Len & Mayke Byl Fund

The Len and Mayke Byl Fund for New Immigrants was set up to honour the memory and achievements of Len and Mayke Byl who immigrated from the Netherlands in 1952.  Len was a young refugee from Rotterdam during WWII having very bravely escaped the Nazis.  He was warmly welcomed and well treated in Sweden, a country that accepted many refugees during that war.  He eventually made it to England where he joined the RAF and then moved to the Dutch Air Force after the war ended.

Mayke was born and raised in Maastricht and clearly had an adventuresome side despite the family having lived in that city and its environs for centuries.  She was an active sportswoman, winning medals in swim races and waterpolo.  She and Len agreed to immigrate to Canada, got married and embarked on their adventure to Canada.

The early years in Canada were especially difficult for both Len and Mayke but they persevered with the help of many friends in the immigrant community and beyond.  Len was a bush pilot and the family (which included 6 kids!) lived from one end of Canada to the other.  Len’s final flying job was flying for relief agencies in Mozambique while Mayke volunteered with the orphanage in Maputo.  Mayke was a very dedicated volunteer throughout her life and won a number of awards for her volunteer work in St. Albert.  Throughout, Len and Mayke were amazing parents and contributed so much to the lives of their children and their communities.

This fund is to assist new immigrants and refugees.

How Endowment Funds Work