Karen Wilkie, former board chair, Environment Funders Canada

Pegi was the essential cog in the CEGN/EFC wheel for over 11 years, developing strong, deep relationships with all members, supporting their individual and collective efforts and enabling their voices to be heard at senior levels of government. But Pegi was more than an incredible connector and network builder. She was also one of Canada’s unsung environmental leaders. Her vision was to grow environmental philanthropy across Canada to extend its reach and impact. Two ways she helped to do this was through her work with the now influential Low Carbon Funders Group and the Oceans Collaborative. Both were new ways of increasing the impact of philanthropy by bringing funders together to work differently through shared goals and innovative funding strategies. Pegi strongly valued EFC’s vital work with Indigenous peoples. Her leadership led to EFC’s commitment to reconciliation and launched CEGN/EFC on an important path forward. It was in Pegi’s character not to be satisfied with the status quo. There was always room for improvement. She sought out new relationships, she sought out voices of those previously not included, and pushed for solutions to the complex, urgent issues facing us today.