> View our 2015 Annual Report

Message from the Chair

In 2015, Coast Funds continued to make good progress in supporting First Nations to implement projects throughout the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

In particular, I am pleased to report that 2015 saw $6,406,189 approved from the economic development fund and $5,063,632 approved from the conservation fund—the second highest combined volume of annual funding since our inception.

These amounts continue the momentum from the previous year (our highest combined volume of annual funding), and reflect the dedicated efforts of First Nations working on economic development and conservation initiatives in their communities. As we move forward, we expect the substantial annual amounts of funding invested by First Nations from the funds will gradually reduce as the mandate of the economic development fund is completed. As of December 31, 2015, Coast Funds had a significant amount remaining in the economic development fund to approve to new projects. We expect that First Nations will continue to seek funding beyond the previously anticipated completion date of 2017.

With this in mind, Coast Funds is currently finalizing a new timeframe for expending the economic development fund after input from stakeholders. We expect that this process will be completed by the end of the year and the decision will be communicated through our newsletter and website.

Throughout 2015, we continued to see the success of recent initiatives that enhance our ability to support future projects. These included positive feedback on the new streamlined application and reporting process, a productive year for capacity strengthening initiatives led by regional groups, and collaboration with First Nations to do a historical analysis of all projects that have been supported since inception. We have completed analysis of the economic, environmental, social, and cultural outcomes from these projects and we will be publishing these in 2016. We also continued to feature the stories of individual projects in our Talking Stick newsletter and look forward to highlighting further initiatives in the upcoming year.

In 2015 Cameron Brown retired from the Board of Directors, and in early 2016 Gerald Wesley also retired from the Board. We thank them both for their dedication and service over many years. Following his nomination by the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, Larry Greba joined the Board in 2015. In January 2016, Coast Funds’ Executive Director, Dave Mannix, retired from his position. Dave joined our organization shortly after our inception, making many significant contributions over his eight years with Coast Funds. We wish him the very best in his retirement.

In April 2016, Brodie Guy was promoted to the Executive Director position. In Brodie, I’m confident that we have a leader who is passionately rooted in our mission and is a creative strategist with demonstrated experience facilitating investment into conservation and sustainable development in British Columbia. Our Board is pleased that this leadership transition has been completed seamlessly with a sustained high level of service to First Nations led by Brodie and our dedicated staff team.

I would like to thank the Board members and staff of Coast Funds for their continuing contribution to the success of Coast Funds and the First Nations we serve.

Merv Child
Former Chair, Coast Funds
Coast Conservation Endowment Fund Foundation
Coast Economic Development Society

> View our 2015 Annual Report