It is with deep appreciation and love that Environment Funders Canada remembers Pegi Dover, our long-time Executive Director, who passed away peacefully on May 5, 2021.
For over forty years, Pegi worked to make this planet a better place. Pegi was the heart and soul of EFC (previously Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network – CEGN) during her 12 years as Executive Director. She was critical to the success and growth of our organization and helped us all become stronger in the process. At EFC and in her previous senior leadership at Project Canoe, WWF-Canada and the Donner Canadian Foundation, Pegi used her journalism training, organizational skills, passion and compassion, openness to ideas and diversity, and understated leadership to accomplish great things across Canada. Her dedication to serving the greater good was remarkable and an inspiration to all. The environmental and philanthropic sectors are genuinely better off for her having played a part — she will be missed.
As many know, Pegi was diagnosed with brain cancer December 2019. Since retiring from EFC in early 2020, Pegi revelled in nature; campaigned to stop the destruction of Ontario’s wetlands, conducted inventories of neighbourhood trees, and spent time outdoors with family and friends. True-to-character, Pegi made the best of the situation, staying fiercely positive until the end; she didn’t waste a minute.
Pegi’s family has created a website to honour Pegi and the rich life she led. It is full of beautiful photographs, videos and memories that perfectly capture Pegi’s passion and ‘joie de vivre’.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Pegi’s memory can be made to the Pegi Dover Memorial Fund at Project Canoe, Pegi’s favorite charity where she was ED for eight years, prior to joining EFC.