YOUR WINS 2021
ANNUAL 
IMPACT 
REPORT

THANK YOU
This pandemic has been a rollercoaster. 
But despite the difficulties, COVID-19 
gave us the precious privilege of being in 
lockdown with our kids and grandkids. 
We’ve also had time to ponder what 
matters most in life and think deeply 
about our hopes for the future.
After our family, this Foundation is our 
most important contribution. And it 
truly only exists because of you.
In 2021, you stood behind important 
new Canadian laws, including a bill to 
ensure government fulfils its climate 
commitments. You powered research 
that convinced the British Columbia 
Supreme Court to uphold Blueberry 
River First Nations’ treaty rights to 
safeguard their traditional territory 
— a precedent for the land and for 
reconciliation. You helped stand against 
fossil fuel extraction projects in Quebec. 
You supported training of thousands 
of volunteer Butterflyway Rangers 
throughout Canada to build highways 
of habitat to feed and shelter wild 
pollinators, and reap the benefits of 
community connections that transcend 
cultures and generations. You created 
online hubs in Canada’s two official 
languages that teach, mentor, empower 
and amplify the work of grassroots 
environmental groups nationwide.
We taught our kids that our family’s 
role is to try to make things better. That 
Canada — and all of humanity, all of life 
— is one huge family.
Your commitment, your encouragement 
— because you care — makes you part 
of this family, working to make a better 
world.
You’ve made a world of difference 
supporting the planet that supports 
us all.
And by standing with us moving 
forward, you’ll help fulfil our vision 
that people in Canada understand we 
are interdependent with nature, act 
together to avert the worst effects of 
climate disruption and protect Earth so 
it can sustain all life.
Thank you.
David Suzuki and Tara Cullis, co-founders
LOOKING AHEAD
It’s been an honour to partner with you 
during my first months as executive 
director of this Foundation. I literally 
grew up here. As a child, I watched my 
parents — co-founders David Suzuki and 
Tara Cullis — build and nurture the DSF. 
I joined the board in my early 20s and I 
served 14 years. I volunteered for many 
campaigns, such as the Blue Dot tour.
I come to this new role with gratitude and 
an urgent call to duty. And I am very aware 
and humbled that all our work, all our 
successes, are because of your enduring 
dedication and generous support.
This report highlights some of the 
many achievements you helped make 
possible in 2021. These are your wins. 
They show that when we work together, 
we can achieve important results 
toward sustainability — even in the face 
of multiple crises. 
Today, 
in 
2022, 
global 
scientific 
consensus continues to highlight the 
urgent need to reduce emissions and 
transition away from fossil fuels. While 
municipal budgets pale in comparison 
to 
provincial/federal 
budgets, 
they 
tend to deal with more front-line 
climate impacts than other levels of 
government. In 2022, we’ll continue our 
work supporting community groups 
and municipal government staff in 
target cities to ensure they develop and 
implement strong climate plans. Equity 
and diversity are absolutely key to our 
sustainability, so we’ll be working to 
ensure racialized and marginalized 
communities are central and benefit 
from these plans.
Indigenous Peoples make up less than 
five per cent of the world’s population, 
yet they are stewards of about 80 per 
cent of the world’s biodiversity. Our 
path to sustainability depends on 
the empowerment and leadership of 
Indigenous Peoples. We’re committed 
to continue advancing Indigenous-led 
protection and ecosystem restoration. 
Our 
new 
rewilding 
communities 
program will help the National Healing 
Forest Initiative create spaces for 
learning, sharing and reflecting on 
Canada’s history and residential school 
legacy. We’ll co-produce another land 
back video series. And we’ll work with 
First Nations to analyse and repair 
decades of harm to their territories 
and support adoption of the first 
regional marine protected area network 
supported by their governments. 
There is a lot to do. But let us pause 
for a moment and recognize what we 
have achieved together this past year. 
I hope you can take pride in this report. 
Thank you for all you do to support this 
important work. I look forward to our 
continued partnership.
Severn Cullis-Suzuki, executive director
PHOTO: PATRICK SHANNON
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CLIMATE 
SOLUTIONS
“Protecting Earth’s climate is the challenge of our time.  
There is no more important obligation to the world.” 
DAVID SUZUKI
NEW LAWS PROTECTING PEOPLE  
AND THE PLANET 
Important, groundbreaking national legal victories you made possible in 2021 included:
A GAME-CHANGING CLIMATE  
ACCOUNTABILITY LAW
Canada has a legacy of missing inter-
national climate targets. The Canadian 
Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act 
could be transformational. It will help 
ensure government follows through 
on promised climate action and never 
misses another target.
A SUPREME COURT OF 
CANADA WIN
On March 25, the Court upheld the 
federal government’s legal authority 
to implement national measures to 
combat climate change, including a 
price on carbon pollution. In its decision, 
the Court affirmed that climate change 
is “a threat of the highest order to  
the country, and indeed the world … The 
undisputed existence of a threat to the 
future of humanity cannot be ignored.”
A BILL TO ADDRESS AND 
PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL 
RACISM AND PROMOTE 
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 
One-quarter of the poorest neighbour-
hoods in Canada’s urban areas are 
within a kilometre of a polluting facility, 
compared to just seven per cent of the 
wealthiest. If passed, this bill will require 
Canada to link race, socioeconomic 
status and health outcomes.
A BILL TO MODERNIZE THE 
CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL 
PROTECTION ACT
Canada’s most important (but outdated) 
environmental law addresses toxics and 
pollution. Government introduced a bill 
to modernize the act that would make it 
the first Canadian law to recognize the 
right to a healthy environment.
DESIGNATION OF PLASTICS 
AS “TOXICS” 
Canada added “plastic manufactured 
items” to CEPA’s list of toxic substances 
and published draft regulations banning 
non-essential, single-use plastics.
5

ENDING FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTION  
IN QUEBEC 
Human activity — mainly burning fossil fuels — is heating 
the planet faster than scientists predicted. You’ve helped 
mobilize pressure against the expansion of fossil fuel 
infrastructure throughout Canada for decades.
You also made it possible for us to stand against GNL/
Gazoduq — a liquefied natural gas industrial complex project 
in Quebec’s Port of Saguenay and a 780-kilometre pipeline 
linking it to northeastern Ontario — for years. In July, the 
Quebec government said no. In February 2022, the federal 
government announced rejection of the project, the long-
awaited final step to definitively turn the page on this project.
If it had gone ahead, the project would have generated 
more than 50 million tonnes of greenhouse gases  
(the equivalent of some 10 million cars) every year for 
at least 25 years, jeopardizing the health of rivers and  
wetlands and their biodiversity — such as endangered beluga  
whales — while threatening local people, including many 
Indigenous communities.
Thanks to relentless pressure from thousands of residents, 
environmental groups and Indigenous Peoples, Quebec has 
closed the door on oil, gas and coal in its territory for good. 
This decision is in line with the province’s goal to reduce its 
dependence on fossil fuels to fight climate change, including 
by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 37.5 per cent 
from 1990 levels by 2030. It’s a visionary lead for all of 
Canada — and the world.
PHOTO: MARC GIRARD
THRIVING 
NATURE
“Together, all species make up one immense web of 
interconnections that binds all beings to each other 
and to the physical components of the planet.” 
DAVID SUZUKI
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BREAKING NEW GROUND ON 
RECONCILIATION 
A precedent-setting court victory for Blueberry River First 
Nations — the first cumulative impacts Indigenous rights case 
in Canada — could help realize key Truth and Reconciliation 
Commission calls to action.
Resource extraction and agricultural activity in Treaty 8 
territory in British Columbia’s Peace River Valley have 
severely affected Blueberry’s way of life and ability to hunt. 
The Nations spent more than a decade expressing concerns 
to the Oil and Gas Commission, forestry companies and 
the province. After being bounced between departments or 
disregarded, they took B.C. to court in 2018, arguing their 
treaty rights were breached.
The late-June B.C. Supreme Court ruling said the province 
failed to uphold its treaty promises and outlines a bold new 
framework for decision-making around resource extraction. 
Our Atlas of Cumulative Landscape Disturbance in the 
Traditional Territory of Blueberry River First Nations — which 
you made possible — helped convince the Court, providing 
information about the high levels of industrial disturbance 
within Blueberry’s traditional territory.
The decision offers renewed hope for Blueberry members and 
allies frustrated by provincial resource-extraction approval 
processes and marks a groundbreaking step toward shaping 
the future of treaty relations.
MAKING PROGRESS ON PESTICIDES
Pesticides are among the most widely 
used chemicals in the world. Now all 
people in Canada carry residues in their 
bodies. They’re also a major threat to 
biodiversity.
Thanks to donor support, we’ve 
campaigned against harmful pesticides 
for decades.
On March 30, the Quebec government 
recognized the scientific link between 
pesticide use and Parkinson’s disease. 
This is a huge victory for farm workers 
and others at risk.
In August, the federal government 
launched 
a 
“targeted 
review” 
of 
the Pest Control Products Act and 
announced a $50-million investment 
over three years to bolster pesticide 
regulations and find alternatives.
Health Canada paused consideration of 
a flawed proposal to increase allowable 
residues of glyphosate on many food-
stuffs and then ruled that glyphosate is 
“safe.” (Glyphosate, the active ingredient 
in the herbicide Roundup, is now found 
in one-third of our foods. And it has 
decimated milkweed — the sole food of 
monarch butterfly larvae — throughout 
North America, contributing to the 
massive monarch butterfly decline.)
In February, the Court of Appeal ruled 
that Health Canada must reassess 
a 2017 request for an independent 
scientific review of glyphosate, which 
the World Health Organization classifies 
as a probable human carcinogen.
Health Canada originally rejected the 
request but the court found the decision 
was unreasonable. Congratulations to 
our friends at Safe Food Matters, who 
brought this important case. We were 
an intervenor, represented by lawyers 
at Ecojustice.
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8

SUSTAINABLE 
COMMUNITIES
“All of the major battles of social progress, such 
as allowing women to vote, were made possible 
because people got involved and decided they 
would no longer stand for business as usual.” 
DAVID SUZUKI
RESIDENTS SPUR 
CLIMATE READINESS 
WHERE THEY LIVE  
Canada is not on track to meet its commitment to reduce 
emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. And 
to meet the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 
1.5 C warming limit and avert the worst consequences of 
global heating, we need far more ambitious targets.
The good news: Cities and towns around the world are 
taking action and creating and implementing plans to 
significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In Canada, some big emissions sources, like air transportation 
and energy utilities, are under federal or provincial control. 
Municipalities can legislate actions that affect about 50 per cent 
of our national emissions. And with about 80 per cent of people 
in Canada living in municipalities, it’s important — even crucial 
— that we focus on their potential to help stop climate change.
Residents’ voices are powerful. Elected council members are 
responsible to their constituents.
And thanks to the influence of locals who care, municipalities 
are taking action:
In Edmonton, we supported community groups that wanted 
the city to develop and implement a strong energy transition 
strategy. The City of Edmonton recently became the first 
municipality in Canada to create and commit to a carbon budget. 
After Montreal released its climate plan in December 
2020, we helped the Partenariat Climat Montréal begin to 
implement it by co-ordinating citizen-led initiatives and 
taking part in the steering committee. We also pushed for 
mobility and urban development plans, building regulations 
and public transportation systems.
In Regina, we joined the city’s energy and sustainability 
framework advisory committee, advanced the city’s energy 
transition by convening dialogues, supported community 
organizations calling for public transit actions and worked 
in developing decarbonization pathways. We supported 
important climate equity research at the University of Regina 
that’s also relevant to other cities.
We worked with Brampton city staff and council to build 
capacity for motions and help build social licence for climate 
action. We’ve also supported Brampton on transit projects and 
energy transition.
We hosted several dialogues with young Black, Indigenous 
and other people of colour and learned that their priority 
is climate justice. We’re currently piloting an initiative 
that brings social justice organizers from across the 
Peel community together to make connections and find 
common ground. 
We’re helping Metro Vancouver strengthen its climate 
plan and regional transportation strategy and we provided 
recommendations on best policies and practices that 
significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
MOBILIZING LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION
For anyone who wants to get started where they live, you 
made it possible for us to publish Your Voice at the Table, 
an online guide that helps people work with their local 
governments on climate action.
It helps people interested in getting involved in local action 
envision the future they want for their communities, learn 
which solutions help reduce emissions, connect with like-
minded fellow climate advocates and understand how 
local governments work and how to work with them. It 
also provides inspiration via stories from communities 
throughout Canada.
PHOTO: COMMUNITY CLIMATE COUNCIL
11

ACTIVISM EDUCATION
During COVID-19 lockdown, our organizers launched a 
youth-focused activism school offering online interactive 
multi-week programs on topics ranging from mobilizing a 
community to promoting self-care.
Those successes spurred another school for people of 
all ages from all over. Participants received training in 
strategizing, decolonization, recruitment, team building and 
leadership. In between sessions, they organized meetings 
with people in their neighbourhoods and/or municipalities 
interested in getting involved to make a difference.
As school was in session, students started their own projects 
and were able to get guidance during those first critical 
weeks. After “graduation,” many joined Future Ground 
Network/Réseau Demain le Québec.
GETTING OUT THE VOTE
In a snap federal election during a global pandemic, you 
made it possible for us to get out the vote in a campaign 
that reached tens of thousands of people in Canada.
We provided party platforms on key environmental issues, 
and helped people register, vote by mail or find their polling 
station. We partnered with One Earth One Vote, a non-
partisan effort to ensure the environment, social justice 
and Indigenous rights were on the election agenda. And we 
provided opportunities for people who live in Canada but 
can’t vote to get involved.
EMPOWERING PEOPLE IN PLACE
Imagining the world we want and working to create it needs 
more than top-down policy change. We need collective action 
by many people in many communities.
You helped create Future Ground Network/Réseau Demain 
le Québec, online organizing hubs (one English, one French) 
that convene and mentor the environmental community.
They amplify and accelerate the meaningful work of local 
groups in their communities and connect them to each other, 
and provide free monthly training webinars, resource guides, 
recruitment and training and digital organizing tools.
The project was piloted in Ontario and Quebec and launched 
nationally on February 10, 2021. Groups gather on the digital 
platform to promote their work, start local initiatives, host events 
and push for policy change. At the time of writing, more than 
150 groups were registered. That’s more than 3,000 people 
connecting with tens of thousands in their communities.
RECOGNIZING LOCAL EXCELLENCE
Collective action starts with the few and builds to the many. 
But sometimes smaller initiatives need a boost to get the 
attention they deserve.
Our Montreal office launched its annual Prix Demain le 
Québec in 2014. The contest recognizes communities 
coming together to create innovative projects that protect 
the planet and build a healthy future. With your help, a pilot 
of the English version — the Future Ground Prize — kicked 
off in Ontario in 2021.
Six prizes were awarded (three in Quebec and three in 
Ontario). Winners of the two Jury Prizes received $5,000 each 
and an online visit from David Suzuki. The two People’s Choice 
Prize winners received $2,500 each. Youth Awards recognize 
projects led by future green leaders — applicants from 
daycares, preschools and primary and secondary schools.
This project builds a narrative, with hundreds of community-
led stories to inspire people to act. Because votes for the 
People’s Choice Prizes and Youth Awards were collected 
online, thousands of people reviewed the candidate projects. 
The project aims to gradually expand nationwide. In 2022, 
the focus will be youth activism in British Columbia, Ontario 
and Quebec.
“There’s truth to the 
saying, ‘Think globally, 
act locally.’ To resolve 
a planetary crisis like 
climate disruption, 
we need change from 
the top, but without 
localized support, that’s 
difficult to achieve.”  
DAVID SUZUKI
PHOTO: DEMAIN VERDUN
PHOTO: LES ALLIÉS DE LA MER
PHOTO: PROJET LAC OSISKO
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12

YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK
Many sources, including tens of thousands of small, individual donations, power our work. 
This wide range of support allows us to be fully independent.
The climate and biodiversity crises are escalating. They require 
science-based policy advocacy to influence government 
decision-makers and hold them to their promises and public 
engagement in communities throughout Canada to empower 
people where they live — at the same time. 
Despite the overlapping environmental, health and economic 
stresses, our revenue increased from 2020 to 2021, thanks  
to the generous support of our new and existing donors.  
Thank you. We can’t do the work we do without your 
constancy and commitment.
Incoming monies, combined with gains on endowment fund 
investments, resulted in an excess of revenue over expenses of 
$4,177,304 in fiscal year 2021. This will help ensure our financial 
sustainability and the successful delivery of our important projects 
that push for bold climate action, protect nature so it can sustain 
all life and create resilient communities that benefit everyone.
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2021, WITH COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR 2020
2021
2020
REVENUE
$14,248,940
$13,328,917
EXPENSES
$11,070,201
$12,350,878
GAINS ON ENDOWMENT FUND INVESTMENTS 
$998,565
$683,200
EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES
$4,177,304
$1,661,239
View our audited financial statements at davidsuzuki.org/financials
FINANCIALS
DONORS
Thank you for your generosity. This list includes donors who contributed $5,000 or more 
between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021.
$100,000+
Claudine and Stephen 
Bronfman Family Foundation
Estate of Adele Maria 
Jutta Dalton
David and Lucile Packard 
Foundation, The
Hummingbird Foundation
Grant Linney
Stiftung Zukunft jetzt!
Peter Gilgan Foundation, The
Power Corporation of Canada
Sitka Foundation, The
$25,000-$99,999
Estate of Paula Achtemichuk
Bennett Family 
Foundation, The
Ellen Bronfman Hauptman 
and Andrew Hauptman
Cascades Canada ULC
CRB Foundation, The 
Foundation of Greater 
Montreal for the Montreal 
Climate Partnership
Paula Franzini
Gencon Foundation
Houssian Foundation, The
Lawson Foundation, The 
Estate of William 
Ronald Lorenson
Lufa Farms Inc.
Maple Seed Farm
McCall MacBain Foundation
McConnell Foundation
Microsoft Canada
Mouvement Desjardins
Nature’s Way Canada
Nest Designs
Jessica Pathy and Mark Pathy
Pew Charitable Trusts, The
Printing House Ltd., The
Real Estate Foundation 
of British Columbia
Estate of Scot D. Steele
Stingray Digital Group Inc
Stober Foundation and 
Keith Z. Brewster
John Douglas Rosene
Terri Taylor
Toronto and Region 
Conservation Authority
Trottier Family Foundation
Wellbeing Economy 
Alliance (WEAll)
Estate of Audrey 
Wells-Delaney
$10,000-$24,999
Daniel Boiteau
Estate of Georgina 
Margaret Brunette
Buchanan Programme 
& Ivy Wang
Budman Family 
Foundation, The
Peter Cavelti Family 
Foundation 
Chan Family Foundation
Charitable Gift Funds 
Canada Foundation, The
Charles & Julie Bentall 
Family Foundation
Énergir
Energy Foundation, The
Floyd & Nancy Reynolds 
Fund at Calgary Foundation
Genus Capital 
Management Inc.
Luke Gilgan
Green Sanderson 
Family Foundation
Mark and Jenny Guibert
Anne Hale
Estate of Beverley 
Anne Hunter
Elizabeth and Rudy Kerklaan
Jelena and Russell Kling
KMPG
MakeWay Charitable 
Society-MaPP
Martin-Luc 
Archambault Fund
Nestle Health Science
New Roots Herbal Inc. 
Oleg Lights
Caitlin Phillips and 
Mikkel Paulson
Quesada Canada
Samsung Canada
Leonard Schein and 
Barbara Small
Natasha Shulman and 
Matthew Lorincz
Somerset Foundation
South Saskatchewan 
Community Foundation
Strategic Charitable 
Giving Foundation, The
Estate of Jo-Anne 
Thornthwaite
Wendy Valdes
$5,000-$9,999
Michael Adams
Age of Union Alliance
Lisa and Jimmy Alexander 
Andrew Best MD Inc.
Anne-Marie and Mitch 
Garber Family Foundation
Salah Bachir & Jacob Yerex
Claudia Barila
Keith Boldt
Eric Brassard
Bugatti Group
Davies Ward Phillips 
& Vineberg LLP
Marna Disbrow
T.J. Donnelly
Heidi Drymer and 
Peter Graham
Geoffrey Fridd
Funke-Furber Fund through 
the Victoria Foundation
Grandé Studios
Marian Grimwood
Salvatore Guerrera 
and Nick Tedeschi
Hart Family
Emily M. Hildebrand
Hunter Family
Estate of Marlene 
Mary Knight
Rob Krajcarski
Merel Kriegsman
Martin Leroux and 
Yasmine Khalil
Gordon Lightfoot
McDonald Family, The 
Pass-Through Grants 
Fund through the 
Victoria Foundation
Estate of Ursula Poepel
Ellen and Donald Reid
Harley Rothstein and 
Eleanor Boyle
Sandra and Alain 
Bouchard Foundation
Saputo Inc.
Anne Gorsuch and 
Harold Siden
Mark L. Smith
Stellabar Foundation, The 
Terre des hommes
Patricia Turk
Joe Vipond and Erin Grier
Estate of Donna Vivian Webb
Margot Young
15
14

THANK YOU
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR DONATIONS OR 
THE PROGRAMS YOU SUPPORT? WE’RE HERE TO HELP.
219-2211 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6K 4S2
1-800-453-1533 ext. 1500
communitygiving@davidsuzuki.org
davidsuzuki.org
Canadian charitable number: BN 127756716RR0001 
US charitable number: 94-3204049