Donna Jean Haley was born in Walkerville, Ontario in 1929. She was the only child of the late Aubrey G. Haley and the late Frances A. Haley. She attended Hugh Beaton High School and Walkerville Collegiate Institute in Windsor, Trinity College at the University of Toronto and the Osgoode Hall Law School. After her call to the Bar in 1955 she practised law in Toronto. During that time, she was Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Status of Pensions in Ontario (1977-1981) and the Chairman of the Pension Commission of Ontario for nine years.
In 1981 she was appointed to the bench. She served as a judge of the County Court of York and of the District Court of York and at her retirement from the bench in 2002 she was a Judge of the Superior Court of Ontario. Her prime interest was in the law relating to estates and trusts and mental incompetency.
Music as a singer and as a violinist was her chief avocation with a suitable sprinkling of games’ playing and outdoor activities. She was an avid camper, lawn bowler, occasional golfer and snooker player. As a lifelong supporter of the Girl Guide movement, she was a Cadet leader, National Music Adviser and Commissioner for Companies and Packs on Foreign Soil.
In 2010 she left Toronto to live beside the ocean (a life-long dream) in Sidney, British Columbia with her friend of over 50 years, Marion Rogers, and her family.
Donna had a happy and busy life and wishes her friends laughter, music and love in theirs.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, North Saanich, B.C., Sunday, February 12, 2023, at 2:00 pm.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorial donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Suite 410-245 Eglington Ave. East, Toronto, M4P 3J1.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
16 Responses
I echo Mr. Slaght’s words-he and I spent 180 days of trial time in front of Justice Haley in the Pearson Airport case. What better exposure to her intelligence and charm controlling the courtroom with a combination of no nonsense yet sense of humour. She made what could have been in every word a trial into an enjoyable advocacy experience.
Although Donna had her own Guide Company, she was known to me through mutual exchange in testing, camping and musical experiences shared with the company of Dorothy McBride. Later when they began the first Cadet Cadet Company in Toronto, I was privileged to be a member.
A special memory of my time with Donna was the camping trip out west in 1959.
I was able to keep in touch through the years and across the miles through letters and cards and was concerned when there was no contact this year.
I am sorry to hear of her passing and extend my condolences to Marian and her family.
Marsha Fisher (née: O’Brien)
I extend my condolences to the companion & family of the late, the Honourable, Donna Haley. I had the opportunity of just once appearing before her as counsel when she sat as an Ontario Superior Court Justice, but she was a friend to my parents, the late Margaret [d. Dec. 6 2022 at 100 +yrs.] and Ronald [d. Feb. 2020] Peel – whom Donna Haley met on a Rocky Mountain trail somewhere with a shared black bear sighting! She marked this later with an Xmas gift of a small stuffed bear toy, that always brought a cheerful recall. They met up for West Coast visits too, I think, in later years as all retired in the West. So we mark Justice Haley’s passing, thank her, and wish all well at this time of passing. Regards – Kenneth R. Peel
Donna was our dear friend, next-door neighbor, and lawyer (until her move west). Her Girl Guide meetings were often held in her backyard next door. After her move west we were fortunate enough to keep in touch by phone, email, and mail.
We join her other friends in mourning her loss.
Donald & Elaine Vanstone
Donna was my Girl Guide leader, 7th Cadet Company. That was over 60 years ago. Several of my fellow guides still get together occasionally and have maintained contact with Donna. She was our inspiration. We will miss her deeply.
I have made a donation to the Nature Conservatory of Canada in her memory.
In 1981, I was a member of the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA), representing Manitoba. CAPSA was an intergovernmental body of those governments which had enacted pension legislation. Donna was chair. After finishing her Royal Commission, she proposed and it was agreed that CAPSA would design a uniform set of proposals which the various governments could use to guide them in the next generation of pension legislation. This was not an easy task but under Donna’s brilliant leadership, the consensus was achieved. Her leadership, firm but fair, with what was a very diverse group was an object lesson in the art. I learned so much from her and hold her in the highest regard. RIP Donna