Health care plays a powerful role in many of life’s most deeply personal moments. For the Chan family, those moments have come in many forms: through the care of loved ones, the stories of friends, and the memory of a beloved grandfather treated at St. Paul’s Hospital.
Motivated by these experiences of compassionate care and a deep belief in the power of research to change lives, the Chan Better World Foundation has made a transformative $2 million gift to St. Paul’s Foundation to help shape the future of health care and discovery across British Columbia, including at the new Jim Pattison Medical Campus.
“My family is honoured to make this gift,” says Chapman Chan, Director of Chan Better World Foundation. “The world class medical care, research, and education from St. Paul’s Hospital has played an integral role in the city’s wellbeing for over a century. We are very excited to contribute to the impact the new hospital will have on Vancouver’s future!”
A family tradition of giving back, rooted in community care
What began as a family tradition in the 1980s has grown into a lasting commitment to building stronger, healthier communities. Soon after Chapman’s grandfather, Chan Shun, immigrated to Canada with his sons Tom and Caleb, he founded the Chan Foundation of Canada.
During the mid-90s, Chan Shun was treated for kidney related issues at St. Paul's Hospital under Dr. Tony Chiu. Inspired by the compassionate, life-changing care he received, the Chan Foundation established the Chan Shun Renal Cardiac Research Endowment Fund, which has supported research in congenital heart disease and kidney transplantation.
“We are proud of the work St. Paul's Hospital has accomplished and we are honoured that we could play a small part in that research over the years,” says Chapman.
Years later, Chan Shun’s son Tom set up the Chan Better World Foundation alongside his children: Holly, Beverly, and Chapman. The Foundation is deeply committed to strengthening communities through support for health care, education, religion, and social services.
With firsthand experience of St. Paul’s Hospital’s innovative care delivered by global leaders in medicine, Chan Better World Foundation saw a natural opportunity to give back. By investing in the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the Jim Pattison Medical Campus, they’re helping ensure that future generations will have access to the same life-changing care their family has known.
“We feel especially strongly towards good health care in BC because without health, we ourselves cannot carry out our mission to support the community,” Chan explains. “We hope our support helps ensure that people across BC, Canada, and beyond have access to state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional care, and greater opportunities to live full and happy lives.”
Investing in the power of research and patient care
The Jim Pattison Medical Campus is the largest and most ambitious hospital project currently in Western Canada. Home to the new St. Paul’s Hospital and adjoining Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC), the medical campus is thoughtfully designed to help patients heal better.
What truly sets us apart is the way we combine deep compassion with bold innovation. Our commitment to patient-centered care is rooted in a long-standing culture of seeing people first as individuals, not as conditions or circumstances. It’s this belief that drives us to listen with intention, lead with purpose, and redefine what care can be.
The Jim Pattison Medical Campus is where Providence leaders in medicine, data-science, technology, and life sciences will be working together to find cures, develop life-saving drugs, and fast-track discoveries that will benefit people being treated in the hospital; in British Columbia; and around the world.
Research transforms patient care, and the interconnectedness of the hospital and CSRC will fully integrate research, care, and education. The Chan Better World Foundation’s generous gift will support the Clinical Support and Research Centre and the Cardiac Surgery Outcomes Research Group on the medical campus, as well as research at the Providence Breast Centre at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital.
“Many people in the community and many people we know personally have been affected by health issues in these areas of medicine,” Chan says. “We want to support research and advancement.”
Alongside our community of donors, we will shape the future of medicine, ensuring that life-changing treatments and research discoveries are available for British Columbians – and communities far beyond – when they need them most. And while the impact spans continents, it’s also personal: our loved ones will have access to the exceptional care they need to live longer, healthier lives.
“Health is the one thing that affects us all as humans. We all work hard in our careers and strive to make a better living, enjoy time with loved ones, and travel and see the world, but none of that matters or is even possible without good health,” Chan says. “It's a simple decision to invest in your community's health care, as it has the best returns.”
Donations to St. Paul’s Foundation bring compassionate care to patients and families, support life-changing research, and help accelerate the transformation of health care at the new Jim Pattison Medical Campus.