Even if you didn’t know Mary Gordon personally, you’ve likely felt the impact of her generosity. From healthcare and youth to the arts, seniors and the environment, Mary’s contributions enrich the Sunshine Coast, years after her passing.
“Mary was a force – strong, exacting, and incredibly generous. She knew what mattered to her and invested deeply in her community, whether it was through supporting local artists, championing small businesses, or quietly helping those in need,” says Mary’s goddaughter, Mary Caros. “Even after her passing, her legacy continues to shape the Sunshine Coast in ways that truly reflect the person she was.”
Mary Gordon was born in Prince Rupert to Jim and Phyllis Parker but her family soon moved to Sechelt, and as early residents their entrepreneurial spirit helped shape the town. They owned multiple businesses on Cowrie Street, including Parker’s Hardware.
As a teen, Mary was crowned Sechelt’s May Day Queen – a hint of the beloved community figure she would become. She graduated from nursing school in 1959 and her work as a nurse took her to hospitals across B.C. and beyond, including Kitimat, Pender Harbour, Powell River and Bermuda, before she returned to serve as director of nursing at Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital.
In 1964, she married Cecil Gordon, and the couple remained dedicated supporters of the arts, culture, and community organizations. Mary left nursing to help her father manage their commercial properties in Sechelt and, after his passing, Mary took on the leadership and managed the businesses. During the pandemic, Mary was one of the landlords who offered her tenants a break on rent, reinforcing her deep sense of care for the community.
In 2018, Mary suffered a stroke and became even more determined to formalize her legacy of giving. She established nursing scholarships at Royal Columbian (her alma mater) and Douglas College and supported hospitals such as St. Paul’s and Holy Family Rehab.
After Mary’s passing in 2021, her generosity continued to flow to her community and, in 2023, the Sunshine Coast Foundation received a transformative $250,000 initial gift from her estate. Guided by her passions, this gift was carefully allocated to support multiple causes close to Mary’s heart.
The Mary and Cecil Gordon / James and Phyllis Parker Family Fund for Seniors was created with a focus on caring for seniors and support programs that help people remain independent and connected to their community. Recently, the fund made its first grant to the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre (SSAC), which enabled it to purchase an automatic defibrillator, first aid kits, and cover instruction fees for CPR and first aid training, equipping them in life-saving situations.
Separate from the family’s named fund, an additional $5,000 from Mary’s gift bolstered the new SSAC Endowment Fund, established in 2023 to provide sustainable operating revenues for the centre.
A second endowment, the Mary and Cecil Gordon / James and Phyllis Parker Family Scholarship Fund for Nursing and Care, awards scholarships to local students pursuing careers in nursing, or related fields. In 2024, the fund made its first of many awards to two high school graduates beginning their nursing journeys.
“Receiving this bursary has impacted my future greatly and will allow me a smooth start on my journey through nursing school,” Leah Pearson-White writes in a heartfelt letter.
Beyond these funds, Mary’s generosity extended to the YMCA Camp Elphinstone Youth Development Fund, with an initial $50,000 contribution to support youth leadership and skill-building opportunities. “These funds will ensure that youth, whose families have financial barriers, can build connections, develop self-identity and independence, helping them to grow and succeed,” says Lisa Stiver, Director of Fund Development at YMCA BC.
Mary Gordon and her family’s legacy serves as a powerful reminder that true philanthropy is measured not by the size of the gift, but by the depth of its impact.
“Mary’s gift is uniquely impactful, not only because of the sheer size of the donation, but because she had such a wide array of interests that were important in her life,” says Erin Storey, executive director of the Sunshine Coast Foundation. “One of the most important steps in our gift acceptance process is that we take the time to really understand the person behind a gift – their vision and intent – so that we can activate the funds in a way that truly captures and honours a person’s legacy.”
“In Mary’s case, it’s very important to her loved ones that this gift inspires others to really think about their own legacies and consider shaping gifts during their lifetimes as Mary did.”
As your local community foundation, the Sunshine Coast Foundation is honoured to help others like Mary shape their own legacies and ensure their philanthropic visions are brought to life in meaningful ways. The first step in creating your own legacy is discovering your giving values and goals using the foundation’s questionnaire: sunshinecoastfoundation.org/donor-impact/.
