Lynn Factor: For the Love of it

and leader. She has held roles at the Children’s Aid Society, the Superior Court of Justice, and she’s currently at the BOOST Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, where she works with child victims or witnesses – specifically of sex trafficking – to help prepare them to testify in criminal court. 

She also holds several volunteer positions including Past Chair of the Board of the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, Chair of their Scholarship and Awards and Youth in Transition Committees, a member of the Board at Covenant House and Chair of their Sex Trafficking Advisory and Policy and Stakeholder Relations Committees. Lynn also sits on the Community Engagement and the Modern and Contemporary Curatorial Committees at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Dean’s Advisory Council at both Ryerson and the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work at the University of Toronto. 

Valerie McMurtry, CEO of the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, nominated Lynn for the honour after working with her for four years, and says she can’t think of anyone more deserving. 

“Lynn stands out in our community and in Canada for the work she’s leading in child welfare. It’s not an area that gets a lot of attention and she’s really trying to raise awareness,” said Valerie, who is extremely proud to have Lynn involved with the work that the Children’s Aid Foundation is trying to lead. “She has been an exemplary Canadian in an area that gets overlooked and deserves so much recognition for her tireless volunteer efforts. Her whole life has been devoted to this sector.” 

Valerie isn’t at all surprised that Lynn is humbled by the recognition. 

“She’s very embarrassed and thinks other people are more worthy. That’s one of the things that makes her so great,” said Valerie, who describes Lynn as compassionate, thoughtful, generous and honest. “She’s a wonderful community builder and loves to solve complex problems, yet she thinks of herself as behind the scenes, when really, she is the glue.”

Lynn’s son, Jakson ’12, is really proud of his mother’s achievement. 

“She is a remarkable person and definitely deserves it,” he said. “She tends to be very humble, even at home, and never makes a big deal out of anything. She sees it as something she has a passion and responsibility for.”

Lynn and her husband Sheldon Inwentash are also big believers in giving back. The well-known philanthropists even endowed the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work at the University of Toronto. 

“I think we have a responsibility to give back and I’m a firm believer in a collaborative approach to address a number of issues to do what we’re able to do,” said Lynn. “I’m in a bit of a unique position because I cover a lot of different issues since I volunteer, work in the field and we believe in being philanthropic.”

Lynn and Sheldon’s giving ways have certainly been passed on to their three children. 

“My parents been a huge inspiration in my life and I hope that one day, I can do as much as they have,” said Jakson, who was the Community Service Prefect when he was in Grade 12 at RSGC. “I love giving back and I try to do community service whenever I can. I try to give back in any way I can now.”

Lynn finds herself in a position of moving easily between the worlds of frontline service work, volunteering and philanthropy. 

“Lynn is quite unique because she and Sheldon are leading philanthropists, but she also works,” said Valerie. “She travels in a circle with Sheldon and people are surprised that she still has a day job with a little cubby at the BOOST headquarters and helps these young people go to court. She’s got this high-end social life and a killer wardrobe, but has a day job in the front line of child welfare.”

Which is exactly where she loves to be.