I am pleased to share an update on the Strategic Plan deliverable, “Celebrate the INSPIRE Campaign, assess and address learnings, and develop a plan for BCIT’s next major campaign.”
We hosted an intimate celebration on November 12, 2025, to express gratitude to the visionary donors who collectively enabled the BCIT Foundation and BCIT to surpass our original fundraising goal of $125 million for the INSPIRE Campaign. Funds raised from the campaign has fueled meaningful transformation across BCIT’s three strategic pillars: enhance access and inclusion, advance teaching and learning innovation, and drive campus redevelopment.
The name of our next campaign — Elevate— was also shared with our distinguished partners at the celebration. We also extended our deepest gratitude to David Podmore, INSPIRE Campaign Chair, whose leadership helped propel the campaign forward, and to the entire INSPIRE Campaign Cabinet and Patrons including Carole Talor, Richard Rudderham, Malcolm Hunter, Donna Wilson, and Wayne Berg, who served as powerful champions and ambassadors throughout the campaign.
At the celebration event, we were proud to showcase how the INSPIRE Campaign, led by the BCIT Foundation helped support student success and excellence at BCIT. It has reimagined the Burnaby Campus through projects such as the Health Science Centre, Beedie Plaza, Tall Timber Student Housing, as well as upcoming developments including Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion, the Concert Properties Centre for Trades and Technology, and the Mott Electric Pavilion.
We also provided our guests with 3D-printed edible chocolates in 3D printed biodegradable boxes created by researchers and students of the BCIT Food Technology Lab and the Centre of Applied Research and Innovation. This served as a unique and sustainable token of appreciation for our guests.
Looking ahead, we continue to build momentum for our next campaign following the celebration. Working closely with the BCIT Foundation Board, Cynthia Petrie, Vice President, External and President Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, we’ve established the campaign planning group for Elevate – a deliverable completed three months ahead of schedule. Given the shifting socio-economic climate we face, the next comprehensive fundraising campaign will consist of three micro-campaigns, each running for a three-year period.
We are now at the campaign readiness phase for the soft launch of Elevate in spring-summer 2026. In my presentation at the President Connect and the Deans’ Council, Cynthia Petrie and I invited our School Deans and initiative leads to share their vision and bold initiatives with BCIT’s Executive Team over the next two months, enabling them to take a holistic approach in determining priorities for the first micro-campaign.
Thank you,
Joanna Tong
Executive Director, BCIT Foundation
Commitment: Enrich Partner and Industry Experiences
Initiatives:
- Campus Development and Accessibility
- Industry Partnership Accelerator
Deliverable: Celebrate the $125 million raised under the INSPIRE Campaign, assess and address learnings, and develop a plan for BCIT’s next major campaign.