sea – a marine area suffering the effects of sprawling population growth, pollution, overfishing and climate change. The islands are mainly natural and untouched sanctuaries with pristine beaches, abundant bird and marine life, and rare plants.
West Ballenas island is one of the top 10 most biodiverse sites in the Salish Sea, featuring significant seabird populations, threatened species and rare plants such as red-listed Garry oaks and Shore Pine ecosystems. It is only one of two locations in BC where the Water-plantain buttercup has been found.
These fragile islands are all part of the Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem - the smallest, rarest and most globally unique biogeoclimatic zone in BC. The vast majority of these ecosystems are at risk, as are the species who live there. With 80 per cent of Coastal Douglas fir ecosystems held privately in B.C., protecting land which comes available on the market is key to preserving these treasures.
“It’s important to us to look far into the future and to take action now,” says Chip Wilson. “We feel strongly that this gift to the BC Parks Foundation and the people of B.C. will ensure an everlasting opportunity for the next generation and generations to come to enjoy the beauty of these places.”
In addition to the purchases of the island properties in the Salish Sea, the Wilson 5 Foundation gift will support the BC Parks Foundation’s Legacy Fund so that it can continue to grow the movement to protect ecologically important lands.
The BC Parks Foundation is only a few years old but has had astounding success in protecting threatened natural lands in the province through crowdsourcing.
In 2019, the BC Parks Foundation’s crowdfunding campaign to protect Princess Louisa Inlet went viral around the world and raised $3 million in three months. In 2020 the Foundation inspired British Columbians to reach over one 1 million photo observations to document the province’s biodiversity.
More recently, the BC Parks Foundation worked with the Tahltan Nation in B.C. and others to protect over 8,500 acres in northern B.C. In total, Foundation supporters have now reached over 1.5 million science observations and helped protect over 10,000 acres of threatened lands from development in the last two years.
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For interviews or further information, contact: Carolyn Jack, [email protected]; 604-970-3234 or Kendall Spencer, [email protected]; 604-834-4265
Byron Horner
Executive Director, Wilson 5 Foundation
Andrew Day
CEO, BC Parks Foundation
About the BC Parks Foundation
The BC Parks Foundation is an independent registered charitable foundation with a mission to enhance and sustain BC’s world-class parks system in a spirit of gratitude and celebration. Learn more at bcparksfoundation.ca.
About the Wilson 5 Foundation
The Wilson 5 Foundation is a philanthropic family foundation with a focus on land conservancy, parks and public art to encourage recreation and movement. It was established in 2012 by serial entrepreneur Chip Wilson, his wife Shannon, and their five sons. To learn more, visit www.holditall.com.