Leave a Legacy Gift to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation
Your legacy can shape the future of health care. A gift in your Will can help ensure exceptional care remains close to home for generations to come.
Planning resources
Helpful information to guide you in your legacy giving journey
Legal Information
Full Legal Name: Lions Gate Hospital Foundation
Charitable Registration Number: 11902 0907 RR0001
Address: 231 East 15th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2L7
How to help
Explore Your Legacy Giving Options
There are many meaningful ways to create a lasting impact. Explore the options below to find an approach that reflects your wishes and works for you and your family.
Gift in Your Will
Leaving a gift in your Will is simple and powerful. It allows you to create a legacy larger than may be possible during your lifetime, while retaining full control of your assets.
Life Insurance
A gift of life insurance is an affordable way to make a significant future impact. A modest premium today can create a lasting legacy of care tomorrow.
Gifts of Real-Estate & Property
You can donate a home now while retaining the right to live in it, or leave real estate through your Will. Artwork, jewellery and other valuable property may also be donated during your lifetime or through your estate.
Registered Accounts
You can name Lions Gate Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary of your RRSP or RRIF. This tax-smart gift turns heavily taxed assets into meaningful support while reducing estate taxes.
Gifts of Securities in Your Will
Your Will can allow your executor to transfer appreciated publicly traded securities directly from your estate to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. This may eliminate tax on the capital gain and generate a charitable tax credit, allowing more of your estate to support exceptional health care.
Request Our Planned Giving Guide
Explore gifts in your Will, securities, registered funds, recognition opportunities and the Legacy Society. Complete the form to receive a downloadable copy right away, and request a complimentary printed guide by mail.
YOUR LEGACY AT WORK
100%
of your donation supports patient care and improvements.
Thanks to the strength of our endowment fund, the Foundation’s administrative costs are fully covered. This means 100% of your gift can support patient care, life-saving equipment and vital improvements at Lions Gate Hospital and other publicly funded health care facilities across the North Shore.
Legacy gifts account for nearly a quarter of all donations the Foundation receives each year. They help Lions Gate Hospital meet urgent needs, respond to emerging challenges and invest in the equipment, facilities and staff education that patients rely on. Every gift, from $1,000 to $1,000,000, reflects a deep commitment to the health of our community.
Legacy Stories from the North Shore
Marlene Walmsley: A Lifetime of Caring
Throughout her life, West Vancouver resident Marlene Walmsley was dedicated to caring for others. After graduating as a registered nurse in 1955, she spent 25 years at St. Paul’s Hospital, then shared her knowledge with the next generation as Chief Instructor of Nursing at BCIT, where she built strong connections with Lions Gate Hospital while accompanying students through their final weeks of training.
Honouring Marlene’s wish to support LGH, her partner Alan Giolma established an endowment in her name to help North Shore nursing staff continue their education. Her estate also made a significant contribution to the Re-Imagine Rehab campaign, including essential equipment. Even now, her care continues.
Don Cowan: Giving Back to the Care He Received
Don Cowan experienced exceptional care at Lions Gate Hospital, in the High Acuity Unit and in older spaces awaiting renewal. When he passed away, his family knew how deeply he cared about the hospital, and it was no surprise that he chose to honour that connection with a gift in his Will. Today, Don’s gift is helping build a new intensive rehab unit in the South Tower, so future patients can recover in a brighter, more welcoming environment.
Learn More About Your Options
Every gift is personal. Open a section below to learn how each option works, what to consider and the steps involved.
Leave a gift in your will
A gift in your Will is a meaningful way to reflect your values and help shape the future of health care on the North Shore.
After taking care of the people closest to you, you can leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or an asset such as property or securities. Your plans can also be changed at any time by updating your Will.
Already have a Will? A codicil may allow you to add a charitable gift without rewriting the entire document.
Legal Information for Your Advisor
Full Legal Name: Lions Gate Hospital Foundation
Charitable Registration Number: 11902 0907 RR0001
A charitable gift through your estate may provide valuable tax benefits. We recommend speaking with your legal and financial advisors about the options available to you.
If you have already included Lions Gate Hospital Foundation in your Will, we would be grateful to hear from you. It gives us the opportunity to thank you, understand your wishes and welcome you to the Legacy Society, a community helping to shape the future of health care on the North Shore.
Registered Accounts
Naming Lions Gate Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary of your registered accounts is a simple and tax-effective way to leave a lasting impact on health care in your community.
RRSPs and RRIFs are generally treated as income on your final tax return. A charitable gift can generate a donation tax credit that may help offset some or all of the resulting tax. You may also name the Foundation as a beneficiary of a TFSA, although TFSAs are treated differently for tax purposes.
How It Works
- Contact your bank or financial institution and request a beneficiary designation form.
- Name Lions Gate Hospital Foundation as a full or partial beneficiary of your RRSP, RRIF or TFSA.
- Return the completed form to your financial institution.
Benefits of Donating Registered Funds
- You retain full control of your accounts during your lifetime.
- Your beneficiary designation can generally be updated at any time.
- Your gift may generate a charitable tax credit that can be claimed on your final tax return.
- Funds designated directly to the Foundation generally pass outside your estate, which may reduce probate fees and delays.
- You can support exceptional health care without changing your Will.
After your lifetime, the designated funds are transferred directly to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation to support outstanding health care for people across the North Shore.
We recommend speaking with your financial and legal advisors to determine the best approach for your circumstances.
Life Insurance
A gift of life insurance can be an affordable way to make a significant future contribution while preserving other assets for the people you care about. Depending on how the gift is arranged, it may also provide charitable tax benefits during your lifetime or through your estate.
Ways to Give Life Insurance
Name Lions Gate Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary
You retain ownership and control of your policy during your lifetime. When the proceeds are paid to the Foundation, a charitable tax receipt is issued for the eligible gift and may be claimed on your final tax return.Transfer ownership of an existing policy
By making Lions Gate Hospital Foundation the owner and beneficiary, you may receive a charitable tax receipt based on the policy’s eligible value at the time of transfer.Continue paying premiums on a transferred policy
If premiums remain payable after ownership has been transferred to the Foundation, eligible premium payments may also qualify for charitable tax receipts.Establish a new policy
You may purchase a new policy naming Lions Gate Hospital Foundation as both owner and beneficiary. Eligible premium payments may qualify for annual charitable tax receipts.
Life insurance gifts require careful planning and acceptance by the Foundation. Please contact us before transferring a policy or purchasing a new one. We also recommend speaking with your insurance, legal and financial advisors to determine which option is best for you.
Questions about a gift of life insurance?
Carolyn Anderson
Director, Planned Giving
604.984.5857
Carolyn.Anderson@vch.ca
Gifts of Land / Property
A gift of property, such as real estate, artwork, jewellery or another valuable asset, can make a meaningful contribution to health care on the North Shore. Property may be donated during your lifetime or through your estate and may provide valuable tax benefits.
Before accepting a gift of property and issuing a charitable tax receipt, Lions Gate Hospital Foundation may require an independent professional appraisal to confirm its fair market value. Each proposed gift is reviewed individually to ensure the Foundation can accept and manage it responsibly.
If you are considering a gift of property, please contact us before making any arrangements. We would be happy to discuss your plans, explain what documentation may be required and explore how your gift can best support Lions Gate Hospital.
Contact
Carolyn Anderson
Director, Planned Giving
604.984.5857
Carolyn.Anderson@vch.ca
Gifts of Securities Through Your Will
A gift of appreciated securities through your Will can be a tax-effective way to support Lions Gate Hospital while helping reduce the tax burden on your estate.
To preserve the potential tax benefits, the securities should be transferred directly from your estate’s investment account to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. If the executor sells the securities first and then donates the cash, the estate may not receive the same capital gains treatment.
Planning Your Gift
Ask your lawyer to include a charitable gift to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation in your Will.
Ensure your Will gives your executor the authority to satisfy all or part of the gift by transferring publicly traded securities in kind.
Let your executor know that you would like appreciated securities considered for the gift.
When the time comes, your executor should contact the Foundation before selling or transferring the securities.
The Foundation will provide transfer instructions and issue a charitable tax receipt based on the fair market value of the securities when they are received.
You do not need to identify particular securities in your Will. Your investments may change over time, so it is usually better to give your executor the flexibility to select appropriate securities from your estate.
Sample Language to Discuss With Your Lawyer
“I authorize my Trustee, in their discretion, to satisfy all or any portion of a charitable gift to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation by transferring publicly traded securities or other property acceptable to the Foundation. Where appropriate, I request that my Trustee consider transferring securities with accrued capital gains directly to the Foundation rather than selling them.”
Eligible publicly traded securities donated directly to a registered charity may qualify for a zero capital gains inclusion rate. Estate donations may also generate a charitable tax credit that can be allocated according to the applicable estate tax rules.
Please speak with your legal and tax advisors when preparing your Will. The Foundation would also be pleased to work with you and your advisors to help ensure your gift can be completed as intended.
Join the LEGACY SOCIETY
Thinking about leaving a gift to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation?
The Legacy Society honours those who have thoughtfully planned a gift, whether through a will, life insurance, registered funds, or a trust. Members receive special recognition, invitations to events, and unique opportunities to connect, while helping ensure quality health care on the North Shore for generations to come.
Legacy Giving FAQ
How do I leave a gift in my Will to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation?
Speak with your lawyer about including a gift to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation in your Will. You can leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or an asset such as property or securities. Our suggested Will wording can help you get started.
What information will my lawyer need?
Your lawyer will need our full legal name, Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and our Charitable Registration Number, 11902 0907 RR0001.
I already have a Will. Do I need to rewrite it?
No. A codicil may allow you to add a charitable gift to your existing Will without rewriting the entire document.
Do I need to tell the Foundation about my gift?
You don’t have to, but we’d be grateful to hear from you. It gives us the chance to thank you, understand your wishes and welcome you to the Legacy Society. We respect those who prefer to remain anonymous, and sharing your plans doesn’t mean we’ll ask for anything more.
Are there tax benefits to leaving a legacy gift?
A gift through your estate may generate a charitable tax credit that can help reduce the taxes owed on your final return. We recommend speaking with your legal and financial advisors about the options that fit your situation.
Can I talk to someone about my plans?
Yes. Carolyn Anderson, Director, Planned Giving, is happy to answer your questions at 604.984.5857 or carolyn.anderson@vch.ca.
Let's Talk About your Legacy
Questions about planned giving? I’d be happy to help.
Carolyn Anderson
Director, Planned Giving
604.984.5857
carolyn.anderson@vch.ca
Legal Information
Full Legal Name: Lions Gate Hospital Foundation
Address: 231 East 15th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2L7
Charitable BN# 11902 0907 RR0001
