OLI NARFASON’S WESTSHORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Rooted in a “sharing is caring” family ethos and deeply connected to his Icelandic heritage, Gimli Manitoba’s Oli Narfason left a legacy defined by an unwavering dedication to making a positive difference in his community, and helping as many people as he could.

“He just wanted to help. He grew up through the Depression where they had nothing and worked hard. He paid a lot of attention to the stock markets. He really watched for trends,” says Krista Narfason, Oli’s granddaughter. “He was very financially smart, so when the community foundation started happening, it didn't take long to convince him that this would be something that would be great for the area, for a long time.”

Among a long list of accolades, awards, and distinctions, one of the ‘shining stars’ in Oli’s legacy is his role in helping establish the Westshore Community Foundation. He was a founding member of the community foundation in 1998 and was the first President of the organization’s Board of Directors. Krista is now the Foundation’s Administrative Coordinator, and she is keeping her grandfather’s legacy alive and furthering his great work.

In 2024, The Westshore Community Foundation will celebrate its 25th year, and Oli was very proud that it recently surpassed $5 million in managed funds. Once just a vision, the community foundation has granted hundreds of thousands of dollars through different grants and scholarships, thanks in part to Oli’s dedication and commitment.

“Afi [grandpa in Icelandic] was probably the humblest person I've ever known,” says Krista. “He was on committees and boards locally and internationally, volunteering for thousands of hours. And [he] never wanted, never expected, an acknowledgment or anything.”

Oli had a commitment to education and a belief in empowering students to shape a better future, which led him to generously support scholarships through The Westshore Community Foundation. “He loved hearing how much went out for scholarships each year,” recalls Krista. In 2022, $32,171 was awarded to 16 scholars. In 2023, that number is $59,000.

Oli remained generous to the very end. "A lot of what he's done through Westshore has been fairly quiet. He didn't want big pomp and circumstance,” says Krista. “However, one morning, just before he had the stroke, he had told us ‘You know, this time I'm okay. Let's use my name and do a photo op or whatever’...I don't know if his mind changed on that, or if that was his strategy to get other people to give - I think that's probably what it was.”

Manitoba currently has 57 community foundations across the province, more per capita than any other province in the country. Community foundations are charitable organizations built through the generous gifts of donors. By pooling these gifts and carefully managing their resources, these foundations can support the communities they serve today and into the future.

Manitoba's community foundations support a wide range of charitable organizations and projects that enrich the quality of life of people throughout the province. The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada’s first community foundation, was established on April 26, 1921.

“We are honoured the Manitoba government has proclaimed April 26 – The Winnipeg Foundation’s birthday – Community Foundation Day,” says Tom Bryk, Board Chair of The Winnipeg Foundation. “Community foundations are built through the generous gifts of donors who want to see their community flourish. This annual day will celebrate the contributions of community foundations throughout our province and the generosity of all Manitobans.”