Royal Roads University (RRU) says it has received a gift valued at nearly $10 million, which includes a property on Salt Spring Island. The donation comes from the late Susan Bagley Bloom, a long-time Salt Spring Island resident and environmental philanthropist, through the Bloom Canadian Alter Ego Trust. The gift includes a property along Beddis Beach, north of Fulford Harbour, that’s valued at roughly $4.
66 million, according to RRU. The school says the property includes an “architecturally significant house,” outbuildings, a foreshore lease, an orchard of heritage fruit trees and waterfront gardens. The gift also includes a $5.
27 million donation for maintenance and improvements on the land, as well as any programming that takes place on it. The school notes that $4.6 million of that total will be endowed.
Story continues below: The main building on the property is shown. (Royal Roads University) ‘Bloom Castle by the Sea’ Royal Roads says the main building on the property will be named the “Bloom Castle by the Sea” in remembrance of Susan Bloom. The school says the property will be used for field trips, workshops, seminars and interdisciplinary classes – all with a theme of regenerative sustainability for the environment, as well as for social, economic and political issues.
“We are extremely grateful for the pristine natural lands from the Bloom gift, which will serve as a dynamic space for local and global changemakers-, artists-, scholars-, and writers.