Fewer UBC medical students will struggle financially and more UBC medical researchers will be able to pursue cutting-edge ideas, thanks to a $6.4 million bequest — the largest estate gift to the Faculty of Medicine in its 63-year history, and the largest unrestricted donation from an individual to the Faculty for students or research.
Judith Jardine
Judith Jardine, who died in 2006 at the age of 81, was the sole heir to the wealth of the Kitchen/Jardine families of Vancouver. Through her will, she left part of her estate to the Faculty of Medicine.
The funds received by the Faculty will establish the Willard Kitchen Memorial Fund, named for Ms. Jardine’s maternal grandfather. The income from the endowment will support bursaries and research in the Faculty.
Although Ms. Jardine had no obvious connection to UBC’s medical school, she was a triple alumnus of the university, earning a B.A. and M.A. in French, and a Bachelor of Library Science.
“We are extremely grateful to Ms. Jardine for supporting medical education and research at UBC,” said Gavin Stuart, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice Provost, Health at UBC. “Her generosity will make an indelible difference in the lives of British Columbians through the training of future doctors and advancement of life-saving research.”
Will Guest, UBC’s youngest recipient of an M.D. and Ph.D., expressed the Faculty of Medicine’s gratitude at the joint announcement May 23, a day after he received his degrees.
“Something that I think is particularly noteworthy about Ms. Jardine’s donation is that it is to be used broadly for research in the Faculty of medicine, rather than being tied to a particular project,” Dr. Guest said. “This means that it can be used by the Faculty to support the sort of blue-sky, leading-edge investigations that have the potential to significantly advance medical knowledge. It can be used synergistically, with funding from provincial and federal granting agencies, to maintain UBC’s standing as a leader in multiple domains of medical research.”
Will Guest speaking at the May 23 gift announcement.
Dr. Guest will remain at UBC for the next stage of his training — a radiology residency.
In addition to the bequest to the Faculty, Ms. Jardine left $34 million to the Vancouver Foundation to create a permanent endowment supporting the Foundation and the B.C. Conference of the United Church. She also bequeathed $50,000 to the Vancouver School of Theology.
Ms. Jardine was active in Vancouver’s arts community, serving as board secretary of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver from 1962 to 1979, and co-authoring a book on the history of the council. She never married and had no children or heirs.
Willard Kitchen, the new fund’s namesake, amassed his fortune building railways in New Brunswick. After moving with his family to Vancouver, he became a director of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, which later became BC Rail.