People have as many reasons for donating as there are ways to make a difference. Some choose to give during their lifetime, seeing the impact of their generosity. Others choose to leave a legacy, making a gift that continues to have meaningful impact on the lives of others long after they are gone.
Maggie Cumming was one of them. She spent her childhood summers on the family property on south Bowen. There were few roads then, no car ferry. She rode her horses all over the Island exploring, learning, and developing a deep connection with Bowen’s wild places. She grew up to be an avid hiker, environmentalist, and advocate for the preservation of green spaces. Throughout her life, she worked with community groups to bring new parks to life and expand the network of footpaths for walking, for discovering the natural world, for dreaming.
When Maggie died, she left a bequest to the Bowen Island Community Foundation in her will to set up a fund that would enhance and preserve Bowen’s green spaces—the Maggie Cumming Legacy Endowment Fund for Greenways. Maggie was a visionary donor who imagined a lasting legacy of greenways: places where people could walk and explore, wildlife could move freely, wetlands and watersheds were protected, and the natural history of Bowen was better understood. An advisory committee dedicated to carrying out Maggie’s wishes works collaboratively with Bowen Island Municipality to provide extra funding for projects that she would have loved.
Some of the lasting gifts to Bowen that were made possible through Maggie Cumming’s bequest include:
- The Snug Cove Garden Gateway Project
- An all-terrain trike for islanders with disabilities to enjoy Bowen’s trails (available to rent from the Library)
- Headwaters Park bog restoration
- Improvements to the viewscape at Quarry Park Lookout
- Enhanced infrastructure at Quarry Park and Headwaters Park, including new interpretive and wayfinding signage, kiosk upgrades, a new pit toilet, and parking improvements
Most recently, Maggie’s legacy is supporting two years of work on the Grafton Lake Water Management Project, helping to protect one of Bowen’s most important watersheds.
Maggie’s story is an inspirational example of what a legacy gift can make possible.
