For Immediate Release
Life-Saving AEDs Gifted to Local Community Spaces in Memory of Bill Bond
April 14, 2025
Prince George, B.C. – Two more local community spaces in Prince George are receiving life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), thanks to the Bill Bond Memorial Fund. The new units at Prince George Hospice House and Knox Performance Centre will help ensure greater emergency preparedness in high-traffic, public spaces.
Four years ago, the Bond family created the Bill Bond Memorial Fund with the Prince George Community Foundation (PGCF) to honour Bill’s legacy. Facing numerous health issues before his passing in 2020, Bill was a passionate advocate for making AEDs available in public places.
The PGCF works with the Heart and Stroke Foundation for the purchase of the AEDs and cabinets, which typically cost around $2,200 per set. Facing universally rising costs, this represents yet another expense which can be prohibitive to the many public spaces that need them.
“An immediate need was recognized, and through the Bill Bond Memorial Fund, we are very pleased to be able to provide these life-saving medical devices,” says Bill’s wife of more than 40 years, Shirley Bond. “Both recipients serve our community in different and meaningful ways.”
As a gathering place for people of all ages, the addition of an AED at Knox Performance Centre enhances its commitment to community well-being. “We can expand how we care for everyone who comes to the venue,” says Rev. Dr. Bob Fillier. “It’s an incredible gift—honouring Bill’s memory and the Bond family’s passion for building compassionate communities where caring for our neighbours and strangers alike is a cornerstone of who we are.”
Donna Flood, Executive Director of the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society (PGHPCS), also expressed her gratitude. Not only does PGHPCS support individuals through compassionate end-of-life care, it also plays a vital role in supporting the family members and friends who are part of that journey. “PGHPCS is committed to meeting the evolving needs of our community,” says Flood. “Having an AED on-site is one more way we can contribute to a safer, more supportive environment for everyone who comes through our doors.”
In addition to individual donations, an event in Shirley Bond’s Honour held last November raised $27,000 for the fund, for which the Bond family is overwhelmed with gratitude. “Thanks to the generosity of a great many people, the Bill Bond Memorial Fund is well established to give back for generations to come,” says Shirley.
Bond and the PGCF recently worked together to develop an application process for the AEDs, so that fund earnings can be distributed promptly and make an impact where they’ll be needed most. The Bond family believes Bill would be proud to see his legacy carried forward in such a meaningful way, and they are deeply grateful to all who have contributed.
Organizations interested in receiving an AED can learn more and apply through the PGCF website at https://pgcf.ca/programs/AED-Request-Bill-Bond-Memorial-Fund
To donate to the Bill Bond Memorial Fund, please visit https://pgcf.ca/fund/Bill-Bond-Memorial-Fund-2
