Leading the way to better mental health

Mental illness affects thousands of people across BC. It can happen to anyone at any time, and has devastating impacts – on people, families, the workforce and communities. Tragically, it is a disease largely shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding.

This is why we are so grateful to Coast Capital Savings Credit Union. Since 2002, Coast Capital has raised over $2.8 million for mental health research, including ten research projects ranging from brain imaging and genetic-based studies on mood disorders, to the evaluation of new psychological treatments for depression.

Coast Capital has been a long-term partner and advocate for mental health. Coast Capital leaders have mobilized awareness and engaged the business community in a dialogue about the impact of mental illness on the workforce and the economy. “One in five Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime,” says Don Coulter, President & CEO, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union. “With those numbers, it is safe to say that mental illness touches all of us in some way.”

“Corporate donations, like this one from Coast Capital, are essential to funding mental health research,” notes Barbara Grantham, President & CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “When companies make philanthropic investments, they have the power to advance health care in BC.”

The efforts of Coast Capital Savings have profoundly impacted ongoing work at VGH and UBC Hospital, offering hope and healing to people across BC suffering from mental illness.

Learn more about the Coast Capital Savings’ annual Golf Tournament

Harry Rosen Tournament for Life raises over $573,000 for prostate care and research

Golf 2019 tournament

L-R: Rod Senft, Dr. Martin Gleave, Wes Purdie, and Barbara Grantham.

Talk about a hole in one! The 23rd annual Harry Rosen Tournament for Life was a smashing success, driving forward prostate care and research in BC with over $573,000 raised at the event held on Monday, June 10.

Golfers from around the business and health care communities rallied together for a beautiful day of golf at the Point Grey Golf & Country Club in support of the Vancouver Prostate Centre (VPC) and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

Attendees funded two state-of-the-art pieces of equipment, which will lead to faster diagnosis and improved treatments for the 2,800 men in BC who are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year.

Groundbreaking Research. Acquiring the AKTA Pure 25 liquid chromatography system enables VPC researchers to produce more targeted drug therapies and clinical treatments, improving longevity and quality of life for prostate cancer patients.

Transformative Care. To manage the VPC’s growing number of patients and provide them with the highest level of diagnostic accuracy, the new high-resolution ultrasound machine with an additional probe enables patients to get their diagnosis faster, and therefore onto the path of recovery sooner.

Congratulations to 2019 Ted Ticknor Award recipients Darlene Poole and her late husband, Jack. VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation was honoured to celebrate and recognize their remarkable leadership and legacy in raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer research and treatment.

To date, the tournament has raised over $5.1 million in support of the VPC, whose work is saving the lives of British Columbian men every day.

To learn more about the amazing work done by the VPC, watch Don’s Story below.

See photos and more information from the event.

Golf tournament raises over $645,000 for prostate cancer care and research!

Harry Rosen Tournament for Life $645,00 raised in 2018

L-R: Barbara Grantham, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation; Wes Purdie, Harry Rosen; Dr. Martin Gleave, Vancouver Prostate Centre, Rod Senft, Tricor Pacific Capital Inc; Dr. Larry Goldenberg, Vancouver Prostate Centre

On June 11, 2018, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation greeted over 150 golfers at Point Grey Golf & Country Club for the 22nd annual Harry Rosen Tournament for Life a day of fun, prizes and inspiration to raise important funds for prostate cancer.

The event raised over $645,000 to support the Vancouver Prostate Centre (VPC) and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Funds will be used to purchase an IncuCyte Live Cell Imaging System — an automated microscope that will allow researchers and physicians to analyze current prostate cancer therapies and develop new potential treatments.

Prostate cancer survivor and host of BCTV’s Home Check, Shell Busey, shared his experience of receiving world-class treatment and care at the VPC. Shell benefited from cutting-edge robotic surgery and has been cancer-free for over 8 years.

Special thanks to emcee Chris Gailus of Global BC for keeping guests entertained and inspired throughout the night, and to Vancouver Canucks alumnus, Darcy Rota for hosting our putting contest.

Thank you to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, golfers and committee members who helped make this event an incredible success. With your dedicated support, the Tournament for Life has raised over $4.5 million to date. Your support is vital to transforming the lives of men and their families impacted by prostate cancer. Together, we stand united in finding better treatments so that one day we may find a cure.

For more information and to see photos from the event, click here.

2017 Harry Rosen Tournament for Life raises over $660,000!

The 21st Annual Harry Rosen Tournament for Life presented by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP broke records raising more than $660,000 to date. Proceeds from the event benefit the Vancouver Prostate Centre (VPC) and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to advance prostate cancer care and research.

Held on June 12, business, health care and community leaders rallied together on a gorgeous sunny day at Point Grey Golf & Country Club to take a swing against prostate cancer. This signature event has raised over $4 million supporting the world-class research, clinical trials and patient clinics that are helping us better understand prostate cancer and how to fight it.

Funds raised at the event will purchase a fusion biopsy machine for VPC. With this innovative equipment, patients will benefit from earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer by increasing accuracy of detection and reduce the number of biopsies needed. Thank you to prostate cancer survivor Tom Stevens for sharing his inspirational story with all of us to reinforce the important need for a new fusion biopsy machine to help save more lives.

Congratulations to the 2017 Ted Ticknor Award Recipient Daryl Clark for his commitment to raising awareness about prostate cancer in the community and for the incredible bravery he has shown in sharing his personal journey.

A big heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, golfers and committee members who helped make this event an incredible success. Special thanks to Todd Talbot for providing live on-location reporting with CKNW980 and our emcee Chris Gailus with Global BC. Your support is vital to transforming the lives of men and their families impacted by prostate cancer. Together, we stand united in finding better treatments so that one day we may find a cure.

2017 Harry Rosen Tournament for Life Sponsors 

Prostate cancer survivor Tom Stevens shares his inspirational story:

The Mackenzie Tour Gives Back

Now in its fifth year, the Mackenzie Tour is a series of 12 professional golf tournaments played across the country each summer at several of Canada’s most beautiful and challenging golf courses. It is organized and operated by the PGA TOUR, known for its flagship TOUR consisting of over 40 tournaments primarily in North America that include The Players (flagship PGA TOUR event), RBC Canadian Open, The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Arnold Palmer MasterCard Invitational to name only a few. Mackenzie Tour is where aspiring PGA TOUR professionals come to begin their career. At the end of each year, the five leading money winners from Mackenzie Tour move up the ladder and qualify for playing status on the Web.com Tour for the following season. The ultimate goal of all players is to continue climbing up the ladder and compete on the PGA TOUR.

Mackenzie Tour’s mission is to deliver a PGA TOUR experience for its players, members, fans, volunteers and its sponsors in order to develop the future stars of professional golf & enrich the communities it visits. The PGA TOUR (a non–profit organization) generates millions of dollars annually to support local charities. In Canada the TOUR surpassed $1.0 million in donations in 2016.

The first stop on the tour schedule is the Freedom 55 Financial Open.  The tournament takes place at Point Grey Golf & Country Club the week of May 29 – June 4th. Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, graduates of the Mackenzie Tour and both from the lower mainland have recently captured their first PGA TOUR victories.

100% of ticket sales purchased through VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation will benefit the Most Urgent Needs Fund. Donations to the Most Urgent Needs Fund support our hospitals’ most critical needs, including equipment and acclaimed research required to advance treatment and care.

Purchase tickets here