The Selkirk Community Foundation was established in 1995 through local leadership and the support of the Thomas Sill Foundation. Early donations and strong community involvement allowed the foundation to grow steadily, supporting local initiatives such as healthcare, recreation, and social services. Over time, it has expanded into a major community resource, continuing to fund projects and improve the quality of life for many people.
The Selkirk Community Foundation was born from generosity, grit, and an unwavering belief that anything is possible. These values have continued to this day, forged by years of hard work and persistence.
Thomas Sill, an accountant, investor, and philanthropist from Winnipeg had a special interest in giving back to the community. He was an unassuming man who gave endlessly throughout his life. He had no children and no family, and so after his death in 1986, his accounting firm, Sill Streuber and Fiske became responsible for distributing the funds of his estate. Not expecting there to be much money left, given his continuous charity throughout his life, his associates where shocked to find over 30 million dollars in his estate. Thomas Sill’s wishes were to create a charitable entity which would help the people of Manitoba for years beyond his death. Members of Sill Streuber and Fiske formed a board to fulfill this wish, and the Thomas Sill Foundation was established.
One of the first initiatives of the Sill Foundation was the launch of the Community Foundation Incentive, which was intended to inspire community foundations in rural and Northern Manitoba. Nineteen communities including Selkirk accepted the challenge. If communities could raise $200 000, the Thomas Sill Foundation would match $100 000.
A local lawyer, Lewis Wasel believed Selkirk and the surrounding area could meet the challenge and took it upon himself to find people who would join him. Another man, Dr. Ike Hussain, was keen to protect and ensure donations that came to the Hospital stayed within Selkirk. His passion was strengthened by the change in structure from Hospital Boards to the Regional Health Authority system we have today. He felt a community foundation was the best way to ensure this goal.
Hussain’s motivations dovetailed with Lewis Wasel’s belief in the community and together they recruited a board of nine people: Lewis Wassel as Chairperson, Bill Findlater as Treasurer, who incidentally also worked at the Selkirk branch of Sill Streuber and Fiske, and who represented the Sill Foundation, Dr. Ike Hussain, Jean Oliver, Dawn MacFarlane, Ed Sitarz, Charles Barnard, Fred Koch, and Elmer Kuber. The board officially incorporated on June 14, 1995. The Sill Foundation provided $2000 for start up costs.
The first Selkirk Foundation Board Meetings were held at 7am in the Hospital Board Room before Dr. Hussain went into surgery. A busy man he was, saving lives by day and investing money at all other hours, 7am was the only time he could meet, and the other board members obliged, tirelessly, or more accurately, tiredly, showing up at the break of dawn for years.
Others who assisted the beginnings of the Foundation were Roberta Martin, Martin Zellich, Bill Bodman, another accountant with Sill Streuber and Fiske in Selkirk, and countless others.
Believing in the Future
The Board created a brochure which was distributed to the community to raise awareness about the newly created Foundation and help them reach that first $200 000 goal. Donor recognition was listed on the back of the brochure with those who gave $10 000 or more listed as Founders.
Raising awareness and building trust may have been a challenge in the early days, but struggle is hardly evident as the gifts began rolling in almost instantly. The first gift came from a neighbourhood retirement party hosted by the ‘Maple Drive gang’. The gift totalled $40 and represented an even greater gift, the belief in community and generosity for the future.
Shortly after the second gift rolled in. Jim and Betty Ann Gaynor, who operated Gaynor Foods donated $500 for every year they had been in business. 20 years of successful business operations led to a $10 000 donation. The gift was presented at the inaugural board meeting on June 26, 1995.
At the first public dinner on November 22, Rick Kordalchuk from the Selkirk & District General Hospital presented a $100 000 cheque designated for the Selkirk Hospital Fund. This donation brought funds up to $125 000 meeting over half the Foundation’s goal within five months of incorporation.
By June 30th 1997, donations to the Foundation totalled $157 000 and the Sill Foundation provided $50 000 of the matching grant with the second portion promised in two installments as the funds increased. The Foundation received the remaining money in 1998 and 1999.
When the new Interlake Regional Health Authority system was officially in place, the government pushed for the Hospital Fund to be given to the Interlake, but the Selkirk Foundation adamantly resisted. It was money from the community for the community and so it should stay. After much debate over the funds, it wasn’t until the very last minute, as the hospital was signed over to join the Interlake, that it was agreed the money could stay.
Maude Gordon
Another quiet and unassuming individual, Maude Gordon, also contributed substantially to the Foundation. She had written in her will that her assets would go to the Winnipeg Foundation. However, at some point before her death in 1997, she changed her mind and penciled in that the funds would go to the Selkirk District Community Foundation and the Lord Selkirk High School Scholarship Fund instead.
Because of these handwritten notations, the estate was subject to a Court Application. On June 15, 1999, the legal settlement stated that the funds were to be held and managed by the Winnipeg Foundation. However, the SDCF was to be a benefactor of a portion of the estate, which allowed the SDCF to receive granting money from half of the estate. Today Maude Gordon’s bequest not only supports granting but operating costs as well.
Operating a Foundation
Operating costs in the first few years were covered by a $5000 grant from the Province of Manitoba, donations from the Royal Bank of Canada, and a grant from the Community Foundations of Canada. Having no official address, the Selkirk Foundation operated out of someone’s home with a PO Box as an address for 8 years. It was due time for some form of official office. Under the leadership of Gail Bodman in 2003, the Foundation found a home in the back half of the BDO office and an office at the Town of Selkirk Civic Centre.
Unique Ways of Fundraising
When Robert Jefferson joined the board in 1999, he recognized a need for money to cover operating costs. He began hosting a golf tournament, which ran for 25 years and was immensely popular. Bob Jefferson, owner of Century 21 Jefferson Associates sponsored the event with Michael Buhr and Ron Knight from IG Wealth Management as hosts. The Foundation was the grateful recipient of the proceeds which, along with Bob Jefferson’s personal donations amounted to nearly $5000. This money went directly towards operating costs. The golf tournaments provided the necessary funds for smooth operation but also provided necessary laughs, fun, and memories.
A Well-Oiled Machine
In 2003, Ray Anderson became the Foundation’s first Executive Director. Shortly afterwards, in 2005, Bev Clegg took on the role and introduced a more official Executive Director position.
From 2006-2009 a new goal was introduced of raising $1 million in three years. Unfortunately, due to the recession, the Foundation fell short of the goal, with only $850 000 raised. Still large achievement, especially under the circumstances.
When Gail Bodman’s term as Treasurer ended in 2009, her husband Bill Bodman filled the position. Bill had also been the Treasurer at the Thomas Sill Foundation, so his experience was greatly valued. Bill introduced an admin fee which allowed for the operating expenses and Executive Director Salary costs to be met and for the Foundation to thrive.
In 2010, Chairperson Michael Buhr initiated the Drive for Five with the goal of reaching $5 million in 5 years. The Gaynor Family stepped up once more and donated $1 million, allowing for the asset goal to be met in under a year. Michael also recognized the need for admin support and created a fund in 2009 to support this with an initial $10 000 that has been growing ever since.
During the 2020 pandemic, administrative money became available for a variety of reasons. The Board decided to use the income from the Maude Gordon bequest for admin costs, rather than granting. Large public events were no longer held, and Federal Government Programs offered financial support. The Board invested these funds into a new website, improving salaries, staff benefits, and hiring a new staff member.
A Legacy For Forever
By 2023, assets at the SDCF totalled $15.9 million and granting funds amounted to $822 726. The Thomas Sill Foundation dissolved in December 2023, and the SDCF was one of five community foundations that received a final donation.
To continue Thomas Sill’s legacy, the Selkirk District Community Foundation created the Thomas Sill Fund from the final $1.3 million dollar donation.
All For One and One For All
The Foundation had humble beginnings, as do most in the early days, but it quickly grew into something which has reached every nook and cranny of need in the community. Gifts large or small, it didn’t matter. What mattered most was the belief in community and the desire to provide a better quality of life for all. Lives which are filled with more meaning, stability, and optimism for the future. Many people saw the vision from the beginning and quickly hopped on board. Some gifts are donated in lieu of flowers at funerals, in memory of someone, or in one case, as a ‘Happy Birthday to My Dog.’ The gifts come and go, but fulfillment lasts forever.
Over the years the Foundation has assisted with purchasing an echocardiogram for the Hospital, which now services patients across the Interlake. In a wonderful full circle moment, Dr. Hussain, along with Bud Shiar from the Interlake Health Authority accepted an award from the Foundation for a pledge of $140 000 to the hospital over the next five years. The money went to covering the cost of a new CT scanner which now also services the entire Interlake.
The Foundation has supported Nova House, Project Linus, Camp Stepping Stones, the Rotary Club Skate Park in Selkirk Park, the Red River Basin Commission’s environmental projects, daycares, libraries, hospitals, food supplementation and so much more. And its all because of the community for the community. To see a list of funds held by the Selkirk District Community Foundation visit Selkirk District Community Foundation Funds to Support.
The Selkirk District Community Foundation Collection
Click on images to enlarge
Sill Foundation a Gift of Monumental Proportions, 1992, Selkirk Journal
Sources
Presentation by Barbara Knoll, 2023
Presentation by Bev Clegg,
Oral History Interview with Bev Clegg, Jean Oliver, and Brandon Sutherland
Selkirk Journal, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007
Selkirk District Community Foundation
