After two close friends experienced cancer diagnoses, Sky McLean decided her business would commit a generous gift to Alberta Cancer Foundation
By: Fabian Mayer
Supporting health-care causes in Alberta has long been important for Basecamp Resorts. The Canmore-based hospitality brand has a dozen properties spread across Western Canada’s mountain towns including resorts, luxury hotels, lodges and more.
For years, the company channelled much of its fundraising efforts towards supporting the Canmore General Hospital. However, the devastating experience of losing a close friend to breast cancer inspired company founder and CEO Sky McLean to support cancer research and care, specifically. In 2023, Basecamp Resorts committed to donating $100,000 to the Alberta Cancer Foundation over three years.
“Last year, my best friend from university — I was her maid of honour and we were super close — she died from breast cancer that eventually metastasized,” says McLean. “The experience, obviously, was horrific and that’s what prompted my decision to add the Alberta Cancer Foundation to our charities.”
Basecamp Resorts fundraises for charities including the Foundation through its annual charity golf tournament, which raised $30,000 in 2023. In addition, a portion of the revenue from each stay across its properties in Western Canada is donated to various health-care non-profits, including the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Since her friend’s passing, a second friend of McLean’s was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. At 39 years old, McLean says she never expected to have her circle of friends so heavily impacted by this disease so soon.
“You always hear about those stories, how there’s always somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. But, when you see that happen to somewone you love, it’s different and you learn about it,” says McLean. “For example, I didn’t know the ins and outs of chemotherapy, and now I do. When you know somebody who is going through all of that, it just changes everything.”
McLean says the hospitality industry was hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but her business has since recovered. McLean feels fortunate that her business and family are healthy, and that now is the right time to prioritize philanthropy and share her success with others.
Basecamp Resorts’ $100,000 donation to the Alberta Cancer Foundation supports mobile breast cancer-screening programs. The money will help replace current mammography equipment, ensuring Albertans living in rural and remote areas of the province can access regular breast cancer screening.
