Peninsula Co-op Pledges $100,000 Matching Gift to Support BC Cancer – Victoria Expansion

The BC Cancer Foundation is thrilled to announce a generous $100,000 matching gift from Peninsula Co-op in support of the Foundation’s fundraising campaign to establish the BC Cancer – Victoria Ernie & Yvonne Yakimovich Integrated Care and Research Pavilion.

With Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3, this matching gift is timed to inspire generosity and double the impact of every donation made to the campaign from Nov. 22 to Dec. 6. This is an opportunity for the community to come together and make a significant difference in the future of cancer care on Vancouver Island.

The new Pavilion, a 12,000-square-foot building at 2340 Richmond Road, will provide a dedicated space for BC Cancer’s essential Supportive Care programs, including Patient & Family Counselling, Hereditary Counselling and Medical Genetics. By relocating several clinical and administrative teams, including part of the Clinical Trials Unit, to the Pavilion it will free up critical space in the main BC Cancer treatment building and enhance patient care.

BC Cancer Foundation is working to raise $11.3 million to fully fund the purchase and renovation of the Pavilion. With less than $1 million remaining to reach this goal, Peninsula Co-op’s matching gift offers the community a powerful opportunity to make a lasting impact and help bring the Pavilion to life.

With over 120,000 members, Peninsula Co-op has proudly served Vancouver Island for nearly 50 years and is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that improve health and well-being for local residents.

“We are honoured to support the BC Cancer Foundation’s campaign to bring this Integrated Care and Research Pavilion to life. This matching gift reflects our shared commitment to improving the lives of those affected by cancer on Vancouver Island. We believe that by coming together as a community, we can create a space that offers not just care, but hope, healing and comfort for patients and their families in our community,” says Lindsay Gaudette, Director of Marketing and Community Relations with Peninsula Co-op.

“Peninsula Co-op is providing the community with a unique opportunity to make a transformative impact,” says William Litchfield, Executive Director – Vancouver Island, BC Cancer Foundation. “Every dollar raised brings us closer to establishing a dedicated space for supportive care services that will profoundly improve the care journey for thousands of local patients and their families each year.”

Scheduled to open in spring 2025, the Pavilion will offer a healing environment where patients and families can access supportive care away from the main treatment facility. This thoughtfully designed space will help reduce stress for patients and provide a more comfortable setting for programs that support emotional and mental well-being.

From Nov. 22 to Dec. 6, Peninsula Co-op will match every dollar donated to this campaign, up to $100,000, allowing Vancouver Island residents to play a direct role in building a legacy of care and compassion for future generations.

Donate today at: bccancerfoundation.com/peninsula

For more information:

Colleen Hamilton (Manager, Communications, BC Cancer Foundation): colleen.hamilton@bccancer.bc.ca 

Lindsay Gaudette (Director, Marketing and Community Relations, Peninsula Co-op): 250-544-2950 or marketing@peninsulaco-op.com