Donations

Contributing to the KEGS Foundation

Any of the following methods may be utilized to make a donation:

  1. Click on the “Donate” button or on the home page to utilize Paypal. The donor can specify the scholarship name when they donate.
  2. Send an Interac transfer to: sreford@kegsfoundation.org.
  3. Mail a cheque to: The KEGS Foundation, 155 University Avenue, Suite 1510, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3B7
  4. Contact sreford@kegsfoundation.org for our bank account details if you want to make a direct deposit.

The Foundation Directors would be pleased to discuss any aspect of potential donations, including Matching Gift programs. Individual donors are able to take advantage of the matching donation programs underwritten by Phoenix Geophysics and Discovery Geophysics International/DIAS Geophysics, whereby the first $250 will be matched. Other companies who wish to establish a similar matching program should contact a Director

Please make cheques payable to the KEGS Foundation and mail to:

The KEGS Foundation
155 University Avenue, Suite 1510
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 3B7
CANADA

CRA Charitable Organization Registration number: 870164340RR0001

The Collett Major gift

The Len and Genice Collett Distinguished Visiting Lectureship in Geophysics

The Len and Genice Collett Research Internship in Geophysics

November 7, 2017

Genice (1927-2017); Len (1922-2011)

 

KEGS Foundation Receives Transformative Gift from Len and Genice Collett

The KEGS Foundation announces, with great pride and deep appreciation, a transformative gift of $1,000,000 from the estate of Leonard (Len) and Genice Collett in support of its programs to advance geophysical education in Canada.

This exceptional donation was recently announced at a special luncheon in Toronto attended by many geophysical veterans and pioneers, as well as by Len’s brother Wilmer and nieces Judy Burns and JoAnn Collett from the Ottawa area, who were pleased to meet many who had known or worked with Len.

Len Collett, born in 1922 to a hardscrabble farming family in SW Ontario, was a noted Canadian geophysicist who enjoyed a distinguished 37 year career with the Geological Survey of Canada in Ottawa. He was previously honoured by the J. Tuzo Wilson Medal in 1989 for his pioneering contributions to the early development of induced polarization, rock property studies and airborne electromagnetics, as well as actively fostering geophysical R&D in Canada under the federal IRAP program, and subsequently by the GSC Pioneers Scholarship established by the Foundation in 2007. Len, who graduated from McMaster University with a BSc, followed by a MA degree in geophysics at the University of Toronto in 1948, was an ardent supporter of geophysical education, and made significant donations to the Foundation in his later years, after he had retired to his farm near Hopetown. His recently deceased wife and life partner of many decades, Genice (Mauney), taught for many years in Ottawa schools and shared Len’s vision of advancing geophysical education and research.

Brother Wil Collett and nieces Judy Burns and JoAnn Collett of Ottawa at the Geophysical Veterans’ Luncheon on Oct 23, 2017

The KEGS Foundation, established in 1999 by a group of senior mining geophysicists active in KEGS*, is principally focused on providing scholarships for students in geophysics at Canadian universities. In the latest round of awards announced in July, twenty-four scholarships were awarded to twelve undergraduate and twelve graduate students at thirteen universities for the 2017-18 academic year, bringing the total awards over the past seventeen years to 250, achieved through the strong and sustained support by the geophysical and exploration community across Canada.

The KEGS Foundation expects to use this transformative donation from Len and Genice Collett to establish a number of new fellowships and scholarships bearing their names, which will serve as an enduring legacy of their extraordinary philanthropy, with details to be announced over the next few months.

On behalf of the KEGS Foundation,
Jerry Roth, Chair
Stephen Reford, Vice Chair

Donor Benefits and Recognition

A Donor can designate a particular discipline or cluster of disciplines, such as Mining Geophysics, or a specified endowment fund (see details below), for his or her donations. Substantial gifts can also be assigned to a designated “envelope” within the overall foundation endowment in recognition of a particular individual or institution. Endowed scholarships can be named in honour of a particular geophysicist or company.

Besides the obvious tax benefits*, all contributions will be acknowledged in the regular communications of the KEGS Foundation as well as at special events which KEGS may hold in conjunction with the Foundation.

Endowed Scholarship Funds

Thanks to the substantial generosity of many donors, the KEGS Foundation has established a number of endowed scholarship funds to celebrate and honour notable Canadian geophysicists and their contributions to advancing exploration geophysics. The principal endowed scholarship funds currently administered by the KEGS Foundation are:

  • The Len and Genice Collett Graduate Scholarship in Geophysics Fund, established in 2017 thanks to the extraordinary legacy gift by the Colletts, honouring Len’s long and notable career with Newmont and the Geological Survey of Canada. This fund supports the prestigious Collett Graduate Scholarship awarded to a student with an outstanding academic record pursuing important innovative research, as well as funding a visiting lectureship and research assistance;
  • The KEGS Pioneers Scholarship Fund, established in 2003 to honour various notable exploration geophysicists associated with KEGS, is intended to support an undergraduate displaying academic excellence and a focus on mining exploration applications**, with major donations by Norm Paterson, Ray Whitton, Doug Fraser and the Crone, Sander and Reford families;
  • The BCGS Scholarship Fund, established in 2005 to support geophysical education in B.C. via generous donations by the B.C. Geophysical Society and associated individuals and companies;
  • CGG Scholarship Fund, established in 2008 by a very generous multi-year gift by Fugro Airborne Surveys (Canada) to support research leading to an advance in airborne methods;
  • The GSC Pioneers Scholarship Fund, established following Exploration 07 to honour the many advances and accomplishments of GSC geophysicists, is directed at fostering innovative research and development in geophysics, with notable donations from Exploration ’07 and the Len Collett family;
  • The Limion Scholarship Fund, established in 2000 in honour of consulting geophysicist Heikki Limion, a noted Canadian mining geophysicist, with substantial donations by the Limion family;
  • WAMIC Geophysics Scholarship Fund, originally established by the Women’s Association of Mining in Canada (WAMIC) and now administered by the KEGS Foundation, is directed at supporting a fourth year student in exploration geophysics with a superior academic record
  • The SKGS Scholarship Fund, established in 2020 to support geophysical education in Saskatchewan through founding donations by Discovery International Geophysics and Dias Geophysical;
  • Le fond de Bourse des pionniers de la géophysique québécoise, établi en 2021 pour soutenir l’éducation géophysique au Québec grâce à un don fondateur d’Abitibi Géophysique, et honorant une cohorte importante de géophysiciens académiques et professionnels du Québec ou qui ont travaillé dans cette province;
  • The Michael and Patricia Carson Geophysics Scholarship for Indigenous Students, established in 2021 through a foundational donation by the Carson family in honour of the late Mike Carson, and with substantial contributions from friends and family, to support a Canadian Indigenous person pursuing a career in geophysics.

The Foundation also administers the John E. Steers Bursary which was established in 2010 to honour the long and distinguished career of explorationist John Steers, and generously funded by family and former colleagues. The bursary, a collaborative effort with the long-standing CMIEF (Canadian Mineral Industry Education Fund), is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate in the geosciences who is focused on a career in mineral exploration.

In addition to donations to the Foundation intended to be utilized for current scholarships, donations and bequests may be directed to any of the above endowed funds, and indicated to be on behalf of a particular individual.

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*The KEGS Foundation, established in 1999, is a federally chartered charitable organization, and hence is authorized to issue normal charitable tax receipts for donations. Tax receipts will be emailed or mailed early in the year following the donation.

**Currently: Doug Fraser, Tony Barringer, John Boniwell, Wally Boyko, Duncan Crone, John Dowsett, Edwin Gaucher, Tom Gledhill, Bob Fraser, Phil Hallof, Norman Paterson, Mike Reford, George Sander, Harold Seigel, Roger Watson and Ray Whitton.

donors & sponsors: appreciation & acknowledgements

The Directors of the KEGS Foundation are greatly appreciative of the strong support extended by the geophysics and exploration community across Canada for the Foundation and its scholarship program, which has enabled it to provide scholarships to more than 200 students from 18 universities since its inception in 1999.

This generous support by mining companies, service providers and individuals has totalled approximately $450,000 in that period, enabling the Foundation to build a significant endowment base as well to award 12-20 scholarships annually. This support has included major gifts by individuals and companies over this period, establishing a number of named endowed scholarships, notably:

Limion Scholarship (2001), which honours Heikki Limion, noted consulting geophysicist

KEGS Pioneers Scholarship (2003), which honours various notable Canadian exploration geophysicists

BCGS Scholarship (2005), funded by the BC Geophysical Society and its members in support of geophysics students in B.C.

GSC Pioneers Scholarship (2007), established to honour the pioneering geophysicists of the GSC

CGG Scholarship (2008), originally established by Fugro Airborne Surveys to support advances in airborne methods

WAMIC Geophysics Scholarship (2009), funded by transfer of existing WAMIC endowment, originally funded by WAMIC (Women’s Association of Mining In Canada)

The KEGS Foundation also gratefully acknowledges additional contributions by numerous individuals and companies, including the following major gifts, donations, and sponsorships:

HudBay Minerals, major sponsor of the Lalor Symposium, to honour noted geophysicist Bob Frazer, who helped discover various orebodies in the Flin Flon VMS camp

KEGS*

BCGS*

Phoenix Geophysics*

Lamontagne Geophysics*

Sander Geophysics

Abitibi Geophysics

Crone Geophysics*

Dias Geophysics

Geosoft*

Laurie Reed*

Doug Fraser*

Peter Kowalczyk*

Norm Paterson

Steers family members in support of the JE Steers Bursary* (administered by the CMIEF)

We encourage further support by concerned members of the geophysical and exploration community to sustain the Foundation and its educational efforts, and welcome inquiries as to possible tax-advantaged donations via shares and bequests.

* sustaining multi-year donors

Thanks extended to those who presented, supported and participated in the recent mini-symposium organized by the Foundation (“Geophysical Smorgasbord: Recent Advances in Airborne and Ground Methods”).

KEGS FOUNDATION – a bridge to the future