New Fund

Don MacLaurin was a forester and teacher who first came to Whistler with his family in the 1960’s. He was instrumental in identifying and protecting sensitive ecosystems in the valley, particularly Lost Lake Park and the Ancient Cedars. He also played a key role in developing the Whistler Interpretive Forest and designated many of the trails there and elsewhere in the valley including the Musical Bumps trail.

Don designed and taught courses in forestry, parks and recreation management at BCIT for 24 years and internationally in the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia. He firmly believed that forests should be managed to serve multiple community values and his influence helped lead to the creation of the Cheakamus Community Forest, a partnership between RMOW, Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. Don and his artistic wife, Isobel, were dedicated Rotary members and contributed much to the community in a multitude of ways.  

The Don MacLaurin Memorial Rotary & Cheakamus Community Forest Scholarship Fund will be awarded to a graduate student who demonstrates Don’s values of leadership and community involvement and is pursuing a career in forestry, resource management or First Nations’ archaeological studies. School citizenship, financial need and/or academic excellence will also be considered. 

Applicants will:

• be a graduating student from Whistler Secondary School, Whistler Waldorf School or a secondary school graduating member of the Squamish Nation or Lil’wat Nation;
• be pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited institution;
• demonstrate exemplary citizenship and all-round participation at school and in the community;
• demonstrate experience and/or interest with forestry, natural resources management or First Nations’ archaeological issues or projects; and
• demonstrate outstanding leadership skills, community service, and academic excellence.