Retired dentists, Dr. Andrew Chan and Dr. Elaine She, never attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and only became familiar with the institute after living in Vancouver for decades. Yet, their admiration for the practical, career-ready education BCIT provides, combined with their belief in the power of education, led them to establish a meaningful entrance bursary to support students who need it most.
“Education empowered our lives,” Elaine explains. “We wanted to give back in a way that could help the next generation secure a promising, productive future.”
For the couple, the answer was clear: help students access training that leads directly to employment.
“A lot of young people finish four-year university degrees and still struggle to find work,” Andrew adds. “But BCIT graduates, especially from programs like radiology, lab technology, computer science, and engineering, leave school ready for the workforce.”
Their bursary supports high school students from East Vancouver—specifically those attending Templeton, Britannia, and Vancouver Technical Secondary Schools—who might otherwise have to delay their education to work and save for tuition.
Andrew, who immigrated from Hong Kong with only a suitcase and received financial support to complete university and dental school, understands firsthand how life-changing financial assistance can be.
“I didn’t want kids to work just to save for school,” he says. “I want them to go straight into BCIT and get the training they need.”
The impact of their gift is already being felt. Allan Dam, a recipient of the bursary and a student in BCIT’s Mining Engineering program, shared how the support allowed him to pursue his studies full-time.
“While I have some funds for education, the bursary made it possible for me to go beyond a diploma and into a degree,” Allan says. “Without it, I would’ve had to work for a few years before continuing my education. Now, I can focus on school, aim higher in my career, and get to where I want to be faster.”
For Andrew and Elaine, the bursary represents far more than financial assistance. Their motivation lies in enabling students to move beyond simply imagining a better future and to take tangible steps towards building meaningful careers.
“We want students to feel that someone believes in them,” Elaine said. “Sometimes that vote of confidence is what really carries them through.”
For Andrew and Elaine, there are no strings attached, just their genuine desire to give hardworking students the opportunity to succeed. While their bursary may begin as financial support, their real gift is much greater. It is their belief in potential, their encouragement to persist, and their quiet, yet profound faith in the next generation of leaders.
Learn more about how you can empower the next generation of BCIT students.
Photo: Dr. Andrew Chan, Allan Dam, and Dr. Elaine She