Wain Birch Family Foundation Fund
The Wain Birch Family Foundation Fund was established in 2012, the year that marked Wain’s retirement as Executive Director of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation and the end of more than a decade of Wain meeting and exceeding the challenge of growing a small Foundation to a larger, stronger, and more impactful, community leader.
The Wain Birch Family Foundation Fund was established in 2012, the year that marked Wain’s retirement as Executive Director of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation and the end of more than a decade of Wain meeting and exceeding the challenge of growing a small Foundation to a larger, stronger, and more impactful, community leader.
Upon his retirement, Wain said “I shall forever be grateful as this has been the BEST job I have ever had.” Grants from the Fund support the Community Foundation so it can continue Wain’s legacy in perpetuity. In fact, Wain started the Fund to assist the foundation in finding and further educating good staff. His deep commitment to the Foundation helped it grow in so many ways, but he knew that more growth and potential were possible with more staff invested in the Foundation as he was. And if there was only one takeaway from why he established the Fund, or why you should believe in the Foundation, Wain says it would be this: Building better communities for tomorrow!!
Attack every challenge with enthusiasm and commitment.
Upon his retirement, Wain said “I shall forever be grateful as this has been the BEST job I have ever had.” Grants from the Fund support the Community Foundation so it can continue Wain’s legacy in perpetuity. In fact, Wain started the Fund to assist the foundation in finding and further educating good staff. His deep commitment to the Foundation helped it grow in so many ways, but he knew that more growth and potential were possible with more staff invested in the Foundation as he was. And if there was only one takeaway from why he established the Fund, or why you should believe in the Foundation, Wain says it would be this: Building better communities for tomorrow!!
Born and raised in Birnie Manitoba, Wain was educated in Birnie and Brandon MB, and began his early career as a school teacher, spending a year teaching in a one room school in Smalley MB. Wain joined Scotiabank in Kenora ON in the 1960’s and was a banker in Winnipeg, MB, Toronto ON, Saskatoon, Regina, Tisdale, and North Battleford in Saskatchewan. While working he also was actively volunteering in leadership roles, including being the Residential Chair at the Diabetes Association, He received the first “Manager of the Year Award” given in Saskatchewan. He retired after 40 years of working in the Finance sector, and then began working as the Executive Director of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation upon the invitation of its Board members and some community philanthropists.
His grassroots values that originated from his small-town roots, and honed through his teaching and banking service, was one that influenced his approach to his role as Executive Director. “Wain developed strong relationships with donors and always worked hard to maintain them. Indeed, the affection for Wain amongst the supporters of the Foundation is palpable, enduring and endearing” Jim Tomkins, Former Chair of the Foundation on the occasion of Wain receiving the 2013 award for the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.
It is no wonder that the Foundation regularly receives inquiries from donors, charity members, and Board members that had the good fortune to work with him, asking about how is doing and sending him their very best wishes. Wain treasures the people he has met just as much. When asked about his best memory that stands out from time with the Foundation, he says “I was so lucky to have had so many great memories with so many very nice people. I can’t find a way to make one more important than the many other special ones”.
As to the Impact he made, this is best summed up by the 2013 nomination of Wain for the Sovereign’s Medal:
It is no wonder that the Foundation regularly receives inquiries from donors, charity members, and Board members that had the good fortune to work with him, asking about how is doing and sending him their very best wishes. Wain treasures the people he has met just as much. When asked about his best memory that stands out from time with the Foundation, he says “I was so lucky to have had so many great memories with so many very nice people. I can’t find a way to make one more important than the many other special ones”.
As to the Impact he made, this is best summed up by the 2013 nomination of Wain for the Sovereign’s Medal:
In 2000, Community Foundation had endowment assets of $2,000,000 and disbursed $57,000 in grants to the community. Under Wain Birch’s strong leadership as the part time paid Foundation’s Executive Director from April 2000 to December 2012, the Foundation’s assets grew to over $35,000,000 with grant disbursements to the community of over $2,000,000 last year, to a wide range of charitable organizations in Regina and across southern Saskatchewan. The Foundation is nominating Wain for this award to acknowledge the significant and sustained unpaid volunteer time he committed to the Foundation which undoubtedly contributed to it’s growth, in not only asset growth but in relationships with philanthropic individuals and families, and charitable organizations that help make the south Saskatchewan Community a great one to live in. Wain worked 3 days a week as a paid employee but easily contributed an additional 10+ hours a week working for the Foundation and traveling across the province on behalf of the Foundation. Wain also never requested reimbursement from the SSCF for most his work-related travel and meal expenses, effectively donating this back to the organization. Wain believes in the spirit of people working together to better their community – strength and growth in numbers to achieve great things – and this passion for community betterment fueled Wain’s energy and dedication to grow the Foundation to a significant granting Foundation in Saskatchewan well beyond his paid time at the SSCF.
Wain embodies the love and deep connections he has nurtured throughout his life within his expansive family. He and his first wife, Bonnie Lynn Birch, shared a beautiful journey together, raising two remarkable daughters before her passing in 2006. Their legacy continues through Wain’s five cherished grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, who bring immense joy to his life. In 2014, Wain was fortunate enough to discover love anew when he married Doreen, and together they continue to waltz into the hearts of those around them. Countless individuals are enriched by knowing Wain, who has approached every challenge with unwavering enthusiasm and steadfast commitment.