Latest / Your Estate Matters / Episode 46 - Turning Your Legacy into a Lifeline for Animals with Yolanda Benoit

Transcript

Episode 46 - Turning Your Legacy into a Lifeline for Animals with Yolanda Benoit · Your Estate Matters

0:02
[SPEAKER_00]: Hello, and welcome to your estate matters with your hosts, my colleague Greg Bernand, and myself Nicole Garton of Heritage Trust.
0:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Your estate matters is a podcast dedicated to everything a state, including building and preserving your legacy.
0:16
[SPEAKER_00]: If it's a state related, we'll be talking about it.
0:19
[SPEAKER_00]: We're having the conversations today that will help Canadians protect their families, their assets, and their legacies tomorrow.
0:33
[SPEAKER_00]: With us today on your State Matters is Yolanda Bennoa, Director of Willes and the State gifts at the British Columbia Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals, also known as the BC SPCA, where she has dedicated over a decade to building the Willes and the State's gifts program and helping kind supporters create a meaningful legacy that protect vulnerable domestic, farm and wild animals and mobilize communities.
0:58
[SPEAKER_00]: So animals and people thrive together across British Columbia.
1:02
[SPEAKER_00]: In her role, Yolanda collaborates closely with donors, professional advisors, and executives to facilitate the fulfillment of final wishes.
1:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Often navigating complex estate and legal challenges.
1:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Her expertise ensures that each legacy gift aligns with the donor's intentions and has a lasting impact on animal welfare.
1:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Prior to joining the BCSPCA, the Alliance spent over ten years in the health care sector raising essential funds for medical care.
1:28
[SPEAKER_00]: The Alliance loves continuously learning and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, the Fraser Valley Estate Planning Council, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, where she earned her certificate in the state and trusted administration in two thousand seventeen.
1:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for joining us today.
1:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for having me.
1:54
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a pleasure to have you.
1:56
[SPEAKER_00]: Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into this field and ended up at the BCSBCA?
2:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I come from an immigrant family where we were blessed with the systems and then we started volunteering and giving back to the community.
2:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I always knew I wanted to help and give back any way that I could and that led me into fundraising where I could use my skills to help better hospitals or animal welfare and help others who wanted to make a difference in the world.
2:30
[SPEAKER_02]: What drew you personally to BCSPCA?
2:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, growing up, I had everything from cats to jibbles to chickens to rabbits to see monkeys.
2:40
[SPEAKER_01]: So I always had a love for animals.
2:43
[SPEAKER_01]: And when the opportunity came, when there was the opening to run and develop the willing estate gift planning program,
2:53
[SPEAKER_01]: My friend knew that I had a passion for this field.
2:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And if it was something I could just focus on, it would be my dream job.
3:00
[SPEAKER_01]: And then you add in the animals to that animal welfare.
3:03
[SPEAKER_01]: And being able to bring your animals to work and rolling around on the ground and playing with them.
3:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And nobody bads an eye.
3:10
[SPEAKER_01]: It's normal.
3:11
[SPEAKER_01]: It was heaven on earth for me.
3:13
[SPEAKER_00]: So tell us about the BCSBC.
3:15
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people know us as an animal protection organization, sheltering, but what many don't know is we started out as advocacy.
3:26
[SPEAKER_01]: A hundred and thirty years ago in Victoria, I believe, there was a horse-drawn carriage and the horse fell from illness age, we're not sure, but then the owner got out and started whipping the horse and people around started yelling at this person saying, stop, stop, what are you doing?
3:45
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's how the BCSPCA was born all those years ago.
3:49
[SPEAKER_01]: So they were advocating for better welfare for working animals.
3:55
[SPEAKER_01]: So fast forward to today.
3:57
[SPEAKER_01]: We've just launched our new strategic plan and we have a plan to go to twenty-fifty in which we're going to be looking at
4:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Always being the safety net for the most vulnerable of animals, but also looking at the root causes, like why is their animal abuse?
4:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Why is the animal human bond failing in some instances?
4:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And a good example to look at is what happened during COVID.
4:25
[SPEAKER_01]: During COVID people lost jobs, lost businesses were told to stay at home.
4:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Now a lot came out of that food insecurity for one thing.
4:36
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people didn't have food.
4:39
[SPEAKER_01]: What food they had, they shared with their animal, or gave their animal, and they went without.
4:45
[SPEAKER_01]: The BCSPCA at that point started thirty-four new animal food banks, pet food banks, to help in that aspect.
4:54
[SPEAKER_01]: We always had one in the downtownies side you may have heard about Charlie's food bank.
5:00
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's one example.
5:03
[SPEAKER_01]: So food insecurity root cause.
5:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Another one is domestic abuse.
5:08
[SPEAKER_01]: So there's a lot of people that are in situations where they're not safe and they have animals.
5:15
[SPEAKER_01]: But there's something called a violence link.
5:18
[SPEAKER_01]: So the person isn't the only one being abused sometimes it's the animal too.
5:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Therefore, the person doesn't want to leave and run to a shelter and leave the animal because from my understanding, shelters won't accept animals.
5:32
[SPEAKER_01]: And they won't leave their animal to be abused.
5:36
[SPEAKER_01]: So the BCSPCA started a program in which we work together with shelters.
5:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And we will take in the animal.
5:46
[SPEAKER_01]: We have again a foster network that will help out.
5:50
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's called the Safe Keepers Program.
5:53
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's another, not so common.
5:56
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people don't know about that program.
5:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Tell us more, I had no idea there were animal food.
6:01
[SPEAKER_02]: That's first time.
6:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't know.
6:03
[SPEAKER_00]: So tell us more about that.
6:04
[SPEAKER_00]: If someone is struggling to provide food for their family and their animal, tell me about how they might access that service.
6:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Reach out to your local.
6:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Community and BCSPCA Community Animal Center and ask where the nearest pet food bank is and they'll be directed to the right location.
6:24
[SPEAKER_00]: And so where do you source food?
6:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you get donations from the stores?
6:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you purchase it with donated funds?
6:30
[SPEAKER_00]: How does that work?
6:31
[SPEAKER_01]: We do have a partner, Hills.
6:35
[SPEAKER_01]: So they supply a lot of the food.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Many people donate food and we pass that forward.
6:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So we're so, so blessed with the supporters that we have.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Big hearts, animal lovers who want to help others keep their animal.
6:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Keep the family together, whether it's two or four like it.
6:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Now, many years ago, I dealt with the case of a rancher who was basically becoming incapable and was neglecting not intentionally, or animals.
7:08
[SPEAKER_02]: And I worked with a branch of provincial government called Brand ID, which I didn't know existed and they look after all registered animals.
7:17
[SPEAKER_02]: And I just wondered if you ever crossed, has with them because in the States, we've often had to call BCSPCA because there's no survivor and you need to make arrangements.
7:28
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, it maybe gets adopted out.
7:30
[SPEAKER_02]: And I just wondered if you were involved in any of those situations.
7:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not familiar with the organization that you mentioned, but no, we do.
7:41
[SPEAKER_01]: We have an animal cruelty hotline.
7:43
[SPEAKER_01]: And when people see that animals aren't being cared for, whether they're domestic or farm animals, they will call the cruelty hotline and our animal protection officers will go out and
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[SPEAKER_01]: see what is happening there.
7:58
[SPEAKER_01]: And you're right.
7:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Sometimes it's just people who have gotten older, still think they can look after, you know, a hundred acres and all the animals all by themselves.
8:10
[SPEAKER_01]: And they can't.
8:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Sometimes it's mental health issues.
8:13
[SPEAKER_01]: So we do get involved in those cases.
8:16
[SPEAKER_00]: So Yolanda Yorof focuses on Wilson estate's case.
8:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Can you explain why legacy gifts are so important to the BCSPCA?
8:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for that question, Cole.
8:25
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people don't know that the BCS PCA is funded almost a hundred percent by donors, by supporters.
8:35
[SPEAKER_01]: We are not government funded.
8:38
[SPEAKER_01]: We might have animal control contracts in different areas of the province of British Columbia, but that's a fee for service.
8:46
[SPEAKER_01]: So if you go to the Syrian website and see government funding, that's what that is.
8:51
[SPEAKER_01]: We have been blessed and we have received recently some funding from the government for helping us to rebuild some of our older buildings because we need some capital.
9:05
[SPEAKER_01]: But yes, the gifts and will, those are priceless to us because we couldn't function, we couldn't do what we do without the family of supporters that we have because we're funded by donated dollars.
9:21
[SPEAKER_02]: So what percentage of the ECS PCA's operations and just air funded through these types of legacy gifts?
9:28
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's a very good question because I just recently asked that.
9:31
[SPEAKER_01]: That's department.
9:33
[SPEAKER_01]: It's approximately thirty three percent.
9:36
[SPEAKER_02]: Quite significant.
9:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, when people think about leaving a gift to a charity, and they're well, they might think of only a cash gift.
9:45
[SPEAKER_02]: There are some other ways that people can leave a legacy, such as gifts of life insurance, RSPs, property, or other assets.
9:52
[SPEAKER_01]: A good one that a lot of people aren't very familiar with, and please go talk to your professional advisors are a gifts of publicly traded, appreciated stock.
10:05
[SPEAKER_01]: So if they transfer the gift and they could put it right in their will that they would like to transfer this specific stock to this charity in species meaning don't cash it out and give them the money transfer the actual stock to the charity then there's zero capital gains.
10:23
[SPEAKER_01]: and the state will get a full tax receipt for the full amount.
10:29
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's an excellent way of supporting a charity and also getting some help with the estate's taxes.
10:38
[SPEAKER_00]: So can you share some examples of some estate gifts that have made a difference to the BCSPCA?
10:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, there's a couple that come to mind and it's interesting how they play into one another.
10:51
[SPEAKER_01]: We had a supporter who passed and she was very, very loving of cats.
11:00
[SPEAKER_01]: So in her way, she said this gift was to be used for the benefit of cats.
11:05
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's very general.
11:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So we could use it the best way possible at the time or cats.
11:13
[SPEAKER_01]: At the time, we didn't have a large seizure facility.
11:17
[SPEAKER_01]: We didn't have anywhere where there's, if we had a large intake of animals like we did at the beginning of this month, eighty-three Persian mix caps were seized.
11:26
[SPEAKER_01]: This woman, she donated a portion of her estate to the BCSPCA.
11:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And with the funds, we were able to have a specialist in this area of large intake like seizures, do protocols like health and safety protocols for our staff, our staff and trained volunteers.
11:47
[SPEAKER_01]: And so we were ready.
11:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And then with more funding from this estate, we were able to set up this facility.
11:55
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's the insuri at the Surrey Community Animal Center.
11:59
[SPEAKER_01]: It's the Surrey Cat Intake Facility.
12:03
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's where these sixty odd of the Persian mixes came to Surrey.
12:09
[SPEAKER_01]: They were triaged.
12:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Some of them had very matted hair.
12:13
[SPEAKER_01]: They have to be checked for health and welfare and did they have any contagious illnesses, so they are kept separate, but it's still a large number.
12:25
[SPEAKER_01]: but we're very blessed with that gift from this woman.
12:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Now another gift that we received, a state gift, we were able to purchase two animal transfer vents.
12:37
[SPEAKER_01]: So we always had one animal transfer vent and what an animal transfer vent is.
12:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Wherever there's lots of animals like up north and few people to adopt, we would transfer the animals to the lower mainland areas where there's more people to adopt.
12:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So with two more vehicles when we have large seizures such as we did, those animals are then transferred.
13:02
[SPEAKER_01]: First of all, we transfer animals out of community animal centers to other community animal centers.
13:08
[SPEAKER_01]: So there's one large community animal center where we can bring most of them in.
13:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So these animal transfer vans were again another blessing that really really helps our mission and what we're able to do.
13:25
[SPEAKER_02]: Somebody is listening today thinking about including the BCSPCA and they're well, what are the basic steps that they should take?
13:33
[SPEAKER_01]: The first step that I would recommend is please speak to your family about your wishes.
13:39
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people will draft their will, not talk to their family about it.
13:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And there's sometimes there's a lot of surprises and a lot of bitterness and family.
13:51
[SPEAKER_01]: can sue family in British Columbia.
13:54
[SPEAKER_01]: There's, again, I'm not, here's my disclaimer, I'm not a lawyer, I'm not a financial advisor, and I'm not an accountant, I'm just a will and a state geek, and I love learning.
14:05
[SPEAKER_01]: But we have West to hear the Wills estate since the Session Act, where a spouse or a child can sue the will in essence and change what's in the will if they do not feel that they've received enough support.
14:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's devastating when you see families ripped apart over that.
14:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So please first thing, talk, talk to your families.
14:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Why what you're doing?
14:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Why is it important to you?
14:34
[SPEAKER_01]: It's critical, it really is.
14:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Secondly, reach out to the BCSPCA, the Will and the State Gift Team, and ask for, well, to speak to one of us, and let's talk.
14:47
[SPEAKER_01]: What's important to you?
14:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Where would you like to see your funds be used?
14:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Do you want to support the future and the greatest need?
14:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Because we don't know what that need will be.
14:57
[SPEAKER_01]: People draft their wills and there's ten, twenty, thirty years, potentially that they live and they have an updated their will.
15:07
[SPEAKER_01]: So the need at the time that they drafted into their will may not be needed anymore.
15:13
[SPEAKER_01]: So please do all your favorite charity and speak to someone about what you're thinking and how you would like your gift to be used.
15:23
[SPEAKER_01]: And then next, please see a professional lawyer, notary, and get your will drafted because every will is different.
15:33
[SPEAKER_00]: So part of your work, I understand involves working with families and executives after someone passes away.
15:39
[SPEAKER_00]: So what are some common issues you see that arise around a state administration with gifts and donations of this nature?
15:47
[SPEAKER_01]: We have some really good-hearted kind people that say, yes, I will be your executor, but they don't understand the scope of the job, but complexities that can come up.
16:01
[SPEAKER_01]: So if we get the opportunity to talk to them, we do encourage them to seek
16:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Professional assistance.
16:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Go to a lawyer.
16:13
[SPEAKER_01]: They'll help you with probate.
16:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Go to an account and they'll help you with the taxes.
16:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Things like that.
16:19
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of people out there struggling and they don't need to be.
16:23
[SPEAKER_01]: They don't have to do it all by themselves because there are professionals out there.
16:27
[SPEAKER_01]: And the estate pays for those expenses if they're fair and reasonable.
16:32
[SPEAKER_01]: They're certainly paid by the estate.
16:34
[SPEAKER_02]: I just wanted to touch about when being named in a will, one of the mistakes I used to see a fair bit is a not a correct description of the charity.
16:45
[SPEAKER_02]: And we're doing some of the best ways to avoid that.
16:48
[SPEAKER_01]: The best way to avoid that is to actually call the charity.
16:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Ask them what is their legal name?
16:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Our legal name is the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Curl T to Animals.
17:00
[SPEAKER_01]: That is the actual legal name.
17:01
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not the BCSPC.
17:03
[SPEAKER_01]: That's the short inversion.
17:04
[SPEAKER_01]: And ask for the charitable registration number.
17:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Those two things should be static.
17:12
[SPEAKER_01]: There's charities that move offices.
17:14
[SPEAKER_01]: The address may change, but their name shouldn't or their charitable registration number.
17:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And you can also go on to the CRA website and look up your favorite charity and find the legal name there and the charitable registration number there.
17:31
[SPEAKER_00]: So you talked about sort of a transformational gift around helping cats.
17:36
[SPEAKER_00]: So are there any other interesting legacy gifts that have made a significant difference for animals in BC?
17:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely.
17:45
[SPEAKER_01]: There was a wonderful gift we received for Wild Arc, which is our wild animal rescue center in Machosen BC, which is on the island.
17:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And many, many years ago, they used to truck water up.
18:00
[SPEAKER_01]: They did not have a tap where they could turn on and bring water in.
18:04
[SPEAKER_01]: They literally had to truck it up.
18:07
[SPEAKER_01]: carried up in buckets and a transformational gift was the installation of pipes, however you get water up to somewhere that happened.
18:20
[SPEAKER_01]: So they no longer had to truck water up.
18:23
[SPEAKER_01]: And that was truly, truly a transformational for the wild arc.
18:28
[SPEAKER_00]: So what does it mean on like a human and animal level?
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[SPEAKER_00]: And someone leaves a gift like this behind us about what that legacy is like.
18:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Like a sees keep humans and animals together.
18:41
[SPEAKER_01]: If someone is without a house and they're
18:46
[SPEAKER_01]: animal, cataridog needs, state, or neutering.
18:51
[SPEAKER_01]: The BCSPCA can step in and give them a ticket like a card to get a free spanned neuter to help them and it keeps the family together.
19:02
[SPEAKER_01]: The food banks are another
19:05
[SPEAKER_01]: example of keeping families together.
19:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Veterinarians are the lack of and increasing costs.
19:14
[SPEAKER_01]: That's becoming another root cause of the bond being broken because some people can't afford the vet care that their animal needs and they love their animals so much.
19:27
[SPEAKER_01]: They do what they think is best for that animal and they surrender the animal.
19:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Someone else can adopt them that can afford that vet care.
19:35
[SPEAKER_01]: So again, legacies that help us solve these root causes in the coming years will be transformational.
19:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
19:47
[SPEAKER_00]: So what might that look like?
19:48
[SPEAKER_00]: So say someone has a family pet that needs significant medical care that they can afford or are they able to potentially approach the BCSPC or what resources might be available to them if they can't afford at a pocket.
20:04
[SPEAKER_01]: There are organizations that will, we did actually run the numbers on that and it was in the billions of dollars.
20:12
[SPEAKER_01]: We couldn't afford.
20:14
[SPEAKER_01]: And again, we're run by donated dollars.
20:17
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll never get that much fundraising done to be able to pay for everyone's vet care.
20:24
[SPEAKER_01]: But there are organizations that help in that aspect.
20:28
[SPEAKER_01]: But at this point, the BC SPC does not.
20:32
[SPEAKER_01]: At Charlie's food bank, they do have a vet that goes there.
20:36
[SPEAKER_01]: And the people who don't have houses, they come in with their pets, they get food, they get a vet check.
20:43
[SPEAKER_01]: If they need a spare neuter, they'll be given a ticket.
20:46
[SPEAKER_01]: If they need a halter or a leash or a bed, we have all these things that are donated.
20:52
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's at the Charlie's food bank.
20:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So we are able to do it in a small way.
20:59
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, for those that are most vulnerable, we can people donate specifically directed to the Charlie's Food Bank, for example, or how might that work?
21:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, they could.
21:10
[SPEAKER_01]: And again, we just ask, please give us a call.
21:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's talk.
21:14
[SPEAKER_01]: We can give you the correct wording for that to take to your will drafter.
21:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And we can absolutely have that in there.
21:22
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, we would ask also that they include a part of very close because in ten, twenty, thirty years, what if the name changes, right?
21:32
[SPEAKER_01]: And it becomes someone else's food bank, which Charlie was the first dog that one of our vets saw on the downtown east side.
21:41
[SPEAKER_01]: He was asked to go see a pet or someone who didn't have a home.
21:46
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's how Charlie's and the downtown east side started.
21:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Is it true that that those are getting more expensive?
21:55
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what we're hearing.
21:56
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what our donors are experiencing.
21:59
[SPEAKER_01]: They're calling us the same.
22:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Why is it so expensive?
22:01
[SPEAKER_01]: There aren't that many.
22:03
[SPEAKER_01]: vet schools in Canada, we did advocate and get more seats at the vet school in Saskatchewan.
22:13
[SPEAKER_01]: So that was huge because every vet school has X amount of seats for each province.
22:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So BC was able to get ours increased.
22:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So it is a problem.
22:26
[SPEAKER_01]: It is one of those root causes.
22:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So I know our CEO is working with Vets directly and trying to address this.
22:35
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there's a bit of vet specialization too.
22:37
[SPEAKER_02]: You see now with just cats or just dogs, right?
22:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Of course, also a big animal that's.
22:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
22:44
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, agricultural side and I know many that have come from Susieland, Australia.
22:49
[SPEAKER_02]: There's a big program.
22:51
[SPEAKER_02]: Is that right?
22:52
[SPEAKER_02]: To Canada?
22:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
22:53
[SPEAKER_02]: So sometimes people put out thinking about wells and like I see gifts because it feels overwhelming, you know, like to do it.
23:00
[SPEAKER_02]: What would you say are the biggest benefits of planning ahead, rather than putting it off?
23:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Do it now.
23:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Do it now.
23:07
[SPEAKER_01]: As Nike always said, just do it.
23:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Unfortunately, none of us know when it's going to be our time.
23:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's better to get it done so you know that your wishes will be followed because you've written them down.
23:22
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's better that than your estate going in test date and following governmental rules of how your estate will be distributed because it may not be the way you want it to.
23:34
[SPEAKER_01]: So don't put it off.
23:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Again, going back to the family, have that discussion with your family.
23:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Why you're drafting the will, the way you're drafting it, reach out to your favorite charities, ask them for their legal name, their charitable registration number.
23:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Then call up your financial advisor, your lawyer or your notary and see what's the best way of distributing your estate because different assets can be handled differently or designated and you can decrease your probate fees or your taxes.
24:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Those professionals are out there for reason and it's amazing.
24:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Things you didn't even think of.
24:16
[SPEAKER_01]: They think of for you.
24:17
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's what they're there for.
24:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And they can make a huge difference.
24:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So unless you plan and you do it, you miss those opportunities to maximize your state for your loved ones.
24:29
[SPEAKER_00]: So speaking of thinking of it, there was an estate that we administered at Heritage Trust and somebody passed away and tested it, meaning without a will, and they had been a very hardworking professional, and they had a beloved dog, so no pre-planning had been done for anything, including
24:51
[SPEAKER_00]: The dog and we were able to identify that the long time dog walker actually really loved this animal and we felt that that would have been something that the person that passed if I probably would have really welcomed and this person obviously really knew the animal.
25:06
[SPEAKER_00]: But this person didn't have a lot of money, and this was an eight-year-old dog.
25:10
[SPEAKER_00]: So then we ended up negotiating with the siblings who were going to be the intestine errors.
25:17
[SPEAKER_00]: And by the way, getting seven figure sums, and they hadn't actually spoken to their sibling for decades.
25:24
[SPEAKER_00]: It was really quite something.
25:25
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure this person actually would have probably left money to that.
25:28
[SPEAKER_00]: UCSPCA, if they had planned, but we were able to negotiate with the siblings to agree that we were able to give a sum of money to the dogwacker, to defray the costs of taking this eight-year-old animal.
25:43
[SPEAKER_00]: So we were always going to find the best place for someone's animal to the extent that we can, and we're always going to try to make sure that
25:51
[SPEAKER_00]: There's funds allocated to care for that animal, but it would be much preferred if people could provide an advance what their wishes are, set aside those funds and probably make a significant donation rather than funds just going by operation of a lot of people that they likely didn't have a close relationship with.
26:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, absolutely.
26:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely.
26:13
[SPEAKER_01]: And that is a great idea if someone is taking on the family pet,
26:19
[SPEAKER_01]: because we mentioned that bills are getting more and more expensive and as animals age, like humans, they get sick, and they need care.
26:31
[SPEAKER_00]: My six-year-old dog is teeth for four thousand dollars last year.
26:37
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, just his teeth.
26:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I'm shocking, but you know, once you, once they remember the family, it's really hard to say no.
26:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely.
26:48
[SPEAKER_00]: And we were brushing every night now.
26:49
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.
26:50
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:50
[UNKNOWN]: All right.
26:51
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:51
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:52
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:52
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:52
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:53
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:53
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.
26:53
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
26:54
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
27:06
[SPEAKER_02]: It's a good tip.
27:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, get him an actor's card and write that off maybe he's nice to you.
27:11
[SPEAKER_02]: So are there any particular areas right now that need funding like a sea gift, especially if they would make a big difference for the BCSPCA?
27:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, going back to animals and people thriving together and focusing on the root causes.
27:30
[SPEAKER_01]: The more we can invest in the root causes, the better that human animal bond will be retained.
27:40
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a tricky question because we'll draft it today unless people are updating their wills on a very regular basis as they age.
27:49
[SPEAKER_01]: We've seen wills that come in and they've left a gift to a capital campaign that was finished ten years ago, but it's strictly for capital and we have a new building so that money just sits in the bank.
28:08
[SPEAKER_01]: until it needs a new rule for something to do with the building itself.
28:13
[SPEAKER_01]: We can't use those funds.
28:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't think that the donor, the supporter, would have wanted that.
28:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's very important to think long-term if you have something specific again, please reach out to us.
28:29
[SPEAKER_01]: We would ask that you include a power to very close in case
28:34
[SPEAKER_01]: We don't need the funds for that specific purpose at that time, but we'll use them to the nearest possible purpose that aligns with your wishes or simply making the estate gift to the greatest need at the time.
28:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Because we never saw two thousand and eight coming with a crash and people
28:57
[SPEAKER_01]: holding on to their money because everybody lost money, COVID, again, people lost jobs, businesses, there is great need there.
29:08
[SPEAKER_01]: So we have to be able to be flexible because we never know what's coming down the road.
29:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you have any current initiatives or capital campaigns right now?
29:17
[SPEAKER_01]: We can ask me that, are you?
29:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
29:20
[SPEAKER_01]: We have the Vancouver Island Animal Behavior Center on the island and it's the first of its kind and it's being built to help those animals that
29:35
[SPEAKER_01]: need the most training time one on one attention they've been through horrific circumstances it might be a volunteer just sitting in one end of a kennel and the other frightened animal is in the other side of the kennel not looking at the animal for potentially weeks until that animal becomes curious we never know what they've been through
30:05
[SPEAKER_01]: But the effects can be horrific.
30:10
[SPEAKER_01]: And they're good animals.
30:13
[SPEAKER_01]: and we're not a kill shelter.
30:17
[SPEAKER_01]: So again, unless we've done everything possible and medically, there's no other solution.
30:23
[SPEAKER_01]: But we try to do everything we can for the animal so we can adopt them out again.
30:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So this Vancouver Island Animal Behavioral Center is again, a first of its kind, so all of the more difficult animals will be the animal transfer van, will transfer them.
30:41
[SPEAKER_01]: there for care and training.
30:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, that includes maybe some breeds of dogs that are considered more dangerous or how does that work?
30:51
[SPEAKER_01]: It's never the animal.
30:52
[SPEAKER_01]: It's always the owner.
30:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, so there are certain breeds that people say, well, they are, you know, dangerous.
31:02
[SPEAKER_01]: But I could tell you, I've met many of those dogs that are considered dangerous and they were babies.
31:08
[SPEAKER_01]: They were
31:10
[SPEAKER_01]: just melt in your lap, lovable, kind.
31:15
[SPEAKER_01]: So it really is dependent on what they've been through, how they've been raised.
31:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, what's the status of that?
31:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Are there breeds currently in British Columbia that are bound?
31:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Is that the kiss or not?
31:30
[SPEAKER_01]: In BC, I don't think so, but don't quote me on that.
31:33
[SPEAKER_02]: What are some of the common myths or misconceptions you hear about legacy giving?
31:39
[SPEAKER_01]: But, oh, I'm not rich.
31:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't leave you legacy.
31:43
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's the word legacy.
31:46
[SPEAKER_01]: A legacy is a gift and will or a gift from your estate.
31:52
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's, how do you want to be remembered?
31:55
[SPEAKER_01]: What was important to you in your lifetime?
31:59
[SPEAKER_01]: What causes spark that joy in you or you really wanted to assist and make a difference in the world by supporting that organization?
32:09
[SPEAKER_01]: That's, in my definition, what a legacy is.
32:13
[SPEAKER_01]: And you don't have to be, you know, a billionaire to leave a gift in well or in a state gift.
32:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Anybody could leave a legacy.
32:23
[SPEAKER_01]: And there is an old saying, you can't make a dollar out of ninety nine cents.
32:29
[SPEAKER_01]: So many people coming together, giving what they can can change the world.
32:34
[SPEAKER_01]: They can make a huge, huge difference.
32:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Another thing we hear often is, I have to leave my state to my kids, to my family.
32:45
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't for it to give you anything, right?
32:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Then on the flip side, you talk to other people and they say, well, we're making your charity, our third charity child, right?
32:57
[SPEAKER_01]: So they have two kids, but the third child will be the charity.
33:03
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's just how you frame things and how you look at things.
33:08
[SPEAKER_01]: But again, many hands make light work, many people supporting a cause can do great things.
33:15
[SPEAKER_00]: If someone's thinking of leaving something to the BCSPCA, how do they get started?
33:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Think about what's important to you.
33:21
[SPEAKER_01]: If you want to make a gift to the BCSPCA, are you wanting to support whatever that greatest need will be in the future, whether it's a God forbid another COVID or whether it's a mark crash or
33:35
[SPEAKER_01]: people not being able to find housing with their pets.
33:39
[SPEAKER_01]: What is important to you?
33:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And then reach out to us.
33:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Reach out to us by email by phone.
33:47
[SPEAKER_01]: And let's have that conversation.
33:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And we'll help you get some draft wording to take to your will drafter.
33:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So we can discuss whether or not we can use that type of gift in the future.
34:00
[SPEAKER_01]: And there's a great story that I have to share about nine years ago.
34:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe even ten.
34:07
[SPEAKER_01]: We had a family come in to the BCS PCA and I still remember it was my old boss and she's young but my previous boss maybe I should say.
34:21
[SPEAKER_01]: And I met with his family and their parents had passed and they were fine.
34:28
[SPEAKER_01]: They were comfortable but they really wanted to address an issue that they saw out in the world.
34:36
[SPEAKER_01]: And that was people with animals who were in domestic abuse situations.
34:42
[SPEAKER_01]: And they couldn't leave because they wouldn't leave their animal and they can't take their animal to the shelter.
34:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Back then at that time, we had to turn down the gift.
34:53
[SPEAKER_01]: We were not in a place set up to take on that project.
34:58
[SPEAKER_01]: We didn't have the staffing.
34:59
[SPEAKER_01]: We didn't have the expertise.
35:01
[SPEAKER_01]: We didn't have the infrastructure.
35:03
[SPEAKER_01]: We didn't have it set up.
35:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Fast forward to twenty twenty this family made that transformational gift and got this program started.
35:13
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's why it's important to come and talk to us because we may not be able to use it now.
35:19
[SPEAKER_01]: We may be able to use it in the future, but there needs to be some flexibility because you never know when the need is going to arise, right?
35:27
[SPEAKER_02]: And we've been basically talking about
35:29
[SPEAKER_02]: test-mentary gifts or in-wills, but what about in life like volunteering?
35:35
[SPEAKER_02]: We're just seeing what programs they could assist you with.
35:38
[SPEAKER_01]: We love our volunteers.
35:40
[SPEAKER_01]: We're actually building our volunteer program as we speak and our foster program.
35:45
[SPEAKER_01]: We have about
35:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Almost five thousand volunteers.
35:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, our volunteers are feeding the ground.
35:52
[SPEAKER_01]: We couldn't do what we do without our supporters or without our volunteers.
35:57
[SPEAKER_01]: They walk the dogs.
35:59
[SPEAKER_01]: They come to the kennels.
36:01
[SPEAKER_01]: They play with the cats.
36:02
[SPEAKER_01]: They take them out of the kennels.
36:04
[SPEAKER_01]: They do laundry.
36:06
[SPEAKER_01]: They do a million and one things for the BCS PCA.
36:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And again, the foster network is huge because
36:16
[SPEAKER_01]: An animal does some do well in the kennel setting, but others don't, and they need a family, a home environment.
36:24
[SPEAKER_01]: And there are our fosters out there that will take, again, it depends on the animal.
36:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Whether it's a cat, but if there's allergies, cat, dog, the type of animal, it's challenges.
36:37
[SPEAKER_01]: If it has any challenges or it does it just need a home.
36:40
[SPEAKER_01]: So we like to match the fosters with the animal as well.
36:45
[SPEAKER_01]: So we're really blessed.
36:47
[SPEAKER_01]: We really depend on our volunteers for sure.
36:50
[SPEAKER_01]: So we are building up that program.
36:52
[SPEAKER_00]: So if people are interested in volunteering or joining the foster program, how would they get started?
36:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Go on to our website and look for, I want to volunteer.
37:02
[SPEAKER_01]: And if you can't find that, just call me.
37:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Is there anything else you'd like our listeners to know about the BCSPCA?
37:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I'd like to thank our supporters because they are so loving and kind.
37:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And we really are a family of animal lovers.
37:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And I really, really wanted to thank them for their support.
37:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I wanted to thank the professional advisors from lawyers to notaries to the accountants to the financial advisors, because it's together that we can make a difference in the world.
37:35
[SPEAKER_01]: But individuals need to know that they can go to these.
37:40
[SPEAKER_01]: People and ask for their advice because they're a wealth of knowledge.
37:44
[SPEAKER_01]: So don't be afraid to pick up the phone and reach out.
37:48
[SPEAKER_01]: And yes, we would love to, again, always be the safety net for the most vulnerable animals.
37:55
[SPEAKER_01]: We want to address the root causes.
37:58
[SPEAKER_01]: And we want to see animals and people thriving across British Columbia together.
38:03
[SPEAKER_02]: So how can people learn more or get in touch with you about your team and request more information?
38:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, you can email us at forevergardians.
38:14
[SPEAKER_01]: That's plural forevergardians at spca.bc.ca or you can call at six o'clock, eight to nine, nine, one, eight, nine.
38:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Wonderful.
38:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much, Alanda, for spending time with us.
38:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for having me.
38:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I appreciate it.
38:36
[SPEAKER_00]: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered individual legal, financial, or tax advice.
38:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Make sure to consult the advisor of your choice to advise you on your own circumstances.
38:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for joining us for this episode of Your State Matters.
38:54
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38:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Whether you are planning your own estate or you're acting as executive for somebody else's heritage trust can help.
39:05
[SPEAKER_02]: Partner with heritage trust to protect your family, your assets, and your legacy.
39:09
[SPEAKER_00]: If you'd like more information about heritage trust, please visit our website at heritagetrustcompany.ca.
39:23
[SPEAKER_02]: This podcast is produced by Pawnfather Creative.