October 4, 2026, marked the 12th annual fundraising benefit for CRCC yielding an unprecedented $200,000 in donations for the Conference Centre. 245 people came out to enjoy a meal, catch up with friends, and find out more about the progress made in paying for the magnificent place we call CRCC.
It is fortuitous that the benefit was held on that day since it was the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Those familiar with his prayer know that it includes the famous adage, “It is in giving that we receive.” This is a wonderful sentiment that was embraced by all in attendance.
Before getting into fundraising details, M. Elizabeth Boyd, Co-Chair of the CRCC Fundraising Committee, reminded everyone that Copper Ridge is not only the site of many retreats, but it is also a place where people get professional and human formation. There have been sessions at the Centre on friendship, kindness, wine tasting, optimal work, taking the moral high ground in business, to name just a few. Copper Ridge is a home for the young, the old and everyone in between. It is a place of rest and replenishment for about 1000 people a year.
Before detailing the present fundraising efforts, Elizabeth spoke about the incredible role played by two men and four women who are Spiritual Co-chairs of the CRCC fundraising committee. They pray and sacrifice each day for a successful fundraising effort. Mrs. Boyd went on to point out that 76% of the $20 million debt on the building has been retired and explained that each year the mortgage is $643,000. Monthly donors pay a little over $125,000 of this each year and the balance is covered by donors who participate in the special annual fundraising effort which this year is focused on the Dining Room. According to Mrs. Boyd, a generous couple recently donated $100,000 toward the campaign and promised another $100,000 in matching funds for $5,000 donations for dining chairs or $25,000 for dining tables. During the dinner and in the following weeks one table and fifteen chairs were donated so that CRCC realized the full matching donation. That leaves two tables and six chairs which can still be donated this year.
The dinner also featured spirited bidding on a number of auction items including a free CRCC retreat, Bruno Mars concert tickets, flight simulator sessions, getaways for Whistler and Parksville, BC Lions Game premium tickets as well as a private dinner for 25 in CRCC’s dining room. All of this was expertly handled by our emcee for the day, Dr. David Neima who also recognized our Anonymous Gold corporate sponsor; the Silver sponsors – Eric Liu of Edward Jones, Serviam Capital, and Digital Heights Interactive; the Bronze sponsor – Nick and Nicole Cheng of Edward Jones, as well as our first Associate Sponsors Bosa Foods and Riverside Plants who yet again provided beautiful centrepieces for each table, as well as our anonymous wine sponsor.
In her concluding remarks, Elizabeth said:
We talk a lot about building a legacy together at Copper Ridge. Really it is about what you want to leave the next generation. Every time you come to one of these dinners or go to Copper Ridge and experience God’s love and grace, I believe a little seed is planted in your heart – what I like to think of as the generosity seed. It grows at different paces within all of us but I believe eventually it bears fruit, maybe even a tree like the tiny mustard seed does.
Whether you have donated, prayed for the project, or worked behind the scenes to make Copper Ridge a reality or even if this is the first time you are hearing about this project, we thank you for your belief in this endeavour.
Please consider how you can include Copper Ridge in the legacy you leave. I read something this week on return on investment and I can’t think of a better return on one’s money than the growth you see in people who have participated in events at the Centre.
In the next few years, the Centre WILL be paid off and this opportunity to have Copper Ridge as part of the impact you had on the world will be gone. Be a part of it. Recognize the ripple effect of all that is done through the Centre and remember, ‘it is in giving that we receive.’
In November, we remember those who once sat at our tables and whose chairs are now empty. We recall their voices, their favourite stories, perhaps even the dishes they always liked us to cook. A lovely way of remembering them is to donate a chair or table for the CRCC dining room in their memory. If this is something you are interested in doing there are a variety of ways of giving including the donation of stocks or monthly payments, so please contact Elizabeth Boyd at melizboyd@copperridge.cc to find out more about these opportunities.
This year’s Christmas Workshop at Copper Ridge was a joyful celebration of Service and Hope, inspired by the Year of Hope and Pope Leo’s Apostolic Exhortation 
