LEIGH AYTON

Leigh (she/her) has worked at LDAY since 2018 and lived in Kwanlin (Whitehorse) since 2011. Her name—pronounced Lee—means “meadow” or “field” in Old English. Her family on both sides immigrated from England to Ontario in the 1950s and 1960s, where she was also born and raised. Leigh graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts and Science and the University of Toronto with a Master of Social Work. She worked for over 10 years in the areas of harm reduction, HIV care, and mental health.

In addition to the trauma-informed lens she brings to her work, Leigh prides herself in sneaking pop culture and Star Trek references into workshops. She is a stubborn year-round bike commuter, gardener, and sewist, determined to one day make a pair of pants that fit well.