Lululemon Athletica (LULU) founder Chip Wilson is donating $100 million to purchase and
protect a tract of wilderness land in British Columbia.
The donation is being given to the B.C. Parks Foundation to buy forests and repurchase mining,
forestry, and other resource licenses with the aim of turning the land into parks that indigenous
groups will manage and use for revenue-making purposes such as tourism.
Wilson has a net worth of $5.8 billion U.S. that is mostly due to his 9% stake in Lululemon,
which he started in Vancouver more than 20 years ago. He also holds a large stake in Amer
Sports Group, owner of Atomic ski gear and outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx.
The B.C. Parks Foundation’s has a stated goal to protect 25% of the province’s land and water.
The Foundation has identified three areas to protect with Wilson’s donation, including the 528-
acre Falling Creek Sanctuary in northeast B.C., Teit’s Sanctuary, and Bourguiba Springs in
South Okanagan.
Lululemon’s stock is down 13% this year and currently changing hands at $338.60 U.S. per
share.
