History of the BCF

The Origins of the Bhutan Canada Foundation

In 1988, Sam Blyth had the privilege of visiting Bhutan with Pierre Elliot Trudeau and a small group of Canadians in celebration of the tenth anniversary of his company, Blyth Academy. During the visit, the Canadian group was received by the Foreign Minister and met the legendary Father Mackey, who has done so much for the Bhutanese people. As well, they presented a scholarship to Bhutan on behalf of Lester B. Pearson College. This scholarship provided full funding for Bhutanese students (one every two years) to attend high school on Vancouver Island.

 

 

The first young Bhutanese student arrived in 1989 at the College, and spent his vacations with the Blyth family in Toronto. Ten other bright young Bhutanese students followed in his footsteps, almost all of whom have returned to Bhutan to make significant contributions to the country. Over the last twenty years, Sam has visited Bhutan on several occasions and has had the honour of being welcomed into the families of these Bhutanese students, which has deepened his love for the country.

 

In 2008, Sam visited Bhutan with his wife and two of his children only to learn that the Canadian government was not renewing its CIDA support for the nation. Mindful of Canada’s special relationship with Bhutan, particularly its contribution to building its education system, the family decided that it was important to continue Canada’s presence in the country, so they stepped forward to help.

 

On May 5, 2009, their dream was realized when the offices of the Bhutan Canada Foundation officially opened in Thimphu, Bhutan. Everyone connected with the foundation expects great things from this continued partnership between Canada and Bhutan.