Surrey SFU campus receives historic donation

A historic donation from the Stephens family, founders of Nature’s Path, Love Crunch and Que Pasa Mexican Foods, will enable the new Simon Fraser University School of Medicine in Surrey to better support students training to become B.C.’s future doctors.

The donation is the largest single donation that SFU has ever received. It is the latest donation the Stephens family has made in its decades-long history of donations to organizations that support health care, addictions care, wellness projects and environmental stewardship.

“Supporting the next generation of physicians is the best use of your and our resources, the investment with the greatest possible return for the good of society,” Ratana and Arran Stephens said in a joint statement. “Think of it this way: What if you or someone you love couldn’t find a doctor when you needed one most? That is the reality for far too many people in this province right now. By supporting students at the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine, you have the power to help change that. Our passion for this unique new medical school was also ignited by its holistic approach to wellness, including a greater focus on nutrition, Indigenous wisdom and functional medicine.”

Official name for the school of medicine

In recognition of the donation, the school will be named the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine, a name that honours the Stephens’ legacy throughout B.C. as visionary entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

Ratana and Arran Stephens, who co-founded Nature’s Path in Vancouver in 1985, were awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2021, the highest form of recognition the Province extends to its citizens.  The family has donated more than $100 million throughout the Lower Mainland and globally.

More doctors for people in British Columbia

“This visionary gift is transformative for SFU’s new school of medicine as we prepare to welcome our first students in August 2026,” said Joy Johnson, president, SFU. “We are deeply grateful to Ratana, Arran and their family for their extraordinary generosity, which will enhance the future of medical education and health innovation in B.C.”

The school of medicine will welcome its first cohort of 48 students on Aug. 4. Their training will begin at an interim facility that has been renovated from existing building space at SFU’s Surrey campus and leased space nearby, supported by $33.7 million in provincial funding.

The school’s permanent location will be at Surrey Centre Block, next to Surrey Central SkyTrain station. Construction is on track to begin in fall 2026, supported by $496 million from the Province and $25 million from SFU. The permanent school is expected to be complete and ready for students by fall 2030.