Hamber Foundation

The Hamber Foundation Bettering the lives of British Columbians Since 1965 The Foundation makes grants for cultural, educational and charitable purposes within the Province of British Columbia. The Honourable Eric Werge Hamber 1879 – 1960 During the course of his life, Eric Werge Hamber excelled as a scholar, athlete, banker, lumberman, industrialist, university chancellor, and philanthropist. After obtaining an honours degree in classics at St. John’s — Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg, Mr. Hamber began his career with a Canadian bank, ultimately moving to British Columbia to establish the bank’s first branch in Vancouver. Following his marriage in 1912 to Aldyen Irene Hendry, his interests and energies were directed to the forestry and commercial holdings of the Hendry family who were British Columbia pioneers. Mr. Hamber maintained throughout his lifetime a keen sense of social obligation and responsibility. He continued his interests in athletic accomplishments, and took active roles in organizations concerned with the well-being, education, culture and needs of the community. He was Honorary Colonel of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and of the Fifth BC Coast Brigade. He was Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia from 1937 to 1941; a Freeman of the City of Vancouver; and served as Chancellor of the University of British Columbia from 1944 to 1951. In 1942 Premier Pattullo designated an area in eastern BC as Hamber Park to commemorate Mr. Hamber’s service as Lieutenant Governor. ___ Objectives Educational Resources Amateur Athletics Health & Welfare Cultural & Creative Arts The Hamber Foundation is incorporated under the Societies Act of British Columbia and is registered under the Income Tax Act of Canada as a private charity. The Foundation makes grants for cultural, educational and charitable purposes within the Province of British Columbia. The Foundation prefers to support specific projects rather than contributing to general sustaining assistance or to large capital projects. The Foundation may review major grant proposals from time to time. Since 1965, in excess of $12 million has been distributed by The Hamber Foundation throughout British Columbia. The long list of grant recipients is comprised of deserving organizations and associations in the arts, athletics, health care and medicine, education, youth groups, and welfare. The Foundation has also provided recording studios at the Charles Crane Memorial Library for the Blind; funded The Eric W. Hamber Memorial Library at Children’s Hospital; has established and maintains a Chair at The University of British Columbia known as The Honourable Eric W. Hamber Professorship in Medicine; funded the Special Collections Reading Room at the new Vancouver Public Library known as the Aldyen Irene Hamber Room; funded the Hamber Foundation Room at the SFU Center For Dialogue and established the Hamber Foundation Visiting Professorship in Dental Geratrics Endowment Fund at UBC. Grants have helped schools, libraries, art galleries, hospitals, crafts organizations, opera associations, dance companies, symphony orchestras, theatre, youth programs, and choirs. Hamber assistance has been provided to disabled athletes, to libraries for books and tapes, theatre companies to conduct school tours, fund scholarships, bursaries and awards, furnish sports equipment for children and adolescents, purchase equipment for a hospital nursery, buy pianos for music schools, restore historical sites, foster summer arts festivals, purchase treatment equipment for the handicapped, seniors’ centres and seniors’ activities, fund the cost of sending deaf preschoolers to summer camp, mount art exhibitions for young people, and fund medical research. The list of projects is as wide-ranging as the interests and needs of the people throughout the cities, towns and communities of British Columbia.