Maggie Cumming, a devout hiker and environmentalist, left more than her footprints on Bowen Island. She generously created a legacy fund to preserve and expand Bowen’s trail system. She also directed that a $500 award, the Maggie Cumming Legacy Fund Bursary, be granted to a Bowen Island student in good academic standing who shares her love of the environment and needs a little financial help. Up to two recipients of this bursary are selected each year.
Past MCLF Bursary Recipients:
2025 Lucie Robichaud, Sadie Ross
2024 Lua Blackbourn, Wylie Stiver
2023 Miranda Forster
2022 Kylee Lightbody, Aria Willis, Alexandra Forbes, Oskar Knowles Dekker
2021 Lucy Griffiths, Kylee Lightbody
2020 Karina Jorgensen-Fullam, Claire Squire
2018 Bowen Wright
2017 Olivia Vallee, Emily Carlington
2016 Phillip Bement, Rebecca Underdown
2012 Annie Faragher
2011 Charlotte Rose
2009 Emily Allen
Maggie Cumming left her beloved island a nest egg to carry on her work of preserving its natural beauty while increasing the network of trails.
The Bowen Island Community Foundation has created a lasting memory of her generosity in this book – The Maggie Cumming Story – in celebration of Maggie’s contribution to trails and parks on Bowen Island. Maggie’s Story (softcover) can be purchased online from Blurb:
Purchase Maggie’s Story (Paperback)
Presentation of Maggie’s Story to her family and friends at the family home on Bowen, May 17, 2014.
- Soren Hammerberg (Bowen Island Community Foundation) & Trish McGeer
- John Riley, Joyce Ganong (Bowen Island Community Foundation) & Josephine Riley with Trish McGeer (Maggie’s sister) in background
- Cathy Ross (Maggie’s daughter) & Trish McGeer
- Trish, Soren & Joyce
- Joyce & Trish
- Joyce Ganong, John Riley, Brian Cumming & Josephine Ril
Past MCLF Grant Recipients:
- Snug Cove House Association (Better Meals Program) – 2009, 2011, 2012
- Bowen Island Conservancy (Education re: Headwater Park) – 2011
- Bowen Island Municipality Greenways Committee (Headwater Park Boardwalk) – 2009