‘A way to give back to nature for everything it has given me’
At the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako rivers lies Prince George, B.C., a residential, educational and industrial centre set amid biodiverse forests and wetlands with wildlife ranging from spawning salmon and salamanders to grizzlies and black bears to lynx and moose.
It’s also where legacy donor Vicki Smith considers what nature means to her, and what inspired her to leave a gift in her Will to WWF-Canada.
Nature has always been a big part of your life. Is there a memory that stands out to you?
I’ve always felt a connection to nature. I grew up in a rural area in northern B.C. and spent a lot of time outside playing with my friends. We built forts in the woods and loved to search for frogs, toads, snakes and salamanders.
My family also went camping a lot. I have many fond memories of nature hikes in the woods and picking wild berries. I participate in several citizen science programs, and one of my favourite recent memories is taking my four-year-old nephew on my surveys. He loves to join me in my canoe or kayak when I survey for loons, and he loves to survey for butterflies with me.
What do you think is the biggest threat to nature right now?
Nature is facing several threats right now, with some of the biggest being habitat loss, biodiversity loss and climate change. But I think people being so disconnected from nature is also a big issue — not realizing the threats that wildlife and habitats face and what we can do to lessen the impacts and foster positive change.
What gives you hope for the future of the planet?
Educating people, especially young people, is so important. I have two young nephews, and I take them out on nature walks and teach them about the plants and animals we see. They love learning! I also do animal adoptions with them, and we learn about the challenges wildlife species face and what we can do to help.
What motivated your gift?
I updated my Will recently, including the beneficiary designations on all of my investments and life insurance. As part of the estate planning process, I realized I wanted to leave gifts to conservation organizations that are important to me.
I have been a monthly donor for several years, and I liked the idea of giving even after I’m gone to contribute to conservation for as long as I possibly can — and as a way to give back to nature for everything it has given me.
What does a legacy mean to you?
To me, a legacy means leaving something behind that will make a positive impact. Conserving wildlife and their habitats is important to me. It’s part of the work I do in my career, and I am currently a monthly donor to several conservation organizations.
It’s something I want to continue doing for as long as I can, so designating WWF-Canada as a beneficiary on my investments and life insurance was an easy decision for me.
By choosing to leave a gift in her Will, Vicki has joined a growing movement of over three million Canadians who are using the power of ethical wills to pass down assets and values to future generations and make a difference in this world. You too can let your love for nature and wildlife endure. To learn more, visit wwf.ca/legacy
