Jane Heffelfinger

Jane Heffelfinger’s outstanding record of volunteer leadership has inspired and motivated hundreds to join with her in supporting not only her primary love - Canada, (she has twice run for political office) but also her other passions: Pacific Opera Victoria; the CBC; Pearson College and The Greater Victoria Hospital Foundation.

A key member of the team that founded Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) in 1980, Heffelfinger has served the society in many volunteer positions: fundraiser, president, producer and even acting general manager for nine months.

She also successfully chaired, among other things, the Pearson College/United World Colleges’ International Peace Conference, presided over by Queen Noor of Jordan; the Greater Victoria Hospital Foundation’s 1995 capital campaign ($13 million); and POV’s Campaign 2000 (to recover a major loss incurred when they produced their first Canadian opera).

In addition to serving as a member of the Greater Victoria Hospital Foundation’s current capital campaign, as a trustee on the University of Victoria Foundation Board, and a governor of the board of Pearson College, she now chairs the board of trustees of the POV Foundation, serves as a POV board director and is a director on the board of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. A motivational speaker, she acts - through Leadership Victoria - as a mentor to the region’s emerging generation of leaders

The winner of many awards, Heffelfinger is a Member of the Order of British Columbia, received Her Majesty’s 125^th Anniversary Medal in 1992, and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. She was the C-FAX Arts Leader of the Year in 1989 and is an Honourary Citizen of the City of Victoria.