At an early age, Margaret decided that she wanted to pursue a career as an early childcare educator. This determination and passion has propelled Margaret to great things, and today she is known as being a pioneer in education and philanthropy.  She is also known for going out of her way to ensure that children across the country have the best supports and opportunities available to them. After receiving her Master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1942, Margaret joinedthe Canadian Children’s Service and sailed to Britain in a convoy of allied troop ships. She spent the next two years as part of a Canadian team of educators training workers at wartime nurseries in Birmingham.

On returning to Canada in 1944, Margaret became supervisor of the Forest Hill Nursery School (FHNS). Though she already had a successful career, Margaret decided to go to teacher’s college in 1951 and then continued at FHNS where she spent a total of 23 years. Margaret then embarked on a new career where she helped establish the Early Childhood Education program at Humber College. There, her responsibilities ranged from early childhood education teacher to implementing the Continuing Education program in social service to acting as plant manager for one campus. Margaret retired from Humber College in 1980. 

Margaret came by her passions and career honestly; her family have been supporters of the Children’s Aid Society for over 100 years, which is a claim not many can make.  Margaret’s grandfather, Dr. Thomas Millman, was one of the founding members of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto in the late 1800’s and her mother, Mabel Millman Hincks, and her father, Dr. Clarence Meredith Hincks, were both long-standing members of the board of the Children’s Aid Society.

Over a decade ago, Margaret decided she wanted to give a meaningful gift to the Children’s Aid Foundation that would help support abused, neglected and at risk children and youth.  Even in retirement Margaret’s ties to children and youth are strong, and this along with her family history made the decision to give to the Foundation an easy one. Margaret said, “I have always wanted to support an organization I believed in. It connects me to my mother’s work as well as that of my father and grandfather.”

With a generous gift of stock, she established the Margaret Hincks Educational Trust, which encompasses three endowed funds: a tutoring fund; an Ambassador School fund; and a scholarship fund. Each one is helping to forever change the lives of children and youth in our communities.

“Giving a gift of stock made the most sense for me,” Margaret said. “My financial advisor said that it made sense from a tax and estate planning perspective, and at the same time I was able to give to a cause that is very much in line with my interests.”

Margaret is a true visionary, a leader in child welfare and education, and a champion of disadvantaged children. Like her grandfather, mother and father, Margaret exemplifies a family devoted to helping the children who need it the most. The legacy Margaret has created with the Children’s Aid Foundation will directly impact the most vulnerable children and youth in our communities for years to come.

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