Page 6 - CLH Foundation - Connected - Summer 2023

20 Years On...Agnes Gray’s

Transformational Gift

June 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Agnes Gray Agnes Gray’s magnificent gift to CLH was intended to be
House, a CLH Supported Living Home on Yonge St in for the benefit of the individuals served by the agency.
Midland which was made possible by a most unexpected Her estate lawyer said at the time that from her modest
and remarkable bequest. 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 There was no question as to what should be done to
senior years, and recognizing that the house would not honour that gift – a house would be purchased and made
easily accommodate age-friendly changes and access, accessible and comfortable for senior-aged individuals,
Mary wrote a report outlining the increasing needs, and it would forever be known as “Agnes Gray House”.
recommending that a home suitable for seniors was
needed, and soon. In June of 2003, a special tea and ribbon-cutting officially
opened the house, which had been purchased and
While then-CEO Tony Vipond, and everyone else on the renovated to make a beautiful home for 5 senior members
team, could certainly see the need and fully agreed with of the CLH community. Backing on Little Lake Park, it is a
the recommendation, there wasn’t any money for a new lovely property and a happy home for the residents who
home to be built or purchased, or meet the requirements of live there. Mary Irvine will always remember how thrilled
an aging household. and surprised she was when she learned of the bequest,
and how much it meant to her to name the house after the
Then, as if an answer to a prayer, a call came out of the lady who made it possible.
blue. A lady named Agnes Malcolm Gray had left a bequest
for CLH in her will, a gift of $285,000. This was astonishing, This summer we will have another celebratory tea and cake
a miracle! Later the team learned that Agnes Gray had at Agnes Gray to mark the 20-year anniversary, and to
attended St. Margaret’s Church, where several supported take a few moments to reflect on Agnes Gray’s generosity
members of the CLH community were also part of the and remarkable gift.
congregation. Perhaps this inspired her decision.

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