Message from the Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement

On June 5th, we were honoured to join with SFU community members, partners, and supporters in celebrating the Stephens family, led by Ratana and Arran Stephens, and their visionary $40-million gift—the largest single donation in SFU history and one of the largest to a school of medicine in Canada—to transform the future of medical education and health innovation in B.C.

The SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine represents meaningful connection, opportunity, and a lasting commitment to the families and communities it will serve for years to come. We are deeply humbled and inspired by the Stephens family and their belief in the positive impact that the medical school will have on the health and well-being of people and this province.

The Stephens care deeply about making a difference for B.C.—and about the important role that universities play in our social fabric. They are not alone.

Each day at SFU, we witness the change that’s possible thanks to thoughtful partners like you whose values align with our mission. We see firsthand how your generosity propels students, researchers, programs, and innovation in advancing an inclusive and sustainable future.

In this issue of Engage, we share more about the Stephens family and their remarkable investment in the future of health care. We celebrate the Trottier Family Foundation’s enduring commitment to inspire curiosity in the wonders of the universe. We introduce you to Paul Cowcher, SFU’s Director, Development, Campus Planning and Development, who, with his colleagues, is helping to create learning environments where people can thrive.

Discover how our donor community is invigorating after-school learning for newcomer children and youth through the Friends of Simon tutoring program. Meet Dr. Gloria Gutman, a pioneering scholar and advocate whose work has shaped how we understand and support aging in Canada and around the world. Get to know SFU alumnus Kearnon O. Kanne, who is passionate about leaving a literary legacy for future generations.

Learn how the Thomas Kineshanko Memorial Entrepreneurial Prize honours the unconventional path and real-world impact of an inspiring SFU Beedie alumnus, innovator., and entrepreneur. Hear from three SFU students whose lives and learning were changed by donor-funded study abroad experiences. Get some simple estate planning tips from our very own Rory Green, Senior Director, Principal and Planned Gifts.

And celebrate the collective efforts of our diverse community—including an amazing 250 first-time donors—who made a difference where it mattered to them most on SFU’s first Giving Day.

Thank you for all the possibilities you are helping to create. We are sincerely heartened by your belief in SFU and in the future we are working to build together.

Erin Morantz
Vice-President, Advancement & Alumni Engagement