SCO is a gem of an observatory for the Halifax Centre. David Lane was one of leaders in the inception, site selection, design, fundraising and construction of the St. Croix Observatory (SCO), a place where we have gathered for over 30 years to observe, to explore, to contemplate and to wonder. Dave understood this at a deep level and wished to ensure that his passion for astronomy would continue to thrive into the future, through other observers, at SCO.
On December 7, 2024, Michelle Lane announced the David Lane Memorial St. Croix Observatory Property Endowment (SCOPE) Fund 24 with the initial and substantial gift of $10,000 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXSmFufSXz8&t=5481s).
Double your dollars with SCOPE!
In addition to the original donation, Michelle will match, dollar for dollar, to a maximum of $5000, every donation made to the SCOPE Fund during the 2025 calendar year. This means your contributions will have double the impact in supporting our observatory’s ongoing maintenance and operations.
This is our observatory. It is now up to us to keep it, maintain it, use it, and improve it, for the present and into the future. Please support SCO by contributing to the SCOPE fund, thus ensuring a source of annual income to support the ongoing maintenance and future success of our observatory. We have a year to make it happen: January 1 to December 31, 2025.
How can you donate?
You can donate through an e-transfer to our Treasurer –
In the comments field of the e-transfer, please indicate your donation is for the Dave Lane Memorial SCOPE Fund.
** Please note that because we do not have charitable organization status, we cannot issue tax receipts.
Fund Governance:
- As of December 7, 2024, the signed agreement between Michelle Lane and the RASC Halifax Centre outlines how the fund’s principal will be protected in perpetuity with only the investment income available for expenditure any given year.
- Effective October 1, 2024, revisions were approved for RASC Halifax Centre Policy G14: Policies Regarding Donations to the RASC Halifax Centre (https://halifax.rasc.ca/images/documents/G14%20Donations%20to%20Halifax%20Centre%202024-10-01.pdf ).