Walkathon 2025

VC’s Walkathon was first held in the spring of 1973 as a student-led, school-wide fundraiser. Students approached family, neighbours, and friends to pledge an amount per mile walked, and collectively students raised funds to help with the construction of projects such as new tennis courts, installation of park benches and bleachers, as well as with purchasing needs that would enhance the boys’ experience, such as a new public announcement system for the gym, computers, lockers, and other needs. Br. Basil was the first teacher moderator for Walkathon, a role he held for 13 years until 1986. Learn more about Walkathon and its long-standing history by reading this story.

We encourage families to support their son’s fundraiser to promote school spirit in addition to considering a meaningful donation to Vancouver College through our Advancement Office in support of advancing the school’s mission and vision. In addition, please consider supporting VCPA’s special events (Finnegan Ball, Mothers Christmas Tea, and Mayfair) that not only raise funds for the school but more importantly build community.

We are excited to share that we exceeded our Walkathon fundraising goal and raised $148,961! A big thank you to our community for your generosity and support of this annual event!

$148,961

When is Walkathon 2025?

What is our goal and how will funds raised from Walkathon be used?

The theme of Walkathon is "Driven by Pursuit Powered by Excellence".

As a school community, our collective fundraising goal is $120,000, similar to our goal in the past few years, which we achieved. Incentives are offered to students and classes based on individual donations and class totals. In addition, if our goal is reached, staff and students will get an extra day off school in November!

In keeping with our Essential Element this school year, particularly "Pursue Excellence in all Endeavours, each Walkathon donation will fund the construction of a new,12,000-square-foot music building at the corner of 38th Avenue and Cartier Street. Purpose-built for our flourishing music program, the facility will include spacious band rooms, dedicated rehearsal spaces, secure instrument storage, and a digital recording and media studio for our boys. Funds raised will also support the repurposing of vacated spaces for co-curricular programs such as athletics, digital arts, and additional senior school classrooms, ensuring that every corner of our campus continues to serve the evolving needs of our students.

These new spaces will inspire excellence and nurture talent and creativity of our vibrant community. Please join us in bringing this vision to life and help us build better men through music, character, and community.

Students are encouraged to invite family and friends to support Walkathon by sharing this initiative via email, text, or other social media platforms.

Who should students approach for donations?

How do we invite friends and family to support?

Students are encouraged to invite family and friends to support Walkathon through many ways. The best way is always in person but if this is not possible or difficult due to time constraints, we suggest e-mailing, text messaging, or using other social media platforms (if applicable). When you e-invite your family members and friends, be sure to include the link to our Walkathon online donation form or share the Walkathon cheque form.

Also, to facilitate processing donations, please let your supporters know your homeroom or advisory as this information is required when completing the donation form.

How is Walkathon different from other fundraising initiatives at the school?

Walkathon is a fundraiser for a specific project/need that runs for a short period of time (3 to 4 weeks) and it is the only school-wide student/peer-to-peer initiative.

We encourage families to support their son’s fundraiser to promote school spirit in addition to considering a meaningful donation to Vancouver College through our Advancement Office in support of advancing the school’s mission and vision and/or supporting VCPA’s special events that not only raise funds but more importantly build community.

How do I thank people for sponsoring me?

Thanking people is the best part of fundraising and showing our appreciation for our donors’ support is very important.

People genuinely like helping people and they also like to hear how their donation helped you and the school. If your donor is a family member, you can thank them for their support over dinner. If your donor is someone that does not live in the same household, you can send them a personal thank you note over email, snail mail, or give them a thank you call!

Do donors receive a tax receipt for supporting Walkathon?

Where do we walk?

We added some new routes to our traditional route (Queen Elizabeth Park):

Kindergarten - Grade 3 students will have arrangements made for a safe walking route on campus.
Grade 4 - 6 students will be walking in a designated route around the neighbourhood. A small group of their parents will be asked to help supervise this neighbourhood walk.
Grade 7-12 students will be following our traditional route around Queen Elizabeth park by homeroom or community group.

When does my son need to arrive to school?

Elementary School

We ask that Kindergarten - Grade 6 students be dropped off to Vancouver College following their normal drop off schedule and that they head straight to their classrooms, where they will await their staggered walk start time.

A staggered dismissal of Elementary School Students will begin at 11:00 am with our Kindergarten boys. Parents are asked to follow normal pick up protocol, with K - Grade 3 parents waiting in the courtyard to collect their sons, and Grade 4-6 parents arranging to pick up their son's on either Hudson or Cartier Street.

Middle and Senior School

Schedule here.

Middle and Senior School students are asked to contact their parents to arrange a pickup time when they are close to completing their walk. For planning purposes, we anticipate the walk taking no longer than an hour and a half to complete.

Upon completing their walk, students must check in with their Homeroom/Community Group teacher before leaving the Vancouver College Campus.

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