BC Parks Foundation

"For My Granddaughter": A Monthly Gift to Protect BC's Wild Spaces

Imagine a gift that grows with each passing day, a legacy that spans vast forests, rugged mountains, and pristine coastlines. For Jean-Pierre Chanoine, this isn't a dream—it's a monthly commitment that's shaping the future of British Columbia's wild spaces, one acre at a time.

When Jean-Pierre Chanoine emigrated from Belgium to Vancouver 27 years ago, he found himself struck by the natural beauty of British Columbia. "You have the sea, you have the mountains, you have the forest,” he shares. “You have a walkable city with beautiful parks. It's not easy to find a place that has all of that."

Though Jean-Pierre admits he doesn’t spend as much time outdoors himself as he would like to, something magical happened when his daughters were raised in BC’s natural beauty: they became nature lovers, fully embracing the wild places he admired from afar. Today, his monthly commitment to BC Parks Foundation isn’t for his own sake, but for his daughters and his 16-month-old granddaughter—so they can continue to experience the beauty that has shaped their lives.

When Jean-Pierre began searching for an organization committed to conserving BC’s natural spaces, transparency and impact were key. He wanted to be certain that his donations would directly protect the land. “I learned that BC Parks Foundation purchases undeveloped private land, expanding existing parks and protected areas,” he says. “Knowing that most of what I give goes toward this mission is what led me to become a monthly donor”—a commitment he’s kept every month for four years.

For Jean-Pierre, this long-term support reflects a larger mission in his life. As Head of the Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit at BC Children’s Hospital for nearly 20 years, and now a Staff Pediatric Endocrinologist, he’s dedicated his career to the well-being of the next generation. In his eyes, there’s an undeniable connection between a healthy planet and healthy children.

“I was born in a very unusual period,” he shares. “I always lived in a place that was at peace, enjoyed the golden 60’s and 70’s and traveled a lot. That’s not so common these days. Over the past 50 years, we’ve seen a lot of environmental harm, and I feel a deep responsibility to protect what remains for the generations to come.”

When Jean-Pierre’s granddaughter was born 16 months ago, he increased his support to BC Parks Foundation by making an annual gift in her name. “It’s something real, something tangible I can pass on,” he says. “Knowing there’s a piece of BC that will remain wild and untouched, that will be there for my granddaughter and those who come after, it gives me peace of mind.” 

Beyond this annual gift, Jean-Pierre believes his monthly donations provide the sustainable, reliable funding that BC Parks Foundation needs to make a lasting difference, and he implores others to join him. “If you care about the land, if you care about the future, becoming a monthly donor is one of the best ways to ensure these places are preserved. Because once the land is purchased, it’s protected forever.”

In five years, people like Jean-Pierre have helped purchase nearly 60 properties across BC, conserving over 280,000 acres of beauty and biodiversity in the name of future generations.

Protect now, enjoy forever. 

Join our community of monthly donors before Giving Tuesday on December 3, and receive a digital copy of Keep BC Beautiful—a stunning collection of the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife your support helps protect.