NEWS RELEASE
TLC RECEIVES BEQUEST VALUED AT OVER $8.8 MILLION
Donation includes 8 acres of urban greenspace in the Blenkinsop Valley
FOR RELEASE: September 10, 2022
Victoria, BC – The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) is honoured to announce the receipt of a bequest of three adjacent properties in the Blenkinsop Valley, funds to maintain the properties in perpetuity, and a $40,000 gift to Abkhazi Garden from the estate of Joan Alston-Stewart (nee Lohbrunner). The bequest is the largest donation in the charity’s 25-year history.
Located near Blenkinsop Lake and the Lochside Trail in Saanich, the three adjacent properties span more than 8 acres of wetland, Garry oak, and Douglas-fir habitat. 1074 Donwood Drive (4.94 acres), 4386 Lochside Drive (2.14 acres), and 4394 Lochside Drive (1.00 acre) each consist of single- or dual-family dwellings with significant greenspace. According to their 2022 assessments, the combined value of the land and buildings is over $5.3 million. TLC was named among 17 charities and institutions receiving bequeathed gifts from Joan and will receive one third of the liquid assets of the estate; TLC’s portion is valued at approximately $3.5 million.
Pre-deceased by her husband Gordon in 2017, Joan passed away on February 3, 2020, at age 89. Having moved to the Blenkinsop Valley as a young girl, Joan wished to see the lands she and Gordon had called home for decades protected to advance the biodiversity of the Blenkinsop Valley. Apart from the $40,000 gift toward Abkhazi Garden, funds donated from the bequest will be used to create an endowment fund with the Victoria Foundation to maintain the Blenkinsop Valley properties in perpetuity in accordance with Joan’s wishes.
In the years prior to her passing, Joan met with TLC staff and board to discuss her wish to protect the urban greenspace surrounding her home for birds and other wildlife. Initially concerned that the organization had previously undergone restructuring, Joan completed her own research and met with TLC staff to ensure the properties she loved would remain protected.
“It was an honour to meet with Joan and discuss her history with the Blenkinsop Valley, as well as her vision for the future,” said Cathy Armstrong, TLC Executive Director. “She was an astute investor who did her homework to ensure our organization was the right steward for her legacy. We are incredibly grateful for her generous donation and look forward to safeguarding the three properties she left in our care.”
For more information about planned giving with TLC, please visit www.conservancy.bc.ca or contact Cathy Armstrong at carmstrong@conservancy.bc.ca or 250-479-8053.
About
The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia. TLC’s primary mandate is to benefit the community by protecting habitat for natural communities of plants and animals. Founded in 1997, TLC is membership-based and governed by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors. TLC relies on a strong membership and volunteer base to help maintain its operations. Learn more about TLC by visiting www.conservancy.bc.ca.
Media contacts:
Cathy Armstrong
TLC Executive Director
Office (250) 479-8053
Cell (250) 588-4945
Email carmstrong@conservancy.bc.ca
