Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund

Sally O’Sullivan was a child protection mediator and a passionate advocate for children in foster care. Sally served on the board of First West Foundation from 2001 to 2009. A visionary, Sally was instrumental in the growth of the Foundation, spearheading a $500,000 fundraising campaign to build two new homes for SideBySide Children's Village Society (formerly known as SOS Children’s Village BC). 

Completed in 2006, these houses provide homes for children in foster care who just want to belong, share a sense of community and create family ties that will endure. We were very proud when one of the homes was dedicated to Sally. Because of Sally’s passion for the Society and the Envision House Project supporting this organization, the Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund was created with the First West Foundation and will directly support the SideBySide Children's Village Society with an annual donation.

More about Sally

Sally was a leading Notary Public, served as president of the Society of Notaries, and became the first woman Rotarian in Western Canada in 1984. Sally was always evolving, and her last career shift was to become a Chartered Mediator, predominantly for the Ministry of Children and Families where she mediated child protection disputes. Sally’s continued success elevated her to the level of “Mentoring Mediator” and her services were in high demand. Unfortunately, a serious stroke in October of 2009 halted her career as well as her service on the boards of First West Credit Union and First West Foundation.

Sally demonstrated her courage and resolve, battling through speech and physio therapies for the next three years, making tremendous progress in both areas. Sadly, Sally suffered another stroke and passed away in December 2012.

The Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund will generate funding to support SideBySide Children's Village Society which provides homes, a supportive community, and programs to help foster children and youth in need grow into caring, self-reliant adults.