Margaret & Brian Josling Endowment Fund
(Also known as MargieForLife Endowment Fund)
Brian Josling |
Margaret McKenzie Josling |
Total Raised: $61,351
Margie and Brian, our parents, our life partners, our best friends.
The Margieforlife Endowment Fund, established in 2006, recognizes the leadership Marg and Brian exhibited in their passion for life. Margie fought a courageous battle against Pancreatic cancer for five months, and passed peacefully in June 2006. Brian passed peacefully after a short serious infection in VGH ICU in April 2026 in Victoria, BC.
Margaret and Brian are resting in Capilano View Cemetery in West Vancouver. We planted two beautiful Japanese Stewartia trees near the grave site in 2006. They are magnificent, now twenty feet in height, soon to be fifty feet. For everyone to enjoy when visiting Capilano View in West Vancouver.
Our family, Tracy, Kelly, Brad, and their partners, along with Grace (17), Juliet (14), Isy (Isabella, 13.5), Griffin (12), and Tess Margaret Anne (10), all believe we must end cancer.
On Margie’s day in June 2006, after the celebration for Margie, many of us gathered at our home in Vancouver. Suddenly in the back yard, a group of several Dragonflies surprised us. Since that day when a Dragonfly appears, Trace, Kelly, Brad, and I, and the Grandchildren, know Margie is watching.
Dragonflies symbolize change, adaptability, and self-realization. A symbol of happiness, new beginnings, love, and hope. Sounds like Margie ❤️.
Since Brian’s passing in April 2026, several of his children and Grandchildren have seen Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds symbolize joy, healing, love, and good fortune, often acting as “messengers of hope”. They symbolize the ability to overcome challenges with grace, perseverance, and lightheartedness, encouraging living in the moment and finding sweetness in life. Sounds like Brian ❤️.
Our donations to BC Cancer Foundation are in our separate Endowment Fund forever. Annually, investment earnings are contributed by the BC Cancer Foundation to the BC Cancer research group. This Endowment supports Pancreatic cancer research (50%) and innovative Pediatric cancer research (50%).
In 2026, BC Cancer Foundation is driving pediatric cancer research through targeted immune-based therapies, clinical trials, and specialized sarcoma studies to improve survival and reduce toxicity for young patients. Key initiatives include:, advancing CAR-T cell research for leukemia/lymphoma, a $5.5 million project studying six childhood sarcomas, and 2026 Summer Research Studentships to foster future experts.
In 2026, the BC Cancer Foundation continues to drive critical research for Canada wide Pancreatic cancer focusing on precision medicine, earlier detection, and innovative clinical trials.
- Precision Medicine (EPPIC Initiative): Led by Dr. Daniel Renouf, this pan-Canadian initiative focuses on personalized treatments for metastatic Pancreatic cancer, utilizing genetic profiling to match patients with the most effective drugs.
- Early Detection & Screening (PRECEDE Consortium): BC Cancer researchers are leading a 10,000-patient international cohort study to improve early detection for high-risk individuals. This includes exploring blood and urine detection methods and utilizing first-in-the-world technology developed in B.C. to track hereditary risk.
- Immunotherapy Advances: Clinical trials are investigating the addition of immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy to help the body's immune system target and kill cancer cells.
- PEGASUS Trial: This ongoing study explores how glucose management impacts treatment responses and patient outcomes for those with Pancreatic cancer.
Further ROI and financial results will be posted on this Endowment Fund website by the end of April 2026.
The Josling Family ❤️
Grandchildren's Drawings
Death Is Nothing At All (1909)
By Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)
Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral, England
__________
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before only better, infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together with Christ.
This year, more than 800 British Columbians will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It's projected that only 10 per cent (or 80 of those people diagnosed) will live five years.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage and is often resistant to treatment. Although it is the tenth most common cancer in Canada, it is the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Unless more effective treatment strategies are found, pancreatic cancer in Canada is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer death by 2030.
Learn moreFor patients facing pancreatic cancer, time is precious. While the experts at BC Cancer have made significant progress in breaking down pancreatic cancer in the labs and clinics, for some patients this isn't happening fast enough.
To help reduce the time elapsed between diagnosis and the start of treatment, Dr. Daniel Renouf, BC Cancer medical oncologist and clinician-scientist, has a vision to create a rapid access clinic at BC Cancer, where:
- specialist consults are consolidated on a single day
- testing is expedited
- cutting-edge genetic profiling is performed at the time of diagnosis, leading to tailored therapies for each individual patient
- the clinical research team can discuss potential experimental treatment options
Founded in 2012, Pancreas Centre BC is a unique partnership between the BC Cancer Foundation, Vancouver Coastal Health and the University of British Columbia.
Co-directors Drs. Dan Renouf and David F. Schaeffer, and their colleagues, are determined to improve the global understanding of this elusive disease and bring hope to patients and their families. Priorities include examining full genome sequencing of tumours to identify the cause of gene mutations, developing new treatments, improving existing treatments, and improving early detection.
Early detection of pancreatic cancer is a key cornerstone of research for Pancreas Centre BC. One of the goals is to develop a blood test to detect pancreatic cancer earlier. Better understanding and subtyping (finding smaller groups with shared characteristics) of metastatic pancreatic cancer will aid researchers in developing new avenues for early detection testing.
Thanks to the support of an anonymous donor, Pancreas Centre BC established the Biobank and Genetic Evaluation Program for Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer in 2015. The main focus of the Biobank Program is to determine genetic changes associated with pancreatic cancer. Current aims include collecting pancreatic cancer tissue from patients with advanced disease, making metastatic cancer tissue available to researchers through the biobank, and identifying genetic changes associated with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Since its inception, the biobank has collected more than 325 pancreatic tumour samples. Those tissue samples will be used in the ongoing effort to root out the molecular causes driving advanced pancreatic cancer.
Although the risk factors for pancreatic cancer are not well known, it is known that there’s a genetic link to the disease through BRCA1/2 and other gene mutations, which can lead to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer for some individuals and families. By identifying a hereditary risk, BC Cancer experts can help stop pancreatic cancer before it starts.
The Biobank Program also helps support a multi-site clinical trial called PanGen (Prospectively Defining Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Subtypes by Comprehensive Genomic Analysis).
PanGen is an innovative study that involves sequencing metastatic tumours in the hopes of better understanding the pathways that are driving growth and identifying more effective treatment. Researchers closely monitor patients from the time of diagnosis through treatment, genetically sequencing tumours and evaluating treatment response with regular blood tests and imaging.
By applying personalized genomic analysis to pancreatic cancer tumours, the PanGen team hopes to identify unique biomarkers that will result in more effective treatments.
Thank you to the following donors who have given generously in Margie's name:
- Kathy McLaughlin
- Sheri Stenson
- Deirdre, Allison and Matthew McKenzie
- Elizabeth Birnie
- Kirsty McKenzie
- John Badali
- Sean Kidd
- Maureen Pilgrim
- Sarah Stringer
- Carolanne Joseph
- Ryan Kidd
- Duncam Wyllie
- Christopher Prentice
- Carole MacFarlane
- Margaret Craig
- Grant & Lola Storry
- Tom and Jo Williams
- Ron and Shelley Gardner
- Margaret’s Posse
- The GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
- My Brother Doug
- Victoria Kuhl
- Katie
- Karen Nightingale
- The Badali Family
- Griffin & Tess Margaret Josling
- Never Forgotten
- Isy Motley (granddaughter)
- James McKenzie
- The Grand Kids Posse
- Victoria Kuhl
- William Prentice
- Brian
- Sean Kidd and Michelle Carroll
- Brian Josling
- Bev
- Ms. Karen Anne Nightingale
- Bev
- Brian Josling
- Brad Josling & Penny Nightingale
- Bev Josling
- Elizabeth and John Badali
- Doug and Dee McKenzie
- Sean & Michelle
- Candace Meyer
- Bev Josling
- Ms. Allison McKenzie
- Sean Kidd
- Penny Nightingale & Brad Josling
- Candace Meyer
- Dave & Anne Nightingale
- Anna Tarkazikis
- Brad and Penny Josling
- SassyinNYC
- Doug and Dee McKenzie
- Ms. Beverley Josling
- Dave & Anne Nightingale
- Sean Kidd
- Sir Allan King
- Grace Margaret
- Grace Margaret Josling McDaniel
- Eva Uli
- Ryan and Eleanor Kidd
- Ms. Beverley Josling
- Mr. James McKenzie
- Ms. Tracy Josling
- Mr. martin glynn
- Ms. Sean Kidd
- Eleanor and Ryan Kidd
- Anonymous
- Bill and Terry Bisset
- Harry and Mary Miller
- Ms. Susan Wong
- Ms. Tracy Josling
- Anonymous
- Ryan Dipede
- Sweetie Meyer
- Mr. Brian Dottin
- Ms. Beverley Josling
- Anonymous
- Tracy Josling
- Ms. Beverley Josling
- Richard Simons
- Neil and Viki McDonnell
- Bijan and Heather Sanii
- Kiyomi Kakino
- Ms. Beverley Josling
- Colleen Landels Family
- David Jiles
- Catherine Brown
- Mr. Ian Elliott
- Ms. Sarah Chalke
- Ron Gardner
- Ms. Louise Kerridge-Judd
- Gord Kidd
- Heidrick & Struggles International
- Monica Kelly
- Ms. Mary Griffiths
- Mr. G. Nelson Goad
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Leo Josling
- Joel, Colin, and Jocelyn Badali
- Beverley Ginou
- John Fox
- Deirdre McKenzie
- James Fletcher
- Allison McKenzie
- Anonymous
- Candace Meyer
- Peter Elliott
- Allan King
- Fetch Store
- Kathryn Floyd
- Ryan R. Kidd
- John and Suzy Yocom
- George Roberts
- Richard Simons
- Lyall Knott
- Victoria Hyndman
- Anonymous
- Brian Dottin
- Sean Kidd
- James McKenzie
- Sarah McKenzie
- Matt McKenzie
- Peter Cave-Gibbs
- The Gordon Financial Group
- Erin Nicholson and Hans Vedo
- John and Liz Badali
- Ian and Sheila Barrodale
- Sharon Chin-Yee
- Maria Gagliese
- Brian Josling
- Rob Cader and Sarah Tesla
- Beverley Josling
- Shannon Ross
- John Grace
- Kathy & Rob McLaughlin
- Kevin De Sousa
- Anonymous
- Kelly Josling
- Brad Josling
- Ryan Dipede
- Michael Hungerford
- The Grand Kids Posse
- Bev Josling