Innovate
Strategies:
Act Collectively
Tell Powerful Stories
Enhance Resilience
Green Industries
Approach
Our mission is to nurture transparency, citizen engagement, democracy, and communities living within natural limits.
As a funder we know that we are but a small part of the changes we seek.
Our role is to support and enable others to make the world a safer, fairer, more sustainable and less toxic place to live.
We take pride in our partners achievements and are honoured to support their efforts.
We are passionate in our pursuit of social justice and the protection of people and the environment.
We seek partners who share this passion. To this end, we pursue rights-based approaches, gender equality and partnership with the organisations we fund.
We aim to lift up the voices of the most vulnerable and support them to understand and pursue their rights.
We strive to be courageous in this pursuit by tackling difficult problems and addressing the root causes of injustice.
Business-as-usual will not create change at the pace and scale needed to address the big audacious challenges we face.
Changing the world just isn’t possible without taking risks and innovating.
We seek out partners that deeply embrace the test-fail-succeed-scale cycles of innovation in their organizational culture.
We believe that the best grant-making reflects both due diligence and the willingness to take calculated risks.
We seek out partners that are willing to share not only their successes, but their failures.
Optimizing our scarce resources requires sharing positive and negative lessons learned to prevent other organizations from repeating mistakes.
We strive to be respectful listeners and responsive to change, unexpected consequences and external developments that require shifts in strategy and expectations.
We pursue honest relationships with partners in which both success and failure offer opportunities for learning.
We strive to support, learn from and value the contributions of all colleagues.
We aim for a working environment where everyone feels respected and able to reach their full potential.
We strive for an organisation in which innovation is rewarded, diversity is embraced and both success and failure are shared.
As a funder we know that we are but a small part of the changes we seek.
Our role is to support and enable others to make the world a safer, fairer, more sustainable and less toxic place to live.
We take pride in our partners achievements and are honoured to support their efforts.
We are passionate in our pursuit of social justice and the protection of people and the environment.
We seek partners who share this passion.
To this end, we pursue rights-based approaches, gender equality and partnership with the organisations we fund.
We aim to lift up the voices of the most vulnerable and support them to understand and pursue their rights.
We strive to be courageous in this pursuit by tackling difficult problems and addressing the root causes of injustice.
Business-as-usual will not create change at the pace and scale needed to address the big audacious challenges we face.
Changing the world just isn’t possible without taking risks and innovating.
We seek out partners that deeply embrace the test-fail-succeed-scale cycles of innovation in their organizational culture.
We believe that the best grant-making reflects both due diligence and the willingness to take calculated risks.
We seek out partners that are willing to share not only their successes, but their failures.
Optimizing our scarce resources requires sharing positive and negative lessons learned to prevent other organizations from repeating mistakes.
We strive to be respectful listeners and responsive to change, unexpected consequences and external developments that require shifts in strategy and expectations.
We pursue honest relationships with partners in which both success and failure offer opportunities for learning.
We strive to support, learn from and value the contributions of all colleagues.
We aim for a working environment where everyone feels respected and able to reach their full potential.
We strive for an organisation in which innovation is rewarded, diversity is embraced and both success and failure are shared.
Priorities
Most of our resources go to our own projects aligned with our priorities. We do like bold ideas, so if you have a high impact project aligned with our priorities, submit our online submission form.
Canadian NGOs are working hard to resolve audacious challenges, often with too few resources and support. Those working in frontline communities particularly those facing impacts from the extraction, storage, transport and use of toxic substances are particularly under-resourced.
We seek innovative ways to build the capacity of selected NGOs to overcome challenges and implement best practices to defend our air, land, and water more cheaply, with higher impact and at a larger scale.
Canada’s water, land, and water are threatened by resource exploitation, toxic pollution and the exclusion of impacted communities.
We support efforts to mitigate these damages, improve resiliency and foster prosperity through community renewable energy, land use, and indigenous territorial planning.
Canadian democracy is in crisis. The proliferation of ideologically-driven digital communications, the downsizing of investigative journalism, and the increasingly hyper-partisanship of our political process are alienating Canadians.
We support research and testing of innovative strategies that counter disinformation and promote transparency, citizen engagement, and democracy.
Canadian industries have large carbon, toxic and biodiversity footprints that threaten endangered Canadian forests, fragile terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and water supplies. Under current policies, it is often cheaper for businesses to overharvest, waste resources, dump toxic pollution, and exploit communities and indigenous people than it is for them to operate equitably and sustainably. If we are to mitigate global warming, the biodiversity crisis and our ever-expanding footprint, this must change.
We are seeking innovative methods for large industries to shift their business practices to lessen these impacts, to realign monetary and policy incentives to make “polluters pay”, discourage waste and pollution, promote energy and resource efficiency, and reduce inequality. particularly in relation to the production, transport, and use of toxic substances.
Climate change is an existential crisis that continues to polarize our decision-makers yet requires immediate systemic action. Current efforts are insufficient to reorient civilization to bring us within natural limits. In Canada, this manifests as a struggle between clean, regional energy solutions and the export of largely unrefined resources.
We support efforts to catalyze swift large-scale solutions, stop the creation of new infrastructure for toxic exports while promoting new regional clean energy solutions.
To be strong and effective, Canada’s environmental movement must represent the full diversity of the Canadian population.
We support efforts by underrepresented populations that increase their presence and
participation in addressing their environmental concerns.
Intact functioning forests provide important ecological and cultural benefits such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification, and maintenance of wildlife habitat. Climate change and industrial logging are having devastating impacts on forests, forest-dependent communities, and biodiversity. Unprecedented wildfires, insects and disease and boom and bust policies are destroying forests and communities.
We seek innovative ways to lessen these impacts and help communities prepare for and mitigate the coming changes. This includes diversifying the fibre basket used in manufacturing and seeking new processes to shift away from using Canadian forests for pulp, single-use products, and packaging.
Civilization as we know it is facing a number of existential crises. Loss of species and topsoil threaten our biome, acidification and rising temperatures damage our oceans, and unless we limit global warming to less than 1.5 C (2.7 F), many parts of the world will become uninhabitable. Addressing these challenges requires the mobilization of human action at a pace and scale unprecedented in history.
We support testing new approaches to identify, recruit and mobilize supporters that can overcome psychological, economic, social and cultural barriers to action.
Indigenous peoples have safeguarded the land, air, and water in their territories for thousands of years. Against huge odds, Indigenous nations are leading the way in stopping the toxic pollution of water and protecting the health of people and the environment.
We support efforts to build Indigenous resilience to defend their land, air, and water in the face of growing threats.
The world’s oceans are the lungs of the world. They are a major source of oxygen and biodiversity; they are instrumental in the capture and storage of carbon dioxide, and they provide food, medicines, and livelihoods. Yet they face major human-made threats, including acidification, plastic pollution, and exploitative terrestrial and marine fisheries.
To improve the health of the world’s oceans and aquatic and riparian biodiversity, we support research and education promoting best practices from around the world for sustainable fisheries, protecting species, stopping pollution and marine ecosystem management.
All the world’s major problems are human-made. Transforming how people relate to nature, their communities, and each other is the only way to address them. Research has shown that the best way to change perception and behaviour is through powerful, heartfelt stories. Too often, groups appeal primarily to people’s heads; to create the world we dream of, we need to connect better with people’s hearts.
We support innovative techniques using a variety of mediums to tell powerful stories, including methods that integrate the latest research (from neuroscience, behavioural economics, linguistics, psychology, and data science) on how people actually process information and make critical decisions.
Canadian NGOs are working hard to resolve audacious challenges, often with too few resources and support. Those working in frontline communities particularly those facing impacts from the extraction, storage, transport and use of toxic substances are particularly under-resourced.
We seek innovative ways to build the capacity of selected NGOs to overcome challenges and implement best practices to defend our air, land, and water more cheaply, with higher impact and at a larger scale.
Canada’s water, land, and water are threatened by resource exploitation, toxic pollution and the exclusion of impacted communities.
We support efforts to mitigate these damages, improve resiliency and foster prosperity through community renewable energy, land use, and indigenous territorial planning.
Canadian democracy is in crisis. The proliferation of ideologically-driven digital communications, the downsizing of investigative journalism, and the increasingly hyper-partisanship of our political process are alienating Canadians.
We support research and testing of innovative strategies to promote transparency, citizen engagement, and democracy.
Canadian industries have large carbon, toxic and biodiversity footprints that threaten endangered Canadian forests, fragile terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and water supplies. Under current policies, it is often cheaper for businesses to overharvest, waste resources, dump toxic pollution, and exploit communities and indigenous people than it is for them to operate equitably and sustainably. If we are to mitigate global warming, the biodiversity crisis and our ever-expanding footprint, this must change.
We are seeking innovative methods for large industries to shift their business practices to lessen these impacts, to realign monetary and policy incentives to make “polluters pay”, discourage waste and pollution, promote energy and resource efficiency, and reduce inequality. particularly in relation to the production, transport, and use of toxic substances.
Climate change is an existential crisis that continues to polarize our decision-makers yet requires immediate systemic action. Current efforts are insufficient to reorient civilization to bring us within natural limits. In Canada, this manifests as a struggle between clean, regional energy solutions and the export of largely unrefined resources.
We support efforts to catalyze swift large-scale solutions, stop the creation of new infrastructure for toxic exports while promoting new regional clean energy solutions.
To be strong and effective, Canada’s environmental movement must represent the full diversity of the Canadian population.
We support efforts that increase participation and address the environmental concerns of underrepresented populations.
Intact functioning forests provide important ecological and cultural benefits such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification, and maintenance of wildlife habitat. Climate change and industrial logging are having devastating impacts on forests, forest-dependent communities, and biodiversity. Unprecedented wildfires, insects and disease and boom and bust policies are destroying forests and communities.
We seek innovative ways to lessen these impacts and help communities prepare for and mitigate the coming changes. This includes diversifying the fibre basket used in manufacturing and seeking new processes to shift away from using Canadian forests for pulp, single-use products, and packaging.
Civilization as we know it is facing a number of existential crises. Loss of species and topsoil threaten our biome, acidification and rising temperatures damage our oceans, and unless we limit global warming to less than 1.5 C (2.7 F), many parts of the world will become uninhabitable. Addressing these challenges requires the mobilization of human action at a pace and scale unprecedented in history.
We support testing new approaches to identify, recruit and mobilize supporters that can overcome psychological, economic, social and cultural barriers to action.
Indigenous peoples have safeguarded the land, air, water in their territories for thousands of years. Against huge odds, Indigenous nations are leading the way in stopping toxic pollution of water and protecting the health of people and the environment.
We support efforts to build indigenous resilience to defend their land, air, and water in the face of growing threats.
The world’s oceans are the lungs of the world. They are the major source of oxygen and biodiversity, instrumental in the capture and storage of carbon dioxide as well as providing food, medicines, and livelihoods. Yet they face major human-made threats, including acidification, plastic pollution, and exploitative terrestrial and marine fisheries.
To improve the health of the world’s oceans and aquatic and riparian biodiversity, we support research and education promoting best practices from around the world for sustainable fisheries, protecting species, stopping pollution and marine ecosystem management.
All the world’s major problems are human-made, transforming how people relate to nature, their communities and each other is the only way to address them. Research has shown that the best way to change perception and behaviour is through powerful heartfelt stories. Too often groups appeal primarily to people’s heads; to create the world we dream of we need to better connect with people’s hearts.
We support innovative techniques using a variety of mediums to tell powerful stories including methods that integrate the latest research (from neuroscience, behavioural economics, linguistics, psychology, and data science) on how people actually process information and make important decisions.
Team
Board
Michael lives in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood of Vancouver, with his wife Jennifer, their children Olivia and Maxwell, and their dog Star, a living muppet.
Born in Lethbridge, Michael grew up (more or less) in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay before moving to Victoria. After obtaining a B.A. in Economics and an LL.B. at UVic, Michael was called to the bar in 1996. As a young lawyer he devoted himself to his love of the arts, working with nonprofit music and theatre organizations in Vancouver. One day a phone call drew him back to Victoria to join the B.C. government’s Land Service division. There, he worked on land-use policy and land tenure agreements before becoming the manager of indigenous relations, consulting with first nations and supporting treaty talks.
Another call drew him to join Dogwood Initiative, where he worked as director of operations for several years before returning to Vancouver as a graduate student at UBC Law. Michael then began teaching law in Capilano University’s paralegal program, which he continues to do today.
Damion studied Engineering Design in Toronto and has more than 25 years of diverse international experience. During his career, he has worked with major multi-national / Fortune 500 corporations managing and implementing multi-million dollar projects globally in a variety of business sectors and industries. After working in Canada, Hong Kong, the United States and Luxembourg over a period of 15 years, Damion moved with his family to the Middle East working with a major regional Investment Bank for 7 years as an Investment Analyst Consultant responsible for providing detailed risk assessments, analysis and recommendations for major capital projects in a variety of industrial sectors. After moving back to Canada in 2016, he worked with a technology startup based in Victoria, BC in a Senior Executive role responsible for the development and implementation of key leading edge virtual reality technology for ride attractions. Damion is a hands-on Executive that understands the value of people and how to build strong collaborative relationships within teams and stakeholders.
Jessica Clogg (she/her/hers) is West Coast’s Executive Director and Senior Counsel leading their work on Aboriginal and Natural Resource law.
Jessica said she does her work “because she loves the land and because she believes in justice.” For more than a decade, her work has had a particular focus on providing legal and strategic support to First Nations – working with First Nations leaders and community members to use their laws as a foundation for powerful strategies to protect the lands and resources of their territories and to catalyze broader shifts in Canadian law.
Jessica holds a joint Master in Environmental Studies and Law degree (MES/LL.B) from York University, where her graduate research focused on “Tenure Reform for Ecologically and Socially Responsible Forest Use in British Columbia.”
Peter has been a conservation leader in government, academia, private industry, not-for-profit organizations, and as a consultant. His career has focused on improving sustainable land management in Alberta and nationally, throughout Canada, and internationally. Peter has negotiated conservation positions within Alberta, within Canada and internationally. He has experience working with and for First Nations, extensive experience in Alberta’s oil sands and foothills regions and throughout Canada’s boreal forest, and has published numerous ground-breaking reports and science papers. Peter is recognized as a highly effective leader, networker, communicator, and manager.
Aran is the National Director, Government Relations and Environment, for The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Canadian Geographic. Aran represents the Society in senior-level government relations and is responsible for animating the Society’s Healthier Planet strategic priority. Aran is a Canadian environmental and sustainability leader, a non-profit and charitable sector executive and an environmental lawyer who believes in the necessity of forging environmental solutions that integrate the environment, the economy and advance Indigenous reconciliation.
Aran has significant experience working across sectors to catalyze and direct, large-scale, collaborative conservation initiatives around Canada. Aran has served in an advisory capacity to federal government departments and has done consulting work for clients as diverse as the United Nations, Mission Innovation, the World Resources Institute, Sustainable Prosperity and the Great Bear Rainforest’s Coast Information Team. Aran was elected a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2018. Aran joined the Society as a staff member in the fateful spring of 2020.
Aran lives in Kingston, Ontario, with his partner, Jennifer Ruddy, their young children, Eoghan and Georgia, and their yellow Labrador, Percy.
Kat (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship (FES). Kat’s main focus is building The Youth Harbour, a youth-for-youth climate support system focusing on supporting youth climate leaders with financial, technical, and networking support to amplify and scale their work, so far raising $4 million for youth climate action since 2021. On top of her work at FES, she sits on the board of the Sustainability Network, is an Advisory Council member to the Boann Social Impact, and is an Advisory Group Member for the Community Climate Transitions Innovation Fund by Tamarack Institute. Kat is passionate about activating the local community, whether that be organizing grassroots campaigns and clothing swaps, or volunteering at the University of Calgary or Calgary Foundation. Kat is passionate about empowering youth to take impactful action on sustainable development, strengthening and amplifying the youth *force* in the Canadian climate movement.
Karine joined the Salal Foundation board in March 2024. She has worked with the independent senator Rosa Galvez, who authored the groundbreaking Climate-Aligned Finance Act, which was introduced in 2022 and drafted based on expert consultations. She also worked hard to ensure the passage of the Canada Net Zero Accountability Act, which the senator sponsored.
A member of the Quebec Bar since 2007, she was the Quebec Center for Environmental Law (CQDE) director from 2014 to 2018. She was deeply involved in the injunction that protected beluga whales against an oil terminal in the St-Lawrence and the litigation that led to the first federal emergency decree order on private land for the western chorus frog, stopping a real estate development in the suburbs of Montréal as well as all files concerning the now-defunct Energy East pipeline.
Karine started her career at Davies Ward Philips and Vineberg LLP. She holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford, UK, and a B.C.L./LL.B. from McGill University’s transsystemic law program. She has contributed to diverse environmental and social justice projects worldwide and in Canada. Keenly interested in communication, she appeared in numerous media and was awarded the Lawyer of the Year / Tomorrow’s Leader in the alternative career category by the Montréal Young Bar Association in 2015.
When not working, she can be spotted gallivanting in the woods.
Staff
Aiden 20+ years of social purpose experience, including community organizing, co-building a global network of youth working on climate change, social innovation research and program design, and leading and supporting many organizations and networks. A current focus is the design and implementation of engagement systems to scale impact. Aiden has diverse skills in design and art, communications, organizational development, strategy, and many technologies and process methodologies.
Rainer is passionate about developing digital systems that enable people to organize, advocate, and build a better world. Outside of work, Rainer is a climate activist, a community bike advocate, and an avid reader of science fiction.
Jeannette (BSc Environmental Science) has volunteered and worked with community groups, non-profits and charities since 1999 (including Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and Global Forest Watch Canada). She has extensive experience in non-profit administration, project management, and communications. She balances her part-time position as Salal Foundation’s Administrative Director with parenthood and its related projects and adventures.
Will, formerly the Executive Director at DogwoodBC and a staff lawyer at EcoJustice (then Sierra Legal Defence Fund) is an activist, lawyer and writer whose work focuses on reinvigorating democracy, redefining citizenship and pondering things that matter in the world.
A graduate of Dartmouth College (Cum Laude), Will received his law degree at University of California (Summa Cum Laude). He has served as a Director of numerous local, national and international organizations. Will (tries to) balance his work by making up imaginary stories with his daughter, baking, and exploring research on how the human brain processes information and makes decisions.
Jenn is a graduate of an Environmental Science degree from Thompson Rivers University. She has a special interest in ethnobotany and has worked in various fields ranging from solar data analyst to small scale edible landscaping and all things in between. Volunteering with DogwoodBC propelled her to seek out other nonprofits as she believes this type of grassroots work is where tangible change truly arises.
Phoebe is committed to utilising her research and communications skills to overcome barriers to effective climate action, by making complex ideas accessible. Originally from the UK, she has a Master’s in Environment, Politics and Development, and is passionate about advancing environmental justice. Outside of her work, she can be found ski touring, mountain biking, reading, or facetiming her dogs.