The Squamish Hospital Foundation (SHF) is the principal charitable fundraising and funding partner for acute and public health care in Squamish and the wider Sea to Sky Corridor in British Columbia. Incorporated in 1995, the foundation works alongside Vancouver Coastal Health, Squamish General Hospital, Hilltop House long-term care home, the Sea to Sky Community Hospice, Foundry Sea to Sky, Whistler Health Care Centre, Pemberton Health Centre and other community health services.
Role in the health funding ecosystem
SHF identifies equipment and special project needs that are not covered by provincial or regional health authority budgets and directs donor dollars to close these gaps. Its funding has supported a wide range of medical equipment and infrastructure, from defibrillators, fetal and cardiac monitors, CPAP machines and chemotherapy-related items, to medication dispensing cabinets, maternity program instruments and upgrades to nursing spaces. The foundation also contributes to capital campaigns at partner organizations, including major commitments to the Whistler Healthcare Foundation, the Sea to Sky Community Hospice and Foundry Sea to Sky.
Education bursaries and staff support
Beyond capital purchases, the foundation offers an Education Bursary program for Squamish nurses and allied health staff. Through donor contributions and endowments, SHF provides individual education funding for courses such as palliative care, advanced cardiac life support, ECG, neonatal resuscitation and training on sexual assault forensic examinations. This targeted financial support helps clinicians enhance skills and ultimately improve patient care in the region.
Communities served and strategic priorities
The foundation’s mandate spans the entire Sea to Sky region, supporting services that benefit residents from the North Shore through Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, including mental health and substance use services and community health centres. Its strategic plan emphasizes strategic fundraising, timely fund allocation to the most vital health needs, donor stewardship, partnership-building with health system stakeholders, community engagement and strengthening its own organizational capacity.
Equity, reconciliation and community initiatives
SHF acknowledges the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s health-related Calls to Action and explicitly invites suggestions and funding requests that advance health equity for Indigenous peoples. The foundation also participates in collaborative funding efforts with other regional health foundations and supports youth mental health and wellness initiatives through Foundry Sea to Sky. Fundraising activities include an annual Dr. Kindree Golf Tournament, raffles, matching programs, community events and legacy giving, all of which fuel ongoing grants and investments into local health services.