Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Emily Brydon Youth Foundation (EBYF)

The Emily Brydon Youth Foundation (EBYF) is a community‑based charity dedicated to removing financial barriers for young people in the Elk Valley region of British Columbia, including Fernie, Elkford and Sparwood. Created in 2006 by Olympian Emily Brydon, the foundation channels donations and endowment income into direct financial support so that youth can participate in sports, arts and educational opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

EBYF focuses its funding on three main areas: sport, arts and education. In sport, it helps cover registration and program fees, competition and tournament costs, and specialized training and development. In the arts, it supports access to music, visual arts, performance, creative programs and workshops. In education, it funds tutoring, academic enrichment, learning initiatives and related participation costs that remove economic obstacles to learning and personal development.

The foundation’s support is open to several categories of applicants connected to the Elk Valley. Youth and families can apply directly for help with specific opportunities. Schools, community organizations and program leaders may apply on behalf of young people they serve, and other registered foundations that foster development through sports, arts or education can also seek assistance. Each request is reviewed individually and with context, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis as funds allow, rather than through rigid intake deadlines.

Funding is primarily small to medium‑sized awards aimed at unlocking concrete opportunities: covering a season’s registration, enabling participation in a camp or tournament, paying for tutoring, or supporting local programs run by trusted organizations. Over its nearly two decades of activity, EBYF reports having invested more than $1 million back into the Elk Valley, partnering with over 80 community organizations and supporting more than a thousand local youth.

EBYF is governed by a volunteer board of directors that includes its founder and community leaders with experience in business, law, media and sport. The foundation underscores stewardship and responsible use of donations, noting that every dollar raised stays in the Elk Valley. It also maintains an endowment through the Calgary Foundation, giving donors additional options for structured, long‑term contributions via cash, shares or securities.

By working closely with schools and community organizations that understand local needs, EBYF ensures that funds are targeted where they will have the greatest impact. This collaborative model allows the foundation both to fund individual youth requests and to strengthen the broader ecosystem of youth‑serving programs in the region.

At its core, the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation aims to ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of a young person’s potential. Its mission is to enable the dreams and passions of Elk Valley youth through program support in sports, arts and education. Looking ahead, the foundation intends to continue expanding access to opportunity, deepening partnerships and adapting its support to the evolving realities and aspirations of local youth.