MEC to match member donations to Tim Jones Memorial Endowment Fund

Donations received in local stores through end of February matched by retailer up to $10,000

VANCOUVER, Jan. 24, 2014 /CNW/ - To help build a legacy befitting a man who worked tirelessly to promote backcountry safety, MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) will match donations received from its members and contribute the monies to the Justice Institute of BC's Tim Jones Memorial Endowment Fund.

The outdoor retailer will accept donations from MEC members from now until the end of February at its North Vancouver and Vancouver stores. Member donations received by then will be matched by MEC, up to $10,000.

Jones, the former leader of North Shore Rescue and Chief Paramedic at North Vancouver Ambulance Station, died last Sunday.

"Tim Jones was a long-time MEC member and a friend and mentor to many of our employees," said CEO David Labistour. "We were saddened to hear of his death, and extend our deepest condolences to Tim's family, his friends and his colleagues in the search and rescue and paramedic community."

"The JIBC Foundation is extremely pleased and grateful for the support of MEC and its members," said Foundation Chair John Chesman. "JIBC trains people to save lives. That's what Tim and his colleagues with North Shore Rescue did. This endowment fund will be a legacy to Tim's life work, and will help others to follow in his footsteps."

Jones forged a close relationship with MEC to ensure that North Shore Rescue had clothing and gear to provide people when they were rescued. For example, MEC donated used sleeping bags to North Shore Rescue to stow in equipment caches in the backcountry.

In addition to matching members' donations to the Tim Jones Memorial Endowment Fund, MEC has also contributed $2,000 to North Shore Rescue.

More information about the Tim Jones Memorial Endowment Fund is available from the Justice Institute of BC website.

About MEC
A retail co-operative, MEC exists to encourage, enable and inspire Canadians to live active outdoor lifestyles. From backcountry trails to city streets, MEC supports a range of outdoor activities, including climbing, hiking, camping, snowsports, watersports, cycling, running and yoga. Well known for selling high-quality well-designed products that offer great value, MEC employs outdoor enthusiasts who possess a strong service ethic to provide its members with an authentic and accessible customer experience. MEC has more than 3.5 million members across Canada, whom it serves through 17 stores in 6 provinces as well as www.mec.ca and the Shop MEC iPhone® app. Anyone can join MEC by purchasing a $5 individual lifetime membership.

SOURCE: Mountain Equipment Co-op

Tim Southam
Public Affairs Manager
[email protected]
604.561.4528 (mobile)
604.707.4480 (office)

Nicolas Sirois
National Public Relations Coordinator
[email protected]
604.707.3369 (direct)

Sean Kelly
Justice Institute of BC
[email protected]
604.528.5885 (direct)