OFAH Insider: Your enduring legacy to conservation

Fishing, hunting, and outdoors heritage is a gift that must be protected, nurtured, and passed on. For those of us who have found our passion in the quiet of a tree stand or the calm of a lake at sunrise, the call of the wild is a lifelong pursuit. The OFAH Foundation is on a mission to ensure Ontario’s rich wildlife heritage endures for generations to come.

The legacy gift’s power

While many support this vital work through donations and other forms of giving, a growing number of Ontarians are contributing in a more enduring way: by providing a legacy gift. This vital act goes beyond a single donation; it’s a declaration ensuring conservation commitments continue.

Making your impact permanent

A legacy gift aligns your financial success with your deepest values. “True wealth isn’t just about what you accumulate; it’s about the impact you create,” said Brian Fitzsimons, president of Fitzsimons Financial Group Inc. — a trusted partner and financial leader with more than 30 years of experience. There are several ways to structure a planned gift while offering significant tax benefits to your estate:

• Bequest in your will: Designate a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate to the OFAH Foundation.
• Donating securities: Gifting stocks and mutual funds directly allows you to avoid capital gains tax.
• Naming a beneficiary: Name the OFAH Foundation as a beneficiary of your RRSPs/RRIFs/LIFs or a life insurance policy.

Real-world conservation action

The funds raised through these enduring gifts have a tangible impact. For example, a legacy donation of $1,500 funds a complete classroom hatchery unit with a decade-long lifespan, engaging students in raising and releasing Atlantic salmon. It’s a direct investment in the future of our wildlife and the education of the next generation. By making a planned donation, you ensure future generations have the same opportunity you have — to stand on the shore of a healthy lake and feel that powerful, irreplaceable connection to nature.

To learn more about how you can leave your own mark on Ontario’s wildlife heritage, please contact Paige Dunford at paige@ofah.org or 705-748-6324 ext. 261. With support from our trusted partners at Fitzsimons Financial Group Inc., you can access expert financial planning advice to make your giving goals a reality.

"The work is deeply personal. Our hope is to ensure future generations can hunt, fish, and explore Ontario’s wild spaces as freely as we do today."
— OFAH Foundation Chair Maya Basdeo

Originally published in the Nov.-Dec. 2025 issue of Ontario Out of Doors

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