FortisBC employees removing invasive plants and upgrading the pathway at Bob Rutledge Park in Surrey.

Updated: August 13, 2026

We’re supporting the places where we work, live and play. From building safe spaces for children to play to creating community spaces for hands-on learning, these efforts strengthen neighbourhoods and foster connections that can last well into the future.

Community Giving Days bring this spirit to life by uniting local organizations and volunteers to create meaningful change. A longstanding FortisBC tradition, Community Giving Days is where employee volunteers, community partners, friends and families roll up their sleeves to lend their time and energy to causes that matter.

Here’s a look back at some of the amazing work we accomplished together.

Devyn Makwana (left), Monica Hunter (back right), OH&S business partner, contractor safety, and Ketna Makwana (right), team manager, plant a tree as part of enhancement efforts at Beaver Valley Childcare Centre.

Enhancing the outdoor area of Beaver Valley Childcare Centre

In September, our team headed to the village of Fruitvale to transform the outdoor area of Beaver Valley Childcare Centre. After all, children thrive when they have a welcoming space to learn, play and be themselves.

Beaver Valley Childcare Centre is a non-profit preschool society that’s been shaping young lives in Fruitvale since 2024. The daycare has a beautiful building with finished sidewalks and state-of-the-art play equipment. However, it lacked landscaping to complement its entrance and a shaded area for children to enjoy on warm, sunny days.

In partnership with Public Works and the city of Fruitvale, volunteers stepped in to assemble and install a gazebo in the backyard play area to create a cool, protected space. They also landscaped the front of the building to make it even more inviting.

Through tree planting, landscaping, fencing, and shade structure assembly, this work helped create a safe, welcoming, and vibrant space for families in this community.

Jennifer Datchkoff, community & Indigenous relations liaison

But that’s not all. Across the daycare is McInnis Park, a beloved sports facility that’s been Fruitvale’s heartbeat since the 1950s. More than just playing fields, it’s a place where friendships are formed, where families gather to cheer on their kids, and where neighbours come together to celebrate milestones.

In 2024, this community gem underwent major renovations. We were excited to contribute the following year by planting trees at the park entrance and installing a new section of fencing to connect with the park’s existing perimeter.

These improvements complement the park’s recent upgrades, supporting spaces for children and families and making Fruitvale an even better place to call home.

Making the Cyrus Centre a safer space

In July, FortisBC employees volunteered at Cyrus Centre Ministries’ Abbotsford location to help finish safety and site improvements that support youth accessing emergency services in the community.

Alfredo Cardenas (left), support operations manager, Siraz Dalmir (middle left), community relations manager, Kim Halowski (middle right), community relations manager and Ken Howsam (right), support operations supervisor finish pressure washing and landscaping to help improve safety at Cyrus Centre in Abbotsford.

Cyrus Centre provides essential services and support for vulnerable youth, helping create pathways toward stability, connection and hope. To support their work, volunteers from FortisBC and Cyrus Centre came together to improve day-to-day site care, enhance exterior visibility and refresh shared spaces used by youth, staff and visitors.

We're proud to support improvements that enhance safety and wellbeing for local youth and help strengthen a space that provides important services in the community.

Doug Slater, vice president, Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs, FortisBC

Throughout the day, teams rolled up their sleeves to tackle a variety of projects, including exterior painting, landscaping, power washing, window cleaning, and cleaning and organizing interior spaces. These improvements help create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who visits the centre.

“Being part of the communities we serve means showing up and working together to support local organizations,” continues Doug. “Through Community Giving Days, our employees have the opportunity to work alongside community organizations on projects that make a meaningful difference.”

But the impact will last beyond just the volunteer day itself. FortisBC also provided $30,000 in funding to support exterior signage, new windows, landscaping and additional improvements. These investments will help Cyrus Centre continue to provide a safe and welcoming space for youth in the community for years to come.

Building community connection at Homewood Village

It’s inspiring to see what can grow when collaboration, connection and community come together. Dedicated volunteers from the City of Campbell River, Lookout Housing and Health Society, residents and FortisBC, helped build a new community garden at Homewood.

A team of volunteers from FortisBC, City of Campbell River and the Lookout Housing and Health Society building a greenhouse at Homewood Village in Campbell River.

Opening in November 2024, Homewood is a supportive housing site in Campbell River that supports people transitioning from shelters or encampments while they find permanent housing. The new garden provides residents with opportunities to develop gardening skills while enjoying the outdoors and build and grow meaningful connections with their neighbours and community.

Community Giving Days are one of the ways we live out our values and help to build stronger, more connected communities across British Columbia.

Carmen LeBlanc, manager, community and Indigenous relations, FortisBC

Working side-by-side, volunteers transformed an outdoor area into a shared space designed to encourage learning, wellness and connection. The project included installing a greenhouse and raised garden beds, preparing soil for planting and creating a welcoming environment where residents can grow food and spend time together.

This was only made possible through collaborations with the City of Campbell River, the Lookout Society and the volunteers who brought it to life. Carmen emphasizes, “This project in Campbell River is a great example of what’s possible when we work alongside local organizations to create spaces that support well-being, connection and a sense of belonging.”

As part of the project, FortisBC also provided funding toward the garden’s construction, materials and related infrastructure. By working together with local partners, we're helping create spaces that support residents today while strengthening community connections for the future.

Looking back—and ahead

From Fruitvale to Surrey to Langford, these Community Giving Days remind us of something simple yet profound. Real change starts at the grassroots level. Whether it’s creating safe areas for children to play, supporting spaces where families can gather or improving safety at centres for those who need it most, these efforts reflect the heart of what community means: people coming together to care for one another.

We’re also proud to support the well-being of the communities where we live and work year-round. Our sponsorship and participation in Pride celebrations underlines our commitment to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

FortisBC event team members at the Kamloops Pride Festival.

Our various partnerships with organizations across the province help them with their efforts to clean up their local natural areas. From Nanaimo to Kelowna, we’re proud to help with everything from removing invasive plants to keeping trails safe and maintained for people to enjoy.

We see ourselves as a living, breathing part of the communities we serve. That means listening, learning and supporting initiatives that matter most to local people. Through our Community Investment Program, we partner with organizations that share this vision.

In 2025, we invested a total of $7 million in local communities through our Community Investment Program, donations and sponsorships. Through the Community Investment Program alone, we supported 370 initiatives across 72 B.C. communities.¹ We see these contributions as an important part of our efforts to partner with the communities we serve.

We’re proud of what we accomplished together and even more excited about what’s ahead. By working hand in hand with the community to support the places we all call home, we can help build stronger, safer and more connected spaces for everyone.

In 2025, we supported:

“At FortisBC, what is truly important is building stronger communities, not just through the energy we deliver, but through the relationships we nurture and the support we offer,” concludes Doug.

Read more stories about other community groups and local non-profit organizations we’ve supported for Community Giving Days.

¹Source: FortisBC’s 2025 Sustainability Report, page 26.