Capilano University's future centre for childhood studies is set to carry the Fulmer name after that family provided a $2 million gift.
Named the Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies, the 23,000-square-foot, two-storey building opens on the university's North Vancouver campus in April, with full operations slated to launch in September.
The facility will enable significant growth in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) admissions at Capilano University. The centre will add 20 more ECCE practicum placement spots, on top of the 20 to 25 current on-campus ECCE spots, according to the university.
The centre will also have 74 new childcare spaces for employees' and students' young children. That ups the total number of childcare spaces on campus to 143, according to the university.
The new centre is also set to house Western Canada’s only purpose-designed, integrated centre of early childhood care, research and school education.
“Investing in Capilano University is important to me,” said Yuri Fulmer, who is also the university's chancellor and spokesman for the family.
“I live on the North Shore, and CapU is the university in my community. I’m proud it’s focused on delivering the very best education that it can.”
The $25-million project is paid for through $9.46 million in provincial government funding and $5.6 million raised through a capital campaign. University investments fund the remainder.
"Kids need the very best start that they can get, and we need to educate people who are going to provide that start for children," Fulmer told BIV.
"The status of early childhood educators in the community, sadly, is that a lot of them make minimum wage or close to minimum wage. What we really need to elevate is the status of early childhood educators. These are folks that take care of our children at the most formative times in their lives."
Fulmer is chairman and CEO at Fulmer & Co., which he describes as a family office investment firm.
He also founded the charitable Fulmer Foundation.
Between 2006 and 2010, Fulmer led Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Casual restaurant chain as its president and CEO.
He started with a single A&W franchise and expanded his portfolio to include dozens of successful restaurant ventures, including Mr. Mikes and Pizza Hut franchises across Western Canada, according to his corporate website.
He founded Fulmer & Co. in 2010.
Fulmer is the global chair of United Way Worldwide, a past co-chair of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society and an honouree in BIV's BC500.
He ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 provincial election as the BC Conservatives' candidate in the West Vancouver-Sea To Sky riding.
