Leslie (Les) McBeth was first introduced to the Bruce Trail when she was 12 years old. She vividly remembers venturing out from her family cottage on the Trail between Barrow Bay and Lion’s Head with her mother and two sisters.

“My mom is not an outdoorsy person, and this may have been her first-ever hike,” shared Les. “Little did we know that we had embarked on a six-hour-plus journey through one of the most challenging sections of the Bruce Trail! But we had fun, and hiking the Trail became a favourite annual cottage activity, as well as a highlight of my childhood summers on the Peninsula.”

Many years later, when Les became a new mother on the eve of the global pandemic, the Bruce Trail would once again become the backdrop for precious memories.

“My daughter was born in March 2020,” said Les. “By mid-summer, I was going a little stir-crazy on maternity leave in lockdown. So, I set a goal of hiking the Toronto section End-to-End with my daughter. She saw the seasons change from hot summer days to cool fall afternoons; we hiked through the snow and ice, and watched the forest spring back to life. As we neared completion of our goal, she had grown from a wee little babe who slept in the front carrier to an engaged toddler on my back who loved to point at the trees and find the blazes. Often it was just the two of us on the Trail, and I remember feeling joy watching her looking around and taking in all the sights and sounds of nature. It felt magical.”

Les has since returned to the workforce as an Education Consultant. Artificial Intelligence (AI), and its evolving influence on children’s learning and development, is currently a key topic for educators.

“Our kids are growing up in a very different world than we did. There is a real danger that learning could be lost due to over reliance on AI. However, AI has potential benefits if you are curious and motivated to learn,” shared Les. “Nature offers one of the best ways to spark curiosity. That’s why it’s more important than ever to have an accessible, natural space like the Bruce Trail available for this next generation to explore.”

Some time after the birth of their (now) two daughters, Les and her husband, Odin, sat down to discuss their wills. In reviewing the option for charitable gifts, Les expressed her strong connection to the Bruce Trail Conservancy, and the desire to make it a part of her legacy. They agreed this was an important decision that could be arranged early in their estate planning.

“It’s really about the power of a small group of people working together to do amazing things. We can accomplish a lot together.”

“I like knowing that my gift will contribute towards the protection of land,” said Les. “People may assume you need to be wealthy to put a gift in your will, but it’s not about the size of the gift. It’s really about the power of a small group of people working together to do amazing things. We can accomplish a lot together.”

Like Les, you can create a forever gift that makes an impact on future generations. To learn how creating a Will is now easier than ever, visit brucetrail.org/will-power. Ready to write your Will? Visit brucetrail.org/epilogue-wills.

For any questions, contact Gloria Vidovich at gloria.vidovich@brucetrail.org.