VC Capital Campaign

Transforming an Institutional Vision Into a Campaign People Could Believe In

Vancouver College was entering a pivotal period in its history.

Aging facilities and seismic concerns created an immediate need for new infrastructure, but the opportunity went well beyond replacing buildings.

The school was asking its community to invest in its next century. That required more than a fundraising message. It required a campaign capable of making the future tangible — connecting the institution’s history, values, and ambitions to a clear reason for donors, alumni, parents, and supporters to participate.

The result became Our Next Century, a multi-year capital campaign designed to raise $40 million toward the construction of two new buildings and a safer, more modern campus.

Giving the Future its Own Identity

A capital campaign occupies an unusual position within an institutional brand.

It must feel connected to the organization it represents, but distinctive enough to create urgency, focus, and momentum of its own.

The recommendation was therefore to give Our Next Century a separate campaign identity and voice while maintaining a clear relationship with the parent brand.

That balance allowed the initiative to communicate ambition without disconnecting from the trust and legacy of the school itself.

The campaign became a recognizable idea in its own right — one designed to help the community see the new campus not simply as a construction project, but as an investment in what Vancouver College could become.

Turning Institutional Values Into a Reason to Participate

The campaign needed to do more than describe buildings.

It needed to explain why those buildings mattered. Messaging and visual identity were developed around Vancouver College’s mission, history, and educational values, connecting the physical project to the larger future of the institution.

A launch film brought that story together, giving the community a concise way to understand what was being built, why it mattered, and what their participation could make possible.

The campaign identity provided the framework.

The story gave people a reason to believe in it.

Making Philanthropy Visible in the Life of the Campus

The donor experience did not end once contributions were made. Recognition became part of the physical environment.

A comprehensive endowment signage program included exterior and interior applications, a donor recognition wall, and corridor pavers carrying individual names.

These elements acknowledged generosity while embedding the story of philanthropy into the campus itself.

The school’s 7 Essential Elements were also translated into large-scale typographic installations throughout the new buildings, ensuring that the physical renewal of the campus remained connected to the principles that defined the institution.

Extending the Strategy With Encore

Following Our Next Century, the school moved into the next phase of its capital strategy.

The new initiative required a different level of focus.

Encore was created as a standalone $15M campaign tied to the next stage of campus investment — giving a specific near-term objective its own name, identity, and digital presence while remaining visibly part of the larger Vancouver College story. 

The strategic principle remained the same: create enough distinction for the campaign to generate momentum without fragmenting the institutional brand.

More than $55 Million Raised Toward a New Campus

Together, Our Next Century and Encore raised more than $55 million, enabling Vancouver College to move forward with three new buildings.

encorevc.ca

Boyle Design are very creative professionals who take the time to understand their client’s communications needs. They devote keen interest in the objective and use their creativity and judgement to develop solutions, and are always thinking about how to match artistry with the client’s requirements. When we invited Boyle Design to compete for our work in a proposal call, we knew about its reputation for quality work.

They demonstrated a deep amount of strategic thought into our project. Additionally, they are easy to work with and energetic in their approach. In response to any issue, Dennis brought determined focus, ideation, and delivered on time. We value their work and our business relationship with them.

John H. Nixon
Former President, Vancouver College