Page 6 - CLH Foundation - Annual Report - 2023-2024

20 Years On... Agnes Gray’s

Transformational Gift

June 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Agnes Gray House, a CLH Supported Living Home on Yonge Agnes Gray’s magnificent gift to CLH was intended to be for the benefit of the
Street in Midland, which was made possible by a most unexpected and remarkable bequest. individuals served by the agency. Her estate lawyer said at the time that from her modest lifestyle, no
one would ever have guessed that Agnes Gray had the means to make such a generous bequest.
In 2002, Mary Irvine was a supervisor for a CLH home on Glen Mhor. The residents there were
entering their senior years, and recognizing that the house would not easily accommodate age- There was no question as to what should be done to honour that gift – a house would be purchased
friendly changes and access, Mary wrote a report outlining the increasing needs, recommending that and made accessible and comfortable for senior-aged individuals, and it would forever be known as
a home suitable for seniors was needed, and soon. “Agnes Gray House”.

While then-CEO Tony Vipond, and everyone else on the team, could certainly see the need and fully In June of 2003, a special tea and ribbon-cutting officially opened the house, which had been
agreed with the recommendation, there wasn’t any money for a new home to be built or purchased, purchased and renovated to make a beautiful home for 5 senior members of the CLH community.
or meet the requirements of an aging household. Backing on Little Lake Park, it is a lovely property and a happy home for the residents who live there.
Mary Irvine will always remember how thrilled and surprised she was when she learned of the
Then, as if an answer to a prayer, a call came out of the blue. A lady named Agnes Malcolm Gray had bequest, and how much it meant to her to name the house after the lady who made it possible.
left a bequest for CLH in her will, a gift of $285,000. This was astonishing, a miracle! Later the team
learned that Agnes Gray had attended St. Margaret’s Church, where several supported members of In August 2023, we had another celebratory tea and cake at Agnes Gray to mark the 20-year
the CLH community were also part of the congregation. Perhaps this inspired her decision. anniversary with the residents, their families, staff, neighbours and local dignitaries. Together we
enjoyed the opportunity to gather and reflect on Agnes Gray’s generosity and remarkable gift.

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