At the Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation (PQCF), our Board of Directors plays an essential role in guiding the Foundation’s work to support and strengthen Oceanside communities. Each board member brings their own experiences, values, and passion for community building.
We’re pleased to spotlight Rob Duncan, Past Chair of the PQCF Board, who shares what inspired him to join the board and why he believes community foundations play such an important role in shaping the future.
A Career Built on Trust
Rob has lived in the Alberni/Qualicum area for most of his life. He is a professional accountant and was a senior partner in an accounting firm with branches in Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino, and Qualicum Beach until his retirement in 2015 — work that gave him a close-up view of the finances of local families, businesses, and non-profits across the region for decades. Rob joined the PQCF Board in 2022 and went on to serve as Board Chair.
“After spending my career helping people and organizations get their financial house in order, I wanted to put that experience toward something that would benefit the whole region, not just one client at a time,” Rob shares. “PQCF gives you a way to see the long-term picture for where community funds are going, and where it can do the most good for generations to come.”
A Lifetime of Community Involvement
Long before PQCF, Rob was already a familiar face on local boards. He has held leadership positions with Junior Achievement BC, Ty Watson Hospice House, the Town of Qualicum Beach Advisory Planning Commission, Connective Care Society Nanaimo, and the Qualicum Beach Seniors’ Activities Centre.
“I care most about the people who quietly hold this community together, such as the seniors ageing in place, families going through hard times, the volunteers who show up year after year without much recognition,” he says. “Having sat on boards like Ty Watson Hospice House and the Seniors’ Activities Centre, I’ve seen first-hand the difference that steady, well-run local organizations make. That’s what keeps me involved.”
Looking Ahead
“What excites me most is watching PQCF grow from a well-kept secret into an organization more people in Oceanside recognize and trust,” Rob says. “We’ve built stronger governance, brought on our first Executive Director, and grown our assets significantly in a short time. It has been special to be part of this meaningful and impactful time at the Foundation. I think the best years for this Foundation are still ahead.”
Why Community Foundations Matter
“A community foundation is one of the few institutions built to think in decades, not quarters,” he explains. “Money given today can keep supporting Oceanside long after any of us on the board have moved on. As someone who spent a career as an accountant, I can tell you that kind of permanence is rare and valuable. It means local generosity keeps working for this region indefinitely.”
About Rob
Robert Duncan, CPA, CGA, joined the PQCF Board in 2022 and has served as Board Chair. He has lived in the Alberni/Qualicum area for most of his life and spent his career as a professional accountant, serving as a senior partner in an accounting firm with branches in Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino, and Qualicum Beach until his retirement in 2015. Rob has held leadership positions with many community organizations and non-profit boards, including Junior Achievement BC, Ty Watson Hospice House, the Town of Qualicum Beach Advisory Planning Commission, Connective Care Society Nanaimo, and the Qualicum Beach Seniors’ Activities Centre.