Kelly Amboe moves from Hospital Foundation to lead NPCF, aims to boost community presence
FORT ST. JOHN – From Hospital Foundation to North Peace Community Foundation, Kelly Amboe hopes to help make the world a better place, starting with her own community.
Amboe took up her new position as Executive Director of the North Peace Community Foundation (NPCF) in the New Year, after nearly a decade in the same role at the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation. She aims to use her experience at the Hospital Foundation to help enhance the visibility of NPCF, its mission and strengthen its impact in the region.
Formed in 2021, with the City of Fort St. John and PETRONAS as founding partners, and a board made up of representatives from Fort St. John, Taylor, Doig River First Nations, the Peace River Regional District, NPCF is a community-owned charitable foundation serving the BC North Peace, and the Northern Rockies region.
Its mission is: Growing Community, One Project at a Time.
“The NPCF is dedicated to ensuring the region’s charitable and non-profit organizations have the resources they require to deliver the services and programs that create sustainable, healthy, diverse and social communities for the benefit of all,” Amboe said.
To get things started, Fort St. John gave a $3 million endowment from the BC Hydro Legacy Fund and PETRONAS committed $500,000 over five years to create the Sustainable Communities Fund.
BC Hydro Legacy Fund is a long-term 70-year fund. With the building of Site C, BC Hydro pledged substantial funding to the community. This funding goes to the Peace River Regional District, which then distributes it to the communities in the North Peace region. Fort St. John was one of these recipient communities and decided to use its portion to establish the Foundation. All the funds the City receives through this fund now go towards NPCF.
“It’s pretty amazing that the city had the forethought to start a foundation with funds that were being gifted to them. It will benefit the community forever,” Amboe said.
Following the initial investment, the BC Hydro Legacy Fund was renamed the City of Fort St. John’s Legacy Fund.
Although founded four years ago, 2025 was the Foundation’s first big year of affecting change in the community. This came about through two grants that were launched in 2025 – the Strong Roots Community Grant Program and the Coastal GasLink Community Fund.
“Strong Roots made its inaugural run this year, and it’s made a significant impact on the community,” Amboe said.
Totalling $115,600 this funding from the City of Fort St. John’s Legacy Fund, PETRONAS Energy Canada, Peace River Hydro Partners, BC Community Prosperity Fund and Coastal GasLink, went out to non-profit groups in Fort St. John, Charlie Lake and Northern Rockies.
The Strong Roots Grant recipients for 2025 are:
Fort St. John Friendship Society – Miyo’Sin Teens $20,000
Child Development Centre Society of Fort St. John & District – Belonging through Growth & Wellbeing $23,000
Double “H” Saddle Club – Pen Plan Upgrade Project: gates and automatic waterers $22,000
Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society – Front Line Literacy Worker Training $16,000
Charlie Lake Conservation Society – Science is All Around Us! $13,300
Fort St. John Association for Community Living – Wellness & Mental Health Support Program $12,700
Fort St. John Senior’s Care Foundation – Meals on Wheels, Better at Home, and Senior’s Outreach $5,000
Coastal GasLink Community Fund recipients are:
Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club – CANSI Ski Instructor Training $1,300
Fort St. John Literacy Society – Essential Skills for Life Programming $1,300
According to the press release announcing the grant recipients, these inaugural grants are the “beginning of a cycle of hope, impact and local leadership.” They also reflect months of planning, collaboration, and adherence to NPCF’s granting framework, which guides its approach to equal, transparent and donor-aligned funding.
Funding for NPCF’s grants doesn’t just come from the city and industry. It comes from people, organizations and businesses in the community. Donations can be directed to support a particular existing fund, or an Endowment Fund can be created by those donating, and NPCF can help donors create a fund that reflects their values and passions – whether it’s literacy, mental health, arts, seniors, safety or the environment – and leaves a lasting legacy.
One of Amboe’s first goals in her new role at NPCF is make the Foundation more visible in the community, as well as working on next group of grants.
“I will bring about the change to ensure they’re more visible in the community, and well-known.”
Talking to local media is one of the first steps, Amboe said. “Letting you know that we’re in existence and keeping you abreast of what we are doing. Drawing people to our social media pages.”
In addition to the main website, the North Peace Community Foundation has a presence on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Amboe is looking forward to working members of the North Peace community to encourage, support and strengthen the charitable spirit of the region, and help ensure the longevity of the community.