By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Earlier this fall, the Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) announced the launch of the Lesley Mansfield Seeds of Growth Fund, in honour of HLF’s late CEO, Lesley Mansfield.
HLF hopes to raise $50,000 for the fund by the end of the year, which would enable them to support 200 students in the Halton District School Board (HDSB).
The announcement of the fund took place at Mansfield’s celebration of life, at Granite Ridge Golf Club in Milton. The celebration was attended by friends and family, including HLF volunteers, school trustees and Curtis Ennis, HDSB director of education.
Marc Clare, the current HLF CEO, also attended the event and spoke about how it paid tribute to Mansfield.
“Lesley was very passionate about gardening,” Clare said. “So we decided that we would have a garden party launch. She also had a strong connection with Granite Ridge Golf Course. Her retirement event was there, and her wedding was there two weeks after she retired. When she retired, she actually worked as a gardener there.”
Clare said that the menu was also inspired by Mansfield’s love of cheese and hot dogs.
“Lesley also loved lilac trees,” Clare said. “And so we arranged for a lilac tree to be delivered to the golf course, and it was in the room with us. People had the opportunity to take a leaf and write a message to Lesley.”
Clare said that the tree, now planted at Granite Ridge’s clubhouse, was meant to symbolize Mansfield’s role in helping students to grow and thrive, as is the name of the fund.
Mansfield worked with the HLF for nine years and retired in March 2023, after which Clare took over. She passed away in February of this year.
Clare said that he met Mansfield at a fundraising conference in Toronto, before he was working for HLF.
“In a room of a thousand people, we happened to sit down at the same table as each other,” Clare said. “She asked me, ‘Where do you work?’ And I told her, and she said, ‘Well, I work in the charitable sector in Halton as well.’ We were working at similar types of organizations, education foundations, and we connected often, throughout those 10 years.”
Clare spoke about the reality of poverty in Halton Region.
“It’s [Halton] an affluent committee, but there are many people who are living in low-income households, and it’s somewhat hidden,” Clare said. “One in eight students across Halton are living in low-income households.”
HLF often offers financial assistance to families in the form of a gift card to a grocery store, which Clare said offers them the ability to choose their own food, clothes, and school supplies.
HLF is entirely reliant on donations, but Clare said that when community members give, it’s not just about the monetary help.
“They’re also helping to provide dignity, equity, self-esteem, and hope,” Clare said. “For us, that is just as important as the benefit that these students receive, because of the generosity from the community.” HLF has already raised $20,000 for the fund, which Clare said gives the organization optimism that they will reach their goal.
Correction notice: Lesley Mansfield’s celebration of life event was incorrectly characterized initially. Our apologies for the error.
