Helen Edwards – Turning a Love of Sport into a Legacy of Giving

For Helen Edwards, being a Vancouver Canucks fan is about much more than watching hockey. It is about community, connection and, most importantly, giving young people the opportunity to pursue their passions.

As one of the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Foundation’s most generous supporters, Helen has been a devoted hockey fan for decades. Her journey began long before the Canucks joined the NHL, when she cheered for the Victoria Maple Leafs of the WHL. When the team relocated to Phoenix, Helen’s loyalty naturally stayed local here in British Columbia.

“When the Canucks entered the NHL, it was a no-brainer to become a fan,” she says. “I did attend games then and continue to attend as many as I can now.”

Today, Helen’s passion for hockey has evolved into a commitment to helping others through the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Foundation.

Helen was first introduced to the Alumni Foundation through Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, with whom she is also an incredibly generous donor. Canuck Place staff invited her to join their table at the 2022 Canucks Alumni Luncheon, and at the time, she knew only a couple of former Vancouver Canucks players. But by attending more Alumni events over the years, she quickly became familiar with, and fond of, many more members of the Canucks Alumni family.

“I am happy to support the projects that the Alumni Foundation finances, particularly the ones that involve youth,” Helen says.

That focus on young people is a common thread throughout Helen’s own philanthropic interests. She is a co-owner of a BC college-level baseball team, the Victoria Harbour Cats, and she also helps finance a training facility for young players, making youth sport a personal priority.

“It is so rewarding to see young people be able to pursue their love of sport with no worries about money,” says Helen.

For Helen, the Alumni Foundation’s scholarship program is particularly meaningful. “The scholarships alone are one of my favourite projects,” she says.

Helen’s involvement with the Alumni Foundation has also given her opportunities to build relationships and make new connections, including some that have supported her own writing career.

“I have met wonderful people and made contacts at previous Alumni Luncheons that were useful in my writing life, so it is not just a one-way street, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship,” she says.

And then there are the memorable experiences that come with supporting the Foundation’s events. Helen has been an enthusiastic participant in the Alumni Luncheon live auctions, purchasing exclusive items such as a 1994 Canucks roster- autographed Tim Hunter jersey, to a private fishing trip with Brendan Morrison, to trips to watch Canucks away games complete with behind-the-scenes experiences.

“I have enjoyed them all so much,” she says. “You never know what will be offered.”

Helen believes that anyone who has the opportunity to support the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Foundation should consider doing so, not simply because of the former players involved, but because of the impact they continue to make in the communities across BC.

“We should give all the help we can to this amazing group of athletes who donate hours of time to make things better for youth,” Helen says.

Her own generosity is a powerful example of that philosophy in action. She understands that supporting youth through sport can have an impact that extends far beyond the playing field.

The Vancouver Canucks Alumni have spent decades creating memories for fans like Helen. Today, through the Alumni Foundation, they are using their time, resources and influence to help create opportunities and brighter futures for the next generation.

Helen Edwards is proof that being a fan can mean more than cheering from the stands. It can mean becoming part of something bigger, and helping others experience the same opportunities, joy and sense of belonging that sport has brought to so many.

Thank you, Helen, for your incredible generosity, your unwavering support and, above all, for believing in the power of sport to change young lives.