​The Community Foundation’s external audit services are open for renewal in 2026, and we are inviting proposals from qualified CPA firms with experience in the nonprofit and charitable sectors.

As the Foundation continues to grow, strong financial stewardship and independent audit oversight remain essential to our work. This Request for Proposals (RFP) outlines the audit scope, proposal requirements, evaluation process, and key submission dates.

About Us
The Comox Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) is an independent, community-led public foundation that pools and invests donor contributions into endowment funds and distributes the income annually to grant to charities and initiatives primarily in the Comox Valley.

Summary of Services Requested
We are seeking a licensed CPA firm to be appointed in 2026 for a five-year term, beginning with the audit of the 2026/27 fiscal year (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). The engagement typically includes conducting the annual audit of our financial statements, preparing a management letter with recommendations, and presenting the audit findings to the Board. Full details are provided in the RFP package.

Key Dates at a Glance
• RFP Issued: December 12, 2025
• Proposal Deadline: January 22, 2026
• Decision: March 2026

Download the Full RFP Package
All proposal requirements, submission instructions, and evaluation criteria are included in the full RFP package:
👉 Download the RFP – External Audit Services (pdf)

Submission Instructions
Proposals must be submitted electronically as a PDF to:
Jolean Finnerty, Executive Director
Email: executive-director@cvcfoundation.org

Confirmation of receipt will be provided. Late applications not accepted.

Questions?
Questions regarding the RFP may be emailed to the Executive Director until closing. Email or call 250-880-6584.

Supporting healing after trauma – Comox Valley Record

Rescue dogs bring new life to people living with complex trauma

At Operation Freedom Paws (OFP) Canada, life-changing healing begins one paw at a time.

The Comox Valley–based non-profit pairs dogs with people living with complex trauma, including veterans, first responders, RCMP officers, and civilians.

Most of the dogs come from rescue shelters, and each is matched to specific client’s physical and psychological needs.

Unlike traditional service dog programs, where dogs are pre-trained, clients and their dogs learn side by side. They build trust and healing together twice a week over 48 weeks in Fanny Bay. When they are done, the dog is ready for a Service Dog Assessment and BC Guide Dog certification.

To ensure there are no barriers to healing, the training — and the dogs — are provided completely free, with Operation Freedom Paws relying solely on charitable donations from community organizations to aid their support.

“We’re the only charity in Canada that trains both dogs and humans without charging for either,” said Barb Ashmead, the volunteer-run organization’s founder and executive director. “All we ask is a commitment to attend training twice a week and give it a try.”

Most clients are referred to Operation Freedom Paws through word of mouth, psychologists, and community organizations.

To meet growing needs, Ashmead is searching for an on-site mental health counsellor with experience in trauma counselling to help with intake interviews and provide ongoing support to clients. The Community Foundation grant will help fund the position.

“Thanks to the generosity of groups like the Comox Valley Community Foundation, OFP Canada continues to help people rebuild their lives after trauma,” she said.

The organization’s approach is backed by research, including a 2018 Purdue University study showing that PTSD service dogs significantly improve mental health, work attendance, and social functioning for veterans.

In just five years, Operation Freedom Paws has seen 61 service teams become certified, with 46 coming from the Comox Valley. Clients also travel from across Vancouver Island, Vancouver, and beyond to attend training. Along with families and friends, the organization’s reach now touches an estimated 1,650 people on Vancouver Island, including 1,400 in the Comox Valley alone.

Ashmead knows the results are both personal and far reaching.

She recalls one client struggling with severe PTSD and anxiety so overwhelming he was afraid to leave his home. After working with Operation Freedom Paws, he and his dog now go everywhere together, living a fuller, more connected life.

“They got their lives back,” said Ashmead. “They can laugh again.”

The experience is, by all accounts, life-changing.  And for Ashmead – the greatest experience of her life. “Watching a team bond and save each others’ lives is phenomenal and an incredible life changing experience.”

From a community perspective, she knows families, friends, and entire communities benefit when people are able to return to work, finish school, and engage in healthy social activities.

For more information about Operation Freedom Paws Canada, visit ofpcanada.org.

Browse more stories and reports. This story, and many others, are featured in Stronger Together our 2025 impact report, supporting over $1 million in community grants to 53 organizations this year.

Comox Valley Food Bank expands cold storage – Comox Valley Record

New shipping container combats hunger with improved ability to save fresh food

As food insecurity continues to rise in the Comox Valley, the Comox Valley Food Bank Society is taking steps to meet the growing demand.

With more than 4,000 monthly visits from individuals and families in need—and 7,800 registered users—the Society is expanding its capacity to safely store perishable foods with the installation of a new refrigerated container.

The Food Bank has doubled its cold storage space by installing a 20-foot refrigerated shipping container at its McPhee Avenue location. This vital upgrade immediately increased food rescue capacity adding 2,000 pounds of nutritious food every month. It enhances the Food Bank’s ability to save, distribute, and serve its direct clients and a network of 25 community partners and food bank affiliates who face similar challenges. The partners include a home delivery project, local schools, soup kitchens, and more.

“This project is about more than storage—it’s about delivering dignity, nutrition, and hope to thousands of people,” said David Reynolds, executive director of the Comox Valley Food Bank. “Refrigeration is the heart of our food rescue program, and this expansion couldn’t come at a more critical time.”

Food rescue accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the fresh food distributed by the Food Bank, much of which includes perishable items like fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and meat alternatives.

Each week, drivers pick up food from farms, grocery stores, and vendors. Volunteers and kitchen staff freeze what they can and make 500 to 600 meals a week turning some of the diverted food into soups, chillis and prepared food. But with only 200 square feet of cold storage, the organization has been operating at capacity—limiting its ability to accept and store rescued food.

“Fresh food allows people to make more healthy choices – rather than just shelf stable items which are also important,” said Reynolds. “Without increased fresh food storage, so much food in the Comox Valley would go to waste.”

The new unit is plug-and-play ready, fully secure, and capable of functioning as either a refrigerator or freezer.

Beyond preventing thousands of pounds of nutritious food from ending up in landfills, the expanded storage will help prepare for an anticipated 30 per cent increase in new users in the next fiscal year.

“With 110 new clients signing up each month, we’re facing a perfect storm of inflation, poverty, and rising food insecurity,” Reynolds said. “This project allows us to respond with efficiency and compassion, ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.”

To learn more about the Comox Valley Food Bank and how you can help, visit comoxvalleyfoodbank.ca.

Browse more stories and reports. This story, and many others, are featured in Stronger Together our 2025 impact report, supporting over $1 million in community grants to 53 organizations this year.

The Comox Valley Community Foundation is marking a major milestone this spring – moving into a new central location to better serve the Comox Valley for generations to come.

The purchase of the new office space – at 917C Fitzgerald Ave. in Courtenay – is a first for the Foundation, marking its first permanent home in the Comox Valley in nearly 30 years.

“This location is more than just a new address—it’s an investment in our future, our partners, and the non-profit organizations we serve every day.” said Board Chair Craig Rennison.

The Community Foundation had previously operated out of temporary leased space at The Views in Comox.

The Courtenay location ensures that the Foundation remains a central hub, allowing them to more easily connect and collaborate with partners while responding to community needs.

Since 1996, the Community Foundation has connected generous donors and supporters to distribute more than $7 million to organizations throughout the Comox Valley. The new space will allow them to grow their mission to enrich life in the Comox Valley for all.

Designed to be welcoming and easy to reach, the new offices are within walking distance of many of the non-profits and organizations they are proud to support.

“I’m so grateful for the many organizations, donors, and board members whose ongoing support strengthens our ability to serve so many nonprofits across the Comox Valley,” said Jolean Finnerty, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “A special thank you to Cameron Contracting — their generosity and in-kind support truly made our new home a reality.”

The new offices are open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with parking available on Fitzgerald Ave. and in the lot behind the building.

For more information on the Foundation, visit cvcfoundation.org.

About the Comox Valley Community Foundation

Since 1996, Comox Valley Community Foundation has awarded $7 million to over 175 local non-profits and 250 students in the form of grants and scholarships. As a funder, we support all not for profit and charitable organizations in our community so that they may respond to the pressing and ever-evolving needs and priorities of our citizens. To learn more about the Comox Valley Community Foundation, contact us at office@cvcfoundation.org, 250-338-8444 or visit  https://cvcfoundation.org.

Media contact:

Jolean Finnerty, Executive Director

Cell: 250-880-6584

Email: executive-director@cvcfoundation.org

Visit www.cvcfoundation.org for more information and news

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cvcommunityfoundation

Follow us on Instagram at www.instagram/com/comoxvalleycommunityfoundation

Do you have a great idea to bring your community together? Grants of up to $500 are now available through Comox Valley’s Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program. Applications are open from March 3 to April 4 at cvcfoundation.org/nsg.

The NSG program—co-funded locally by the Vancouver Island NSG Network and the Comox Valley Community Foundation—supports small, community member-led projects that foster connection, engagement, and inclusivity.

“Small projects can make a big impact,” says Community Foundation Executive Director Jolean Finnerty. “Butterfly highways, seed swaps, family movie nights, art workshops, community BBQs, and emergency planning demonstrations are just a few examples of past projects that have brought Comox Valley neighbours together.”

Neighbourhood Small Grants help spark creativity and strengthen connections across the Comox Valley. Some past project examples include:

• Sharing the arts – Hosting an accessible choir in the community.
• Celebrating Indigenous culture – Craft nights and traditional food harvesting.
• Intergenerational learning – Youth teaching seniors how to use tablets.
• Growing and eating local food – Mushroom harvesting workshops and community gardening.
• Youth-led initiatives – Senior interviews, reading buddy programs, and care packages.

All NSG projects must be free, inclusive, and open to the community. Funded projects can take place between April and December, but applications close Monday, April 4, 2025. The process is simple, and no grant-writing experience is needed.

Ready to bring your idea to life?
Visit cvcfoundation.org/nsg to learn more and apply.

Thanks to the generosity and foresight of incredible donors in our community, the Comox Valley Community Foundation is grateful to offer the ‘Class of 2025’ over $166,000 in scholarships and bursaries to support their post-secondary journeys.

“Funding for local students exists thanks to the generosity of so many individuals, families, businesses and organizations who give through the Community Foundation,” says Jolean Finnerty, Executive Director of the Foundation. “We are honoured to steward these gifts that support access to education for all and recognize the achievements of so many graduates in our community.”

Participating high schools are now accepting applications for scholarships, bursaries and other financial awards with various deadlines, including three exciting new awards from the Foundation this year:

• $10,000 Stew Savard Robotics/STEAM Leadership Award (Two available)
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Stew Savard, a former Navigate NIDES teacher with a passion for bringing robotics to Comox Valley youth for many years, this leadership award is offered to inspire and encourage SD No. 71 high school graduates who are pursuing studies in STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, aesthetics, mathematics), with an interest in robotics, at any public post-secondary institution in Canada.

• $18,000 Rick Jackson Scholarship – Foundation Trades
Through Rick’s extraordinary gift of one million dollars to the Comox Valley Community Foundation, the Rick Jakson Fund will provide scholarships for students in the Comox Valley for generations to come. This scholarship will be awarded to students graduating from School District 71 who are pursuing Trades training from Foundation to Red Seal certification at any Post-Secondary Institution in Canada.

• $18,000 Rick Jackson Scholarship – University Studies
Through Rick’s extraordinary gift of one million dollars to the Comox Valley Community Foundation, the Rick Jackson Fund will provide scholarships for students in the Comox Valley for generations to come. This scholarship will be awarded to university-bound students whose area of study is not available locally on Vancouver Island.

How to Apply
Applications are available now at participating SD71 high schools. Find us listed in the scholarship and bursary information on your school’s website to learn more.

Celebrate the Future of Our Community: Create a High School Award
Establishing a high school award through the Comox Valley Community Foundation is a meaningful way to support local students, reward excellence, and inspire dreams for the future. Whether you wish to honor a loved one, recognize a milestone, or simply give back to our community, we make it easy to create a lasting legacy. Together, we can tailor an award to reflect your values and celebrate the spirit of generosity that makes our community strong.

Visit https://cvcfoundation.org/giving/types-of-funds/ to learn more.

As our community enters a new year, the Comox Valley Community Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to making a lasting impact in the region, with renewed energy and dedication to service.

The Foundation is pleased to introduce its Board of Directors, under the new leadership of Board Chair Craig Rennison.

Craig is a partner at Waypoint Insurance with over 20 years of industry experience and a degree in risk management. He brings expertise, dedication, and a family legacy of community service to his role. A fifth-generation Comox Valley resident and second-generation President/Chair of the Community Foundation, Craig’s leadership builds on a strong tradition of stewardship.

“I joined the Community Foundation to continue my family’s commitment to this incredible community that has shaped us over generations,” said Craig Rennison, CVCF Board Chair.

“Serving on the Board has deepened my admiration for the tremendous work of local charities and nonprofits, and I am excited to collaborate with my fellow Board members to strengthen our impact and find new ways to uplift the Comox Valley.”

With deep connections to the community and a shared passion for positive change, the Board is dedicated to the Foundation’s mission of connecting the community to enhance life for all.

Alongside Craig is the Foundation’s team of directors: Judith Marriott (Treasurer), Russell Tibbles (Secretary), Jeff Lucas, Judy Village, Judy Moore, Selen Tiryakioglu, Jen Wrye, Tommy MacGregor, and Adam Wunderlich. Together, this group brings diverse expertise and shared enthusiasm not only toward governing effectively and managing more than $18 million in charitable assets on behalf of the community, but also to guiding the Foundation’s vision for the future.

The Board is also immensely grateful for community members Colin Sauer and Dale Pateman who work alongside the board as non-voting members contributing to ongoing committee work of the Foundation.

Learn more about our directors here.

Through your generosity, the Community Foundation creates funding grants that support our local nonprofit community. These organizations provide essential services across our region that make the Comox Valley a better place to live every day.

This year, our Community Enrichment Grants program received over 40 very deserving applications from nonprofit and charitable organizations seeking funding to offer essential programs and services in the Comox Valley. While we have $300,000 to offer, the total community need this year has come in at just over $690,000.

Throughout December, we are asking for help from community members, businesses and supporters who can give to consider a gift to the Community Fund for granting this year.

To help reduce this shortfall, we will pool donations this month and apply them directly to fund additional community grants.
Any amount received will make a big difference. Here is our link to donate online or call 250-338-8444 today.

With gratitude,

From all of us at the Comox Valley Community Foundation.

How does grant funding help?

Grants give an organization a full budget ready to go for their program costs, services, and initiatives. It allows them to plan and deliver services with confidence so they can spend more time serving community needs and less time fundraising.

More than 200 charities and nonprofits help our community: They feed families in need, clean our streams, provide cultural activities, make recreation inclusive, educate our growing population, bridge healthcare gaps, and so much more. Together, they are the backbone of our community and leading the way toward a more equitable Comox Valley where everyone can thrive.

Who does it support?

Browse last year’s list of recipients below to see the incredible difference we can make when we work together or call 250-338-8444 today.

2024 Recipients

Community is everything!

Join us for “Restorative Justice and Human Resources for Nonprofit Organizations” on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 9:00 AM to noon at Native Sons Hall, Courtenay.

This complimentary three-hour workshop will focus on relational and restorative justice approaches to conflict and harm in the workplace and is tailored specifically for charitable, not-for-profit, and social sector organizations.

Facilitated by Catherine Bargen, M.A., Director and Co-Founder of Just Outcomes Canada, participants will:

• Build their understanding of current human resource issues and pressures on workplaces, including responding to complaints, culture-building and implementing equitable policies.
• Understand how restorative justice can offer a unified framework to assist workplaces in navigating these pressures cohesively instead of with a “piecemeal” approach.
• Explore examples, and gain tools on how to implement this unified restorative framework in the workplace.
  Spaces are limited, and pre-registration is required (maximum two attendees per organization). This opportunity is open to board members and senior staff from Comox Valley-based organizations.

Reserve your spot now:
Register online at https://form.jotform.com/242955770952266 or call 250-334-8101.

This initiative is funded in partnership through the Community Justice Centre and the Comox Valley Community Foundation’s Sector Development programs, which provide free, high-quality training to strengthen the nonprofit sector.

About Catherine Bargen,M.A.

Catherine has been working with communities to develop restorative justice programs for over 20 years. Her leadership and experience span working closely with government, nonprofits, educational institutions, Indigenous communities, victim services/anti-violence groups, and religious communities. Learn more at justoutcomesconsulting.com

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