Their Legacy Includes Us

My Red Cross Journey:
A Legacy of Caring

My connections to the Red Cross began early in life.

As a young child, I vividly remember driving from our home in Sudbury to Toronto, Ontario the morning after Hurricane Hazel hit. As we passed through this devastated area, I saw the Red Cross helping people, and in this moment, I witnessed the power of compassion in action. That same spirit of caring followed me home, where I would spend hours playing nurse. I’d carefully line up my dolls and teddy bears to administer first aid wearing a makeshift nurse's cap my mother had fashioned from toilet paper.

When I was 14, I joined my high school’s Red Cross Club to make friends in a new town. A year and a half later, I was President.

The Values that Guide my Charitable Giving

Eventually I became a nurse, fulfilling my childhood dream. Caring for others is something I’ve always wanted to do, and it is something I still do to this day, even though I’m now retired. Nursing has always been my raison d’être.

Throughout my life, I’ve tried to embody the spirit of compassion and service. I’ve volunteered at food banks and homeless shelters, and run support groups for bereaved families. I believe it’s a human need to be respected and treated kindly. I’ve always said, “We’re all flowers in God’s garden, after all.”

Why I Chose A Legacy Gift to the Canadian Red Cross

When it came time to update my Will again after my husband died, I knew 
I wanted to include the Canadian Red Cross. I already give to the Canadian Red Cross monthly because they work around the world. I don’t want this 
to stop once I’m gone. My gift means that I can continue to help people in desperate situations.

My vision for the future is one of peace and kindness. I hope my legacy 
gift will inspire others to think beyond themselves. Don’t be afraid to do it. I often say,

Just think if you were down and out. Who do you think would come to your aid? That’s the Red Cross.

Through the gift in my Will, I know that my lifetime of caring will extend far into the future. I will touch the lives of people I’ll never meet. This is a thought that brings me comfort, knowing that I can continue to make a difference even after I’m gone.

Photo: Rod White

My Red Cross Story:
A Life of Service and Compassion

I’ve had a good life, and a great career. I’ve always believed in giving back to society. That’s why I’ve included a gift in my Will to the Canadian Red Cross. Because I want my legacy to bring good and comfort to those in need.

Growing up in Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, I learned the value of hard work and community. Life wasn’t always easy—my mother died when I was just 12—but that experience taught me the importance of helping others through difficult times.

From Railways to the Canadian Red Cross

For 44 years, I worked on Via Rail passenger trains, meeting new people every day. It was more than a job—it was a calling. I saw Canada’s vast landscape and diverse communities, and I realized how fortunate I was. Anytime I heard about a big disaster somewhere in the world, I’d think to myself that I was so lucky not to be part of it. How terrible it must be for all of those who were suffering.

That’s why I started donating to the Canadian Red Cross.

Every time I heard about the work—rescuing people, reuniting families, rebuilding communities—I felt a sense of relief and admiration. They were there, wherever and whenever tragedy struck, bringing hope and help. You can trust the Red Cross. And you certainly don’t hear about other organizations doing as much as the Red Cross does.

I get a lot of satisfaction from giving to the Red Cross, knowing my gift will help as many people as it possibly can.

Creating a Legacy of Hope with a Legacy Gift

I didn’t raise any children of my own and now all of my family is gone. I don’t want my hard-earned money to go to waste. When I was working, I told myself that I was working for my charities. That’s because I was aware that most of the money I was going to leave behind would eventually go to the causes I care deeply about.

By leaving a gift in my Will to the Red Cross, I’m ensuring that help will always be there for those who need it most.

It’s about extending your values and compassion into the future. Whether it’s responding to natural disasters, health crises, or conflicts, the Canadian Red Cross will be there, thanks in part to people like you and me. All I had to do was call up the notary and direct them to make a charitable bequest.

I invite you to join me in leaving a legacy of hope. Together, we can ensure that wherever there’s suffering in the world, help will always be coming.

Photo: CRC

My Red Cross Connection:
The Circle of Community

Growing up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, I learned the value of hard work at an early age. The youngest of four children in a small tight-knit community of less than 500 people, I saw firsthand the importance of forging your own path and standing up for what you believe and for others.

With the support of dedicated teachers and supportive family, I turned out to be an excellent student and high school built a solid foundation for my future and expanded my horizons. Doing well in school opened doors for me and I ended up being the first in my family to attend university.

Over the years, there have been many mentors in my life who ultimately have helped to shape who I am through their influence on my values and life choices - particularly the importance of caring for fellow human beings and animals. Coupled with bursaries that made a post-secondary education possible, the trajectory of my life was enhanced.

Paying It Forward with a Legacy Gift

In September 2017, I had the unique opportunity to work for the Canadian Red Cross for a full year. Working side by side with incredibly dedicated, passionate and caring fellow employees, this was the first workplace where I truly felt like I belonged. The people I worked with shared my values of caring for humanity, and I got to see this in action over and over again.

As a notable example, during the Fort McMurray fires, I witnessed the incredible impact of our work—not just for people, but also through coordinated partnerships to save their community’s beloved pets too.

Seeing my colleagues’ unwavering dedication to helping others in their darkest hours stirred something deep within me. I wanted to ensure that the same kind of lifelines that had been extended to me, in the form of mentorship and bursaries, would also be extended to future generations when disaster strikes. That’s why I decided to include the Canadian Red Cross in my Will.

The process was simpler, and more meaningful, than I expected. When I was told that even a small percentage of my estate could make a huge difference to the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross in the future, I knew I wanted to give in this highly personalized way. My gift isn’t just about responding to emergencies—it’s about fostering hope, resilience, and humanity in a world that desperately needs it.

Why You Should Think About a Gift in Your Will

To anyone considering making a gift in their Will, I’d say: imagine the legacy you want to leave behind. For me, it’s knowing that long after I’m gone, the Red Cross will still be there, ready to help at a moment’s notice. It’s about creating a future where compassion knows no bounds.

By including the Red Cross in my Will, I’m not just leaving a gift—I’m making a promise that help will always be on the way.