Friday, July 12 couldn’t have been a better day for a party on the late Susan Bloom’s beautiful property off Beddis Beach.
The temperature was perfect in the sunshine or in the shade; and except for the sound of crashing waves and passing airplanes occasionally interrupting the speakers’ words, the event announcing a new relationship between Royal Roads University (RRU) and Salt Spring Island went off without a hitch.
As a result of the wishes expressed to her trustees by philanthropist Susan Bloom, RRU will now have a major physical presence on the island at a site dubbed Bloom Castle by the Sea — the stunning waterfront home and grounds where Bloom lived from 1986 until her death in December of 2021. The gift is valued at $9.93 million — the largest in the history of RRU — including $5.268 million in funds, with $4.6 million of that amount endowed to provide immediate improvement of the lands and ongoing maintenance, and its activation through programming and events.
The term “values alignment” rose more than once at Friday’s celebration. People referred to Bloom’s dedication to environmental conservation, stewardship and regeneration, and her philanthropy that benefitted both local and global causes throughout her life, and to RRU’s mission as a “university for changemakers” and its desire to “advance creativity in learning that enriches and improves our world” through the Bloom Castle by the Sea.
RRU students, faculty and researchers will benefit hugely from use of the site, but so will the Salt Spring Island community, in a variety of ways.
Formally, the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust and Salt Spring Island Conservancy are valued partners for their roles in ensuring preservation of the historic outer orchard property, which Bloom invited the neighbourhood to enjoy. Informally, RRU programming and special events at the site will be easily accessible to island residents, and collaborations of all kinds will no doubt transpire as a result of RRU’s presence and developing relationships with the community.
Islanders are grateful to Bloom for inviting RRU to Salt Spring, and look forward to working with RRU in continuing Bloom’s legacy of creating positive change in the world.