As a longtime resident of Sidney, I have been concerned with news media reports over the past few years on the revocation of the charitable status of Mary Winspear Centre, how this occurred and the lack of transparency by Sidney and North Saanich councils regarding grants provided to the centre.
Taxpayers have been kept largely in the dark about the circumstances surrounding why the Canada Revenue Agency revoked charitable status for both the society that is supposed to oversee the centre and the foundation as its fundraising arm. Both of these events were reported to have occurred in 2021 and the last news report was in 2023, when the executive director could not explain how this had come to pass.
Both municipalities have continued to provide very generous grants to the centre in order to keep the doors open, despite the fact that charitable status has never been reinstated. This is not the kind of mystery our community needs or should be expected to turn a blind eye to, now that we are in 2025. Both municipalities as well as the board of directors of the centre owe this community the peace of mind provided by full disclosure of this unfortunate situation.
A. Lewis
Sidney
