The David Suzuki Foundation was incorporated in 1990 and began to operate at the beginning of the following year, though it was certainly a project very much on David Suzuki’s mind. In 1992 he co-authored a book, The Wisdom of the Elders, in which he described the impact upon him of his immersion in aboriginal cultures where respect for elders was a traditional feature of life.

In 1996 at its first meeting, a small group of Suzuki Elders shared their feelings about current environmental conditions and endorsed David Suzuki’s call for a Council of Elders. The Suzuki Elder history shows that in an article published in the December 1998 issue of the Foundation’s newsletter, a Council member, Norm Hoye, gave an outline of what the Elders were hoping to do:

“Elders have lived through much of the social and technical evolution of Western culture in this century. They have survived depression, war, and natural disasters. Their memories of the simpler life and personal experience of the destruction of ecosystems since then, raises deep concern for the world their children and grandchildren will inherit. This concern motivates our Elders to offer their life experiences, professional talents, time and skills, as representatives of an underutilized resource: our senior citizens.”

Despite David Suzuki’s early hopes, the Elders at first were not very influential in affecting the Foundation’s direction. Said David: “We were so busy trying to save the world that we didn’t have time for our elders…but need to rediscover our elders and reintegrate them into society.” The Suzuki Elder history continued with discussions of whether their relationship was as advisers to the Foundation’s Board or staff, to young people, to holders of political power, to other elders, or to the public at large.

One thing needed was a larger membership. A change began within the Foundation itself following the appointment of Peter Robinson as Executive Director at the beginning of 2008. Beyond being primarily an organization for careful research into environmental issues, it began to place a greater emphasis on its role as an advocacy body directing itself to the general public on such critical matters as climate change.

Peter built a very positive relationship through the Suzuki Elder history with the Council of Elders, and the Foundation provided support in organizing a Forum directed specifically to elders in the general public. That Forum was staged successfully in November 2009, with nearly 200 people in attendance at the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library.

A larger organization called Suzuki Elders came into being, which was to have an elected Council as its executive. In the meantime, the existing Council, as an interim body, was expanded to include some of the newcomers who had identified themselves at the Forum. A strategic plan was developed, with sub-groupings focusing upon education, communications, and advocacy.

While, originally, the Suzuki Elder Council was intended to act as a semi-advisory group of ‘wise’ elders, sitting at arm’s length from the Foundation, the sentiment that came out of the 2009 Forum was that Elders wanted to do more than advise, but to develop their own programs and activities, as well as supporting the Foundation. David Suzuki urged the Elders to become more active and “stir things up.”

The Foundation provided a yearly grant of $5,000, which allowed them to engage in a number of activities and to attract new individuals who wanted to be involved and active, such as forums, workshops, salons, retreats, etc. The renewed Suzuki Elder Council led by Conrad Guelke developed a purpose statement and a guiding constitution. A strategic work plan was written and updated each year. The grant continued annually until 2024.

A Foundation staff person was assigned to facilitate communication between Elders and Foundation staff. In 2013 the Elders moved from being at arm’s length to the Foundation to become ‘embedded’ as a volunteer group within the Foundation’s Communications and Public Engagement division. They continued to use and update the strategic work plan, elect Council members, and promote membership, while being accountable to the Foundation through specific terms of reference.

Several Foundation staff addressed the monthly Council meetings when their busy schedules allowed. In turn, the Elders encouraged and supported the Foundation staff and issues at hand, as well as sharing their own initiatives and analysis. The relationship has been one of mutual trust and respect, forming an integral part of Suzuki Elder History and its legacy of collaboration.

Eventually, membership grew to over 150 elders, of which about 40 were active. A website was developed, and Elders produced articles and stories for it. The website in particular attracted over a dozen members from across Canada and even a few overseas. The Elders considered setting up satellite elder groups outside Vancouver, but after study found resources were not available yet for such a move. Most—but not all—of the very active members live in the Lower Mainland.

Most of the Elders’ activities were developed by an Education and Community Engagement group, the largest working group of the four, which planned and mounted a wide range of education events—both in-house for Elders, and out to the public. Sessions were presented on many topics. (See past events section.)

Working intergenerationally has been a strong focus of the Suzuki Elder history. This has taken the shape of attending and presenting at local youth environment events (conferences, high school environment clubs), participating in youth-run events (marches, summer camps), connecting with other youth-serving environmental organizations, and working with youth one-on-one and as a team, to prepare and make presentations.

The Covid pandemic of 2020 through 2023 affected the Suzuki Elders as it did all volunteer organizations. Meeting monthly at the Foundation’s Vancouver headquarters proved impossible, but they continued virtually on Zoom.

Being a Suzuki Elder has provided opportunities for elders to learn, to share knowledge, to seek deeper understanding of environmental/sustainability issues, and to act in community with others on specific environmental interests and concerns. Suzuki Elder History reflects how Suzuki Elders do and share this work, bearing in mind, always and urgently, the present and future of younger generations.