November is Make a Will Month, an ideal time to reflect on how you want to be remembered and the legacy you’d like to leave behind. Writing a will ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, providing peace of mind for you and security for those you love. Yet around 50% of Canadians don’t have a will. If you’re part of that statistic, now is the perfect time to start planning.
Valerie March, a board member and legacy donor with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, shares her story and why she decided to include a gift in her will to the Ontario SPCA.
Growing up in the 1950s, her closest companions were rescued animals, including her adventurous cat, Boston Blackie. Back then cats roamed freely outside. Every night Blackie would climb onto the roof and meow at Valerie’s window until she let him in. His familiar cries and soft fur brought her immense comfort and joy.
“As a bookish child, having a cat as my best friend was incredibly important to me,” she says. Her early bond with animals blossomed into a lifelong commitment to animal welfare, inspiring her to make a meaningful gift in her will to the Ontario SPCA.
Leaving a gift in your will to a charity like the Ontario SPCA is an opportunity to ensure that your passion for animal welfare endures. Whether your love of animals was sparked in childhood or developed later in life, this small act of kindness can make a significant difference for the animals and people who care for them.
If you’re considering a charitable gift, the Ontario SPCA offers a free will-making guide to help you through the process. This guide provides simple steps to get started, whether you’re creating a will for the first time or updating an existing one. The organization advises reviewing your will every 5 to 10 years to reflect changes in your life and values.
Valerie’s choice to include the Ontario SPCA in her will wasn’t about the amount, but about making a lasting impact. “Even a small gift can significantly affect the lives of animals,” she says. By joining Valerie and others in leaving a gift, you’re not just writing a will – you’re creating a legacy of compassion that will benefit animals for years to come.
For more information, please visit our legacy website, or contact Sarah Zachariah, Director of Legacy Giving, at szachariah@ontariospca.ca or 905-285-6873
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