A $1-million donation in honour of Joan Smith, Ontario's first female Solicitor General and mother of seven, will help give homeless teen moms a safe space in downtown London.
Smith's children announced the gift for Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) on Tuesday. The cash will go towards converting the former site of GT's bar and lounge at Richmond St. and York St. into a home for youth, expectant teen moms, and new mothers and babies who experience homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.
Lynne Cram, Smith's daughter, believes the project is an ideal fit to honour her mother's social justice legacy.
“From an early age, she recognized her own good fortune, and made a commitment to helping the most vulnerable in this province, in particular women and children. She would be proud to see us support a centre that will carry on her legacy and benefit a new generation of young mothers and their babies,” said Cram in a statement.
Smith, who passed away last February at the age of 88, served as a London city councillor in the 1970s and as an MPP in David Peterson’s Liberal government in the 1980s. She was instrumental in establishing Madame Vanier Children’s Services in London in 1965 and altering legislation on gay rights and police conduct in the 1980s. Smith's husband was the late Don Smith, founder of EllisDon Construction.
The new 26,000 sq ft facility will be called "The New Addition" and will provide safe and affordable homes and act as an integrated program hub focused on physical and mental health, employment, education, and training.
“Joan Smith was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. We cannot think of a more fitting tribute to her legacy or a more inspiring gesture for the young people this facility will serve,” said Steve Cordes, YOU chief executive officer. “Her legacy will inspire a new generation of mothers and their children - who, with the right support, will be community builders themselves.”
YOU is working to raise $8.2-million for the new facility. As a way to encourage other business and community leaders to open their wallets, the Smith family has designed its gift as a matching fund, matching every dollar donated for the project, up to $1-million.
