Heart disease affects one in 12 Canadian adults. As the second leading cause of death in Canada, its impact is both widespread and deeply personal. For the Beedie Foundation, that reality sparked a powerful commitment to change the future of heart health.
Led by Ryan and Cindy Beedie, the Beedie Foundation is committed to strengthening communities across British Columbia through investments in education, health care, and housing. Their giving is guided by a belief in creating lasting change – and their support for St. Paul’s Foundation is a powerful reflection of that vision.
In 2019, the Beedie Foundation made an initial pledge to establish the Beedie Family Fellowship in Lipidology and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at St. Paul’s Hospital. Focused on training physicians to identify and treat inherited heart conditions earlier, the fellowship has trained nine specialists who now provide expert care across BC and Canada – helping patients get diagnosed and treated sooner. Over time, the Beedies renewed and generously doubled their support, bringing their total contribution to $750,000.
Now, they are deepening their commitment with a second gift of $1.5 million to create the Beedie Family Professorship in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, led by Dr. Gordon Francis – an investment in groundbreaking research and a future of healthier hearts.
A personal connection to heart disease
Cardiovascular care is close to the Beedies’ hearts: literally.
At a young age, Cindy was diagnosed with a genetic condition that increases her risk of heart disease. Her father also faced serious cardiac issues in the past, requiring surgery and treatment.
These personal experiences, combined with a growing awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death among women, sparked the Beedies’ interest in supporting cardiovascular prevention and research.
Their longstanding relationship with hospitals like Shaughnessy, Lions Gate, and St. Paul’s has shaped their understanding of the importance of compassionate, innovative care. And it was at St. Paul’s Hospital that they met Dr. Gordon Francis – an encounter that marked the beginning of a meaningful partnership in heart health.
It all began with a super slow computer
About eight years ago, Cindy came in for a routine checkup with Dr. Francis, an endocrinologist and researcher with the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation at St. Paul’s Hospital. As he navigated a sluggish electronic records system, she noticed how outdated his equipment was.
“I asked, ‘Do you need anything? How can I help you do your job better?’” she recalls.
He didn’t ask for computers – he asked for something more impactful: a fellowship to train future leaders in cardiovascular disease prevention. Soon after, the Beedie Family Fellowship in Lipidology and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention was born.
“We have a very good and long-standing relationship with Dr. Francis,” say Ryan and Cindy. “We have a ton of respect for the work he does, and his passion for education and research.”
Since its launch, the Beedie Family Fellowship in Lipidology and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention has helped train nine specialists in endocrinology, cardiology, and internal medicine. These fellowship graduates are now delivering advanced cardiovascular care in communities across British Columbia and Quebec. The program attracts applicants from around the world – including specialists who have come from Saudi Arabia to train at St. Paul’s Hospital.
Inherited high cholesterol affects about 1 in 50 people in BC, yet it’s often not recognized. This genetic condition doesn’t respond to diet or exercise alone and requires early medical treatment to prevent heart disease.
Thanks to the fellowship’s training, more physicians are recognizing these signs and providing specialized care sooner, ensuring that individuals and their families receive life-saving support when it matters most.
Advancing the future of heart health: The Beedie Family Professorship in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
After seeing the success of the fellowship and the ripple effect it created across communities, the Beedie family felt inspired to do more. They made a second generous gift to St. Paul’s Foundation: $1.5 million to establish the Beedie Family Professorship in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.
This new investment builds on the foundation they helped create, amplifying impact by supporting advanced research and leadership in heart disease prevention. Held by Dr. Gordon Francis, the professorship will explore new frontiers in lipidology and cardiovascular care.
Dr. Francis studies the role of cholesterol metabolism in atherosclerosis. Using heart tissue from the extensive cardiovascular biobank at St. Paul’s Hospital, Dr. Francis and his team made a novel discovery: smooth muscle cells – not immune cells – are the main site of cholesterol buildup in artery plaques that lead to heart attacks and strokes. Now, they’re exploring ways to remove this cholesterol and prevent vascular disease.
In the clinic, Dr. Francis and his team have shown that patients with inherited high cholesterol experience an 80% reduction in heart disease events and deaths over 15 years when treated in a specialized prevention clinic – highlighting the importance of early, targeted care.
The Beedie Family Professorship in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention is enabling this vital research to continue and expand, including at the new St. Paul’s Hospital starting in 2027.
“This support is coming at a critical phase in our research,” says Dr. Francis. “The professorship is allowing us to build the team we need to complete our studies. It’s a tremendous show of faith from the Beedie family in the importance of our work.”
For the Beedies, this gift to St. Paul’s Foundation represents a commitment to shaping the future of heart health in British Columbia and beyond.
“We know this work will save a significant number of lives,” say Ryan and Cindy. “It’s incredibly rewarding to support such meaningful progress in heart health.”
Looking ahead: A new home for heart health and Healing Better
The new St. Paul’s Hospital, located on the Jim Pattison Medical Campus, is set to open in 2027. The Beedie Fellowship – along with other Heart Centre programs at the current St. Paul’s Hospital – will move to this new location, ensuring patients across BC receive the best possible care for inherited lipid disorders.
By 2029, the Clinical Support and Research Centre will open next door, housing Dr. Francis’s research lab within the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation.
This medical campus will set a new standard in patient care by improving access, privacy, comfort, safety, and healing for every patient.
St. Paul’s Foundation is deeply grateful to the Beedie family for their vision and generous donation – an investment that is helping to shape a future where heart care is more connected, compassionate, and accessible for all.