The Legacies in Action Society invests in charities that support better lives for vulnerable and at-risk Canadians by addressing barriers to good health, education, and skills development.
We believe that Canada is stronger with a more robust social sector. We contribute to activities that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of charities so they may maximize the positive impact on the lives and communities they serve.
A strong and robust social sector in Canada.
To build the capacity of registered charities across Canada so they can achieve their social purpose.
We help charities ensure they have the requisite capacity to grow by addressing key challenges and leveraging organizational and governance strengths.
We improve the efficiency and effectiveness of charities by providing expertise on strategic planning and through the development of performance measures to prove and improve their impact.
We assist charities to scale their programs by enhancing their depth and breadth within their current market and assessing the feasibility of areas for expansion.
We understand each organization is unique and the path to improving effectiveness, building capacity, and supporting scalability is different for each. As a result, other incidental activities may be required. Legacies in Action Society provides grants and support for each of these activities.
Supporting vibrant communities for nearly 15 years
Our story of innovative capacity building began in 2008, when we formed as a charitable organization to support 2010 Legacies Now Society by benefiting the community through investments in charities across British Columbia.
Since then, Legacies in Action Society has continued to grow.
While 2010 Legacies Now Society is now known as LIFT Impact Partners, we continue to operate as an independent charitable organization and have expanded our supports to benefit individuals and communities across the country. Since our inception, we have invested more than $1,160,000 in support to Canadian charities and qualified donees.
We live in uncertain times. The barriers facing vulnerable Canadians are complex and deep and the global pandemic has reinforced the need for more community-led and scalable solutions to effect meaningful change. We believe charities are well-positioned to provide them.
As a country, we’ve seen the tremendous agility, adaptability, and innovation demonstrated by charities since the crisis began - many stepping up to provide critical support to individuals and communities hit hard by COVID-19. Without a strong and resilient social sector, many more Canadians would have been left behind. As we look to the future, we’re committed to strengthening our role in building the capacity of charities so they may continue to deliver positive and lasting social impact across Canada.
Our board of directors is comprised of accomplished professionals from corporate, financial, not-for-profit and leadership positions. Our directors provide strategic governance and support our vision to create a strong and robust social sector in Canada.
Adil Ahamed is Managing Director at Destination Auto Group, a leading, innovative group of dealerships representing Toyota, Honda, Mazda and FCA brands in Vancouver. His prior experience includes investment banking, micro finance and international development. Adil obtained his MBA from Columbia Business School and BA in Economics from Cornell University.
With over 15 years of experience in finance and business development, Adil has developed competencies in leadership, corporate planning, financial strategy and governance. Working internationally, Adil has held roles with Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs in New York, as well as the Aga Khan Development Network through its microfinance entities in Switzerland and Tajikistan.
In addition to his Board role with Legacies in Action Society, Adil is a Board Member of Columbia University’s Alumni Association, Co-President of Columbia Business School’s Alumni Club of Vancouver, Executive Member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) BC Chapter, and Board Chair at LIFT Impact Partners. He also serves on the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation’s Patient Experience Advisory Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee at Mulgrave School.
Adil obtained his MBA from Columbia Business School in 2012 and BA in Economics from Cornell University in 2004. He is a Fellow of the Aga Khan Foundation Canada International Microfinance and Microenterprise (IMM) Program.
Jim Godfrey is a principal with Interplay Consulting Inc., a small firm that provides a range of management services for local government, the private sector, post-secondary educational institutions and the not-for provide sector.
Prior to forming Interplay Consulting, Jim was the Executive Director for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Whistler. Before accepting this position, he was the Chief Administrative Officer for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, a community that is internationally recognized as one of the world’s top year-round destination resorts.
Jim was a director on the Board for the Vancouver Organization Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games since its inception. He was the Chair of the Sustainability and Human Resources Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. Jim also sat on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Bid Corporation, which successfully secured the right to host the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In addition to his Board role with Legacies in Action Society, Jim serves on the Board of Directors of the Whistler Sport Legacies Society and the Whistler 2020 Development Corporation. He is a past Board member of LIFT Impact Partners, Tourism Whistler and was a founding Board member for the Whistler Housing Authority.
Judy Rogers operates a consulting firm advising private, public, and Crown corporations in government affairs and communications. She previously held the role of City Manager at the City of Vancouver from 1999 to 2008.
In addition to her Board role with Legacies in Action Society, Judy joined the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Board of Directors in 2017 and became Chair of the Board in 2018. She was re-appointed as chair of the Board of Directors in 2020.
Judy has served as Chair of the B.C. Assessment Authority, Chair of the B.C. Housing Commission, Chair of the UBC Alumni Association, president of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, and Board member of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Judy received the Order of Canada in 2017, and is the recipient of two United Nations public service awards. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Victoria and an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Capilano University.
Kimberly Moran is dedicated to improving the lives of Ontarians with a focus on strengthening healthcare policy, systems and patient outcomes in Canada and internationally. She is recognized as a leading advocate of access to quality and timely primary and community healthcare.
Kim brings more than thirty years of senior leadership experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors including as Special Advisor to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and CEO of UNICEF Canada. She has advised health system stakeholders at all levels of government in Canada and internationally. Kim is a recognized health system transformation contributor and collaborator, with roles in the Ontario Children’s Health Coalition, a member of the Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine, an expert advisory council, which reported to the Premier and the Minister of Health in Ontario.
In addition to her Board role with Legacies in Action Society, Kim is a Chartered Professional Accountant and chairs the Finance Committees for two Boards, Seneca College and Canadian Mental Health Association – Toronto. Her most important achievement is being a proud mom to two young women.
Dr. Robert Thirsk, O.C., O.B.C., is a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut, executive with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Chancellor of the University of Calgary.
Following selection as an astronaut, Robert pursued training in Canada, as well as at the NASA Johnson Space Center and other international space centers. He has completed two space missions. In 1996, he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as part of a 17-day mission that studied life and materials sciences. In 2009, he launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and became the first Canadian astronaut to complete a long-duration expedition aboard the International Space Station. This six-month expedition featured multidisciplinary research, robotic operations and maintenance and repair work of station systems and payloads.
As an executive with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Robert strove to ensure the organization’s partnerships advanced health research for the benefit of patients and the health care system.
In addition to his Board role with Legacies in Action Society, Robert previously served on LIFT Impact Partners’ Board of Directors as well as boards of several other non-profit organizations. Most recently, he chaired a Canadian Space Agency task force - the Advisory Council on Deep Space Healthcare. The Council’s recommendations for Canada included pursuit of a global leadership position for our nation in the delivery of remote healthcare on Earth and in deep space. Robert holds degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also holds a Doctorate of Medicine from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is an adjunct professor at International Space University in Strasbourg, France.
Robert is a strong promoter of a Canadian economy based upon innovation and lifelong learning. He partners with other organizations to develop science curricula and experiential learning opportunities for secondary and post-secondary students. He encourages all Canadians to build their career dreams upon a solid educational foundation and advanced skills.