Coast Funds’ board of directors is pleased to announce Dallas Smith has been elected to the role of Chair. Smith has been actively involved with Coast Funds’ since its inception. He served as a Coast Funds Member from 2007 to 2021, when he stepped down to become a board member.
“It’s an honour to step into this role at a time when Coast Funds shifts from a legacy organization of 2000s-era agreements to an organization that is actively partnering with First Nations across the region to uplift our efforts to build sustainable, self-determined financing for the governance and stewardship of our lands and seascapes,” says Smith. “It means a lot to me to support First Nations across the coasts of the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii as we all continue to restore our stewardship authorities and build healthy communities.”
Smith has spent most of his career working to strengthen the well-being of coastal First Nations people. As the founder and President of Na̲nwak̲olas Council he has built positive relationships with all levels of government, industry, and the philanthropic community to find balance between conservation and sustainable economic development.
“With his wealth of experience, strong leadership abilities, and his unwavering commitment to the well-being of First Nations along the coast, our board is honoured to have Dallas as Coast Funds’ board chair,” stated Ḵii’iljuus Barbara Wilson.
Smith has roots from all four corners of the Kwak̓wala speaking peoples. His mother comes from Haxwa’mis Wakeman Sound and Tsakis Fort Rupert and his father coming from G̱wayasdums Gilford Island and Qalagwees Tourner Island. He currently resides in Duncan with his wife and three daughters.
Coast Funds’ CFO, Eddy Adra, will be speaking at an upcoming webinar on best practices in mission-aligned investing and asset management for conservation trust funds.
The webinar is organized by the Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) and is the sixth in monthly series on the Practice Standards for conservation trust funds. It will be held on June 15 at 8am PDT/11 am EDT.
Speakers:
Eddy Adra – CFO, Coast Funds
Zdenka Piskulich – President of RedLAC and Co-Chair of the CFA’s Environmental Funds Working Group
First Nations are partnering with Coast Funds to build and invest their endowed funds to sustainably finance stewardship authorities for generations to come.
Coast Funds is accepting new applications from participating First Nations for our current round of funding until July 16, 2021. If you have a conservation initiative or a sustainable business project or expansion in mind, please get in touch with us as early as possible if you plan to apply.
We are honoured to present the stories First Nations are sharing in this issue and online. If you would like us to publish your story, please reach out to us.
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Photo credits: Province of BC, Brodie Guy, Brodie Guy.
Coast Funds is globally recognized as a model of permanent conservation financing that invests to strengthen the well-being of First Nations and the ecological integrity of the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii regions of British Columbia, Canada. Since inception, Coast Funds approved $103 million towards 414 conservation and sustainable economic development projects in the region. www.coastfunds.ca
750 - 475 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 4M9 PHONE +1 604 684 0223 info@coastfunds.ca
