The cash was raised through the "Break Boards, Change Lives" challenge, the first public fundraising drive run by the THF.

Its aim is to allow the grassroots taekwondo community to help the THF, which was established by the WTF to teach the sport and related educational programmes to refugees and displaced persons worldwide.

WTF President Chungwon Choue and Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan were among those to smash boards and make donations.

Athletes, fans and referees also joined in as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's bear mascot.

The New Zealand team performed a haka - the famous Maori war dance - to show their support and promote the initiative.

More than 150 people took part in the campaign in all during the Championships this month.

Other people are now being encouraged to make their own board breaking videos.

"This fundraising campaign offers taekwondo practitioners, dojangs and associations worldwide the chance to do good," said THF and WTF President Chungwon Choue. 

"I urge taekwondo practitioners across the world to join the campaign, break boards and change lives."

Choue officially announced his plan to establish the THF in his speech at the UN headquarters in New York City on the 2015 United Nations International Day of Peace. 

THF projects are running in Jordan, Turkey and Nepal with plans for Rwanda, Ethiopia and Colombia.