Who We Are
Aunt Leah’s Place

Vision and Success
Create an environment where all children connected to the foster care system have equal opportunities akin to what parented children receive. Building a brighter future for foster kids.
Mission
Aunt Leah’s place helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless and mothers in need from losing custody of their children. To support them on their journey to self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job training and coaching on essential life skills.
Strategic Plan
Goal 1
Aunt Leah’s programs and services are well resourced and designed to provide persons served with the support they need and opportunities for growth and hope.
Goal 2
Evolve our organization design, staffing, systems, and infrastructure to meet projected youth needs and continue to be a great place to work- where staff, volunteers, and partners are engaged and supported.
Goal 3
Optimize Aunt Leah’s impact through communication, collaboration, and advocacy.
Our Values
- 01All behaviour has meaning and is the human tool for communication.
- 02Success is fragile and must be tended to and supported with care.
- 03An individual’s artistic/soulful centre must be expressed and appreciated.
- 04Celebration is essential to a successful life.
- 05Community building ensures that we all have a place to go when we need support.
- 06Entrepreneurial spirit builds individuals and organizations.
Who is Leah?
Aunt Leah’s Founder, Gale Stewart, was the first grandchild born on a hundred-acre farm in southern Ontario. With that position came the good fortune of being the special granddaughter to Leah, her paternal grandmother. From a very early age, Gale developed a keen sense of love, loyalty and passion for this influential person.
In 1988, when Gale and other founding members began discussing and writing the vision and mandate for their new organization, Leah came quickly to mind.
Leah represented what the organization would attempt to be for children and youth that needed an alternate caregiver. Over the years, Leah became Aunt Leah, and the organization has become a tribute to Gale’s memories of her. In return, Leah, in some strange and magical way has imparted to the organization a warm, vital and creative energy that allows it to support the many children and youth who come in need of our programs. Many of these young people have suffered the loss of family and community. We attempt to become that strong alternate caregiver that Leah represents.



Gale Stewart
Leah represented what the organization would attempt to be for children and youth that needed an alternate caregiver. Over the years, Leah became Aunt Leah, and the organization has become a tribute to Gale’s memories of her. In return, Leah, in some strange and magical way has imparted to the organization a warm, vital and creative energy that allows it to support the many children and youth who come in need of our programs. Many of these young people have suffered the loss of family and community. We attempt to become that strong alternate caregiver that Leah represents.