OUR BOARD

PATRON
The Honourable
Lincoln M. Alexander
P.C., C.C., K.S.T.J.,
O.ONT.C.D., B.A., LL.B., Q.C.

FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
W.F. (Zeke) O'Connor

ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Robert Kolbuc

OFFICERS
Karen O'Connor, President
Byron Smith, VP Marketing
Robin D. Walker, Secretary
Dr. Kami T. Sherpa,
(Senior Medical Officer)
Robert Braiden, Treasurer

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
Dr. Joan Ford
Peter W. Webster

DIRECTORS
Robert Braiden
Philip Crawley
Francisco Gomez
Peter Hillary
Patti Hull
Cathy McConnell
Nima McElhinney
Karen O'Connor
Herb Paterson
C. Richard Sharpe
Dr. Kami T. Sherpa
Phurba S. Sherpa
Byron Smith
Robin D. Walker
Dr. Robert Zimmerman

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Barbara Anderson
Brian Baxter
Michael Benton
Lynn Hurley
Edward Lorriman

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* Photo of the late
Sir Edmund Hillary by
Pat and Rosemarie Keough

The 50th Anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay’s first ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 2003, was a banner day for Sir Edmund Hillary as he celebrated this historical event. Celebrations took place around the world. On behalf of the Foundation and the nearly 600 active constituents, I congratulated Sir Edmund in Kathmandu, Nepal. I also had the pleasure of congratulating Tenzings’ son and grandson during the week’s celebration.

We, The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation, celebrated this event at a Gala Dinner held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on November 6, 2003.

Again, congratulations to Sir Edmund. It has been, and continues to be, a pleasure to honour and to help with his determination to make possible a better way of life for our mutual friends, the Sherpas, the people of the Solu-Khumbu area of Nepal.

2002-2003 has been a very productive year, and our fiscal year ending in June of 2003 showed a strong financial ending. Our treasurer, Mike Bittman, covered this in his report.

Director Bob Westlake, guardian of the Endowment Fund also reported on the possible use of this fund in the year 2004.

The start of the year July 2003 to June 30, 2004, has gone as planned in our 2000 to 2010 forecasts and plans. We hope to restart the C.I.D.A. project for two more years and also to entertain new fundraising opportunities

• June Fundraiser - Bazaar
• Golf Tournament – Ashley Whicher

The Kunde Hospital continues to provide excellent health care to the Sherpas in the Khumbu as well as a limited number of foreign trekkers. Under the guidance of Dr. Kami Temba, Sherpa Chief of Medicine, Canadian medical doctors have been active at the Kunde Hospital during 2002-2003 -- Drs. Rod Leighton and Heather Culbert (six months), Dr. Katie Morgenstern and Dr. Simon Pulfrey (six months); Dr. Laara Banners and Dr. Jean Rawling and again at present, Dr. Rod Leighton (solo six months). A sincere note of thanks to all the volunteer doctors. They are the ones that deliver the care on the scene.

The Maoist situation in Nepal has not improved, and we still pray for peace and hope that a solution is not long in coming. The Hospital at Kunde has not had any bad incidents attributed to the Maoist insurrection.

Our Literacy program in Phaflu is still on hold. The Literacy Committee reported on this at our June meeting.

Thank you to all of you who have supported these worthy endeavours over the past 30 years and special thank you to CIDA and Sears.

W. Z. O'Connor, President