From family legacy to youth-led systems change

The Laidlaw family first settled in what is now Halton Region in 1819 when James Laidlaw and his children immigrated from Scotland and received 100-acre land plots in Esquesing Township. The area was called the Scotch Block, a community built by early Scottish settlers.

Andrew Laidlaw, one of James’s sons, married Agnes Quarrie and became one of Esquesing’s early settlers. In 1835, Andrew provided the land for the Boston Presbyterian Church and cemetery, which remain community landmarks today.

By the late 1800s, Robert Laidlaw, Andrew’s grandson, founded a lumber business that became the R. Laidlaw Lumber Company. The company was headquartered in Toronto and employed workers across Ontario. Robert’s leadership in business laid the groundwork for the philanthropic foundation that would follow.

In the early 1900s, the Laidlaw family’s civic involvement deepened. Walter Laidlaw served for five decades on the board of Central Neighbourhood House and helped establish The Gables, a summer camp for children on Lake Simcoe.

Robert A. Laidlaw and his wife Julia Cayley Laidlaw were prominent philanthropists in Toronto. They supported institutions such as the Hospital for Sick Children, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Upper Canada College. In 1951, R. A. Laidlaw escorted Princess Elizabeth through the new Hospital for Sick Children.

The R. Laidlaw Lumber Company continued to thrive. A modern headquarters opened in 1955, designed by Pentland and Baker Architects. That same decade, the family created Laidlaw Foundation to formalize its charitable giving and establish a lasting structure for community support.

Laidlaw Foundation was incorporated in 1949 to expand the family’s charitable work into a broader mission of public good. Under the leadership of R. A. Laidlaw and later his son Rod Laidlaw, the Foundation funded cultural, educational, and social service initiatives across Ontario.

Rod Laidlaw served as president from 1949 until his death in 1971. During this period, the Foundation supported the early growth of Canadian arts organizations and community programs that expanded access to culture and education.

Nick Laidlaw, Rod’s brother, later served as president until 1990 and continued the family’s engagement in arts, health, and community development.

In 1974, the Foundation established a Family Committee to guide future generations in governance and grantmaking. Lyn Apgar, part of that committee, became the Foundation’s first next-generation president and served from 1993 to 1996.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Laidlaw Foundation deepened its support for youth and community development, funding projects that promoted civic engagement, inclusion, and access to arts education.

By the early 2000s, the Foundation began shifting toward youth-led and community-led approaches, reflecting the growing leadership of young people and grassroots movements across Ontario.

This transition marked a shift from traditional philanthropy to a model grounded in equity and shared power. The Foundation began to view its role not only as a funder but as a partner and learner within broader movements for justice.

In 2015, Laidlaw Foundation joined the Counselling Foundation of Canada and the Lawson Foundation to create Foundation House, a collaborative space for funders and sector organizations in Toronto. This partnership reflected a renewed commitment to learning, collaboration, and accountability within philanthropy.

During its 70th and 75th anniversaries, the Foundation celebrated its transformation from a family legacy to a justice-rooted organization. Today, Laidlaw Foundation funds Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth who are driving systems change in education, justice, child welfare, and environmental systems.

The Foundation continues to listen and respond to youth and communities, adapting its funding, partnerships, and governance practices to reflect the priorities of those most affected by systemic inequities.