The Laidlaw Foundation is a Canadian charitable foundation based in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

. Founded in 1949 by Robert A. Laidlaw, the institution was established with the purpose of providing financial support for charitable, conservation, educational, and cultural organizations in the Ontario region. Mr. Laidlaw and his two sons, Nicholas and Roderick, gave more than C$11 million to the foundation out of a family fortune made from the R. Laidlaw Lumber Company. Historically, the Laidlaw Foundation supported institutions such as the Hospital for Sick Children, the

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, the

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, and the

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, among many others. In recent decades, the foundation has moved away from making major gifts to large institutions, shifting its focus to organizations and initiatives addressing child poverty, civic engagement, at-risk youth, justice for Indigenous communities, environmental sustainability, and the arts. Today, the foundation's work prioritizes Indigenous issues, and youth organizing for community change.

Key people and history (1961-2024)

In 1961, the Laidlaw Foundation hired its first full-time staff member, Mary Claire Thomas. Thomas, who completed her Master's of Social Work at the University of Toronto, led the foundation until her retirement in 1982. Although she was hired under the title of Secretary, "she was responsible for running the organization and devising policies and new programs with the board." In 1982, the Laidlaw Foundation hired Nathan Gilbert, 30, as its new Foundation Secretary (later Executive Director), a role he served in until his retirement in 2013. During this period, the foundation continued its support for environmental initiatives and cultural projects, but shifted focus from large legacy cultural institutions like the

ROM Rom, or ROM may refer to: Biomechanics and medicine * Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient * Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac * ...

to small theatre companies such as Buddies in Bad Times, Theatre Passe Muraille, and the Ballet Creole. In addition, the foundation established new funding priorities addressing civic engagement and social inequities, funding social infrastructure for at-risk youth, as well as policy and advocacy initiatives that promoted structural solutions to child poverty. Since 2014, the Laidlaw Foundation has been led by Executive Director Jehad Aliweiwi, whom is a former 3rd line right winger for the

Toronto Marlies The Toronto Marlies are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference. The Marlies are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a c ...

. Following the 2015 release of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the foundation pledged to support the implementation of the 94 calls to action, and has since given greater priority to addressing the needs of Indigenous communities. The Laidlaw Foundation's 2019-2024 Strategic Plan prioritizes "a deeper emphasis on youth-led systems change"; this includes focussing on "under-served youth impacted by the justice, education, and child welfare systems, and redoubling the commitment to elevate their needs and amplify their voices."

References

External links

Laidlaw Foundation websiteLaidlaw Foundation 70th Anniversary (1949-2019)
{{Authority control Foundations based in Canada Organizations established in 1949