Using Your Will as a Force for Good: Gideon’s Story
Gideon didn't plan to have a legacy conversation. He just needed a will.
But when he sat down to draft it, something unexpected happened. He realized he had a choice to make that went far beyond just distributing his assets. He could use this document to say something about what he stood for. About what his life meant. About what he wanted to leave behind.
This realization led him to include Oxfam Canada in his will. To him, it felt like a natural conclusion of a life spent caring about something bigger than himself.
The Movement That Shaped Him
Gideon grew up in a household where activism was part of life. His mother was an activist in the peace movement and the women's movement. As a student in the 1980s, it was natural for him to follow nuclear disarmament work and progressive causes.
"When I started working and had just a little bit of cash, I started donating in a very modest way," Gideon says.
He wasn't trying to save the world. He was trying to be consistent with what he believed.
But consistency over decades creates a question: if you care about something enough to give your whole life to it, what happens when you're gone?
The Band-Aid Problem
Years of giving taught Gideon what he wanted to support. He could write cheques to organizations doing emergency relief, and that mattered. But it wasn't enough.
"As a very political person, I didn't want to give to a charity that was just doing band-aid work," he explains. "My view is that we need both emergency relief and also the deeper, more radical work of changing power systems."
This is the tension many thoughtful donors face: immediate suffering demands a response, but systems change requires sustained work. To Gideon, Oxfam was doing both: responding to urgent crises while addressing the systemic barriers that keep people poor.
To him, it wasn't band-aid work but the kind of organization worth committing to for the rest of your life. And beyond.
The Will As A Statement
When Gideon wrote his will, it became something more than a legal document. It became a reflection of his priorities.
"When I wrote my will, I felt that I wanted to keep supporting the work I've been doing for my whole life. That felt good."
He was deliberate about it. He would take care of his children and spouse. That was non-negotiable. But he would also direct resources toward the causes he had spent decades supporting. His will would say, “My family mattered. And the world mattered. Both were true.”
There's a kind of clarity that comes with mortality. It strips away pretence. Gideon describes what happened when he thought about it directly:
"Knowing I'm going to be able to contribute after I'm gone is a nice feeling... When they open the will, they'll say: you know, dad didn't just think about himself, he cared about us and the world. It's very important to me to feel that after I’ve taken care of my loved ones, whatever is left over is going to do some good in the world. I think that's the most a person can hope for – that you have made a contribution."
This is what legacy giving actually is: a choice about what your life stood for; an alignment between what you valued and how your will reflects those values.
Why Oxfam Mattered To Him
At its core, Gideon's decision came down to a simple philosophy. He had spent his entire adult life supporting organizations trying to reduce suffering and address its root causes. His will would simply continue that work.
"I really, really trust Oxfam," Gideon says. "I trust their judgement and wisdom. Ultimately, it's about trying to reduce suffering, and if I have something to leave behind when I'm gone, I'd like it to help someone else."
For him, the choice made sense. His values had guided his giving for decades. His will would ensure those values are carried on.
What A Will Can Say
A will doesn't have to be just about dividing things up. It can be a statement about what mattered to you. About what you spent your life supporting. About what you want to continue after you're gone.
Gideon's will says he valued both family and a more just world. It says his commitment to reducing suffering didn't end with his lifetime. It says he had thought carefully about what he believed in and had the conviction to back it up.
A gift in your will doesn't require enormous wealth. It doesn't require a perfect life or perfect agreement with every cause. It only requires clarity: what do you want your will to say about what mattered to you?
If you're curious about leaving a gift in your will to Oxfam Canada, start a confidential conversation with Ryo Nakane at ryo.nakane@oxfam.org or (613) 292-2687.
You can also fill out this form to learn more about legacy giving options.
You don't need to have it all figured out. We are here to answer any questions you have and help you navigate to a choice that makes the most sense to you.
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