“We were raised to contribute,” Dave begins, walking through the garden of their family home in Sechelt. Dave and Doris Hawkins, together with their children and grandchildren, remember how their family legacy of service and support for health care started.
From founding the Sunshine Coast’s Habitat for Humanity in 2004, to countless activities put on by the local church, Dave Hawkins’ parents modelled what volunteering and giving back looks like for generations of Hawkins to come.
“It’s a tradition that goes back to my grandparents,” recalls his son Bradley, a homecare nurse working for Vancouver Coastal Health in Sechelt. “They instilled a deep sense of empathy and compassion in us.”
Upon retirement, Dave and Doris followed their parents (and Dave’s sister!) to the Coast from Calgary, and never looked back. One a former lab tech, the other a recovering engineer, both have shared years of insight and passion with local charitable organizations.
Dave served for eight years as a volunteer director at Sechelt Hospital Foundation, eventually recruiting Doris’ expertise to support with records management for the local charity. As Dave puts it, “Everybody is affected by health care services and facilities. Everyone needs it and everyone benefits when you support your local hospital.”
Eventually, one by one their children moved to the Coast as well. Their daughter Heather, who chose a career path in art therapy and counselling adds, “For me, it is in a health crisis where we truly see our shared humanity. We see vulnerability and bravery, and in those moments we only have each other.”
Her husband Tyler Bergh now follows in his father-in-law’s footsteps and volunteers as director with Sechelt Hospital Foundation. “I think about our kids,” Tyler adds. “And our parents and grandparents aging here. There’s an opportunity to build the future of health care.”
As for the youngest members of the family, Sawyer and Briar? Time will tell how they choose to make their mark, but Dave’s quiet advice for the youngest generation stands:
“Go do the little things and change the narrative about what’s going on. Consider a career in health care or volunteering locally perhaps.”
Generation 2 Generation is Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s new philanthropic series. Join us as we shine a light on the local families who have contributed to or been significantly impacted by health care, across generations. Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear from you and celebrate your legacy. www.sechelthospitalfoundation.org/g2g
