I am sorry that I cannot be with you this evening; my hope was that I would be able to participate in this memorial for Les Horne and am grateful for the opportunity to write some words of reflection. It does seem somewhat fitting however that I will be spending my day at Warkworth institution, a federal prison just outside of Campbellford.

 Warkworth is the prison that Charlie Taylor was released from in 1994 and the release of this individual into the community began the long connection with Les and those of us who are part of Circles of Support and Accountability. It also seems fitting that this memorial for Les is being held during national restorative justice week. At its core, restorative justice is about establishing and maintaining safe and healthy communities. It’s about how people relate to each other and the necessity for accountability, recognition, inclusion, safety and dialogue in a process of healing from harm. Restorative justice is about addressing the needs of all who have been impacted by crime: victims, the community and those who have offended. Les had a passion for justice, but not a justice that is based on the breaking of laws and the penalties that then followed, but a justice that focussed on the breaking of relationships, of addressing needs and a justice that enabled individuals to move into community in ways that allowed for the possibility of change and healing. The theme this year for restorative justice is “re-visioning justice”, a theme that was consistent in Les’ life.

In 1994, Les was one of a small group of individuals who covenanted together to walk along side Charlie Taylor. Long years of fighting his own personal demons as well as many years of a pattern of sexual offending against children, Charlie was being released to the community with no supports in place.  Les Horne, Harry Nigh and a few other folks stepped up and said that they would welcome Charlie into the community, a seemingly very counter intuitive action for individuals who were committed to safety for children and vulnerable adults. Les’ relationship with Charlie, the building of an intentional community, a surrogate family for him, a circle of support and accountability, became a model of responding to men who have created immense harm and pain through sexual offending that is now being used across Canada, the United States and in many countries around the world. Les was a man who knew from his own work experience the kind of trauma and pain that sexual offending creates, however he also that there were other ways of addressing patterns of behaviour, as well as community fear and hostility that called for inclusion rather than exclusion and isolation. Les saw more than the label of sexual offender, he saw Charlie as an individual created in the image of God, a person of value and worth. Les was able to hold in tension a variety of seemingly distinct concepts: no more victims and no one is disposable, accountability and support, child of God and sexual offender. 

Although a pioneer in the ministry of Circles of Support and Accountability, Les was not willing to sit back and relax. Les was an active member in other “circles” as well our Friday night fellowship group in Hamilton, Dismas fellowship. A community group named after the good thief on the cross, a community forged out of pain and brokenness but also a community of strength, healing and welcome.

When I think of Les, the words of the prophet Micah come to mind: What does the Lord require? To do what is just, be constant in love and walk in humble faithfulness with your God. Those words seem to sum up Les.

Les lived justice, a justice not based on simply locking people up, not based on longer, harder sentencing, but a justice that both acknowledged the pain of the crime as well as the needs of all who had been impacted-victims, communities and the offender. Les longed for and challenged us to work for a justice that leads to restoration, not simply more brokenness.

Les loved, he loved not in spite of people’s histories, but because of their histories of addictions and pain. He loved Charlie, Gary and others in our community with a love that simply would not let them go. Les loved with a love that always pointed beyond himself to the love of the God.

Les walked faithfully with his God, always grounding his work in the redemptive power of Christ to transform and heal. He was simply part of the process of bringing good news.

The legacy that Les has left us at circles of support and accountability is one that has been based on phone calls, cups of coffee, conversations, breakfasts, listening and prayer, celebration of small milestones and miracles and faithfulness during difficult times when addictive patterns of behaviours seemed to have the upper hand.

We miss Les, I miss Les. We miss him as we gather to sing together on a Friday evening; Jesus loves me, God on the mountain and Amazing Grace, all favourites of our community and of Les. But perhaps the one that i think of most when I think of Les is this”

We are companions on the journey,
Breaking Bread and sharing life;
And in the love we bear is the hope we share
for we believe in the love of our God,

No longer strangers to each other,
No longer strangers in God’s House;
We are fed and we are nourished
by the strength of those who care,
By the strength of those who care.

We have been gifted each other,
And we are called by the Word of the Lord:
To act with justice, to love tenderly
And to walk humbly with our God,

We are grateful for and have been very blessed by Les’ companionship as we have journeyed together.

Eileen Henderson

There is a time when I meet people with a purpose
There are moments when such people are with points and pointers
Such people are always there even if my audience be counted as one
They fill the space not with numbers, but their love and compassion
They are not there as VIP (Very Important People)
There are just there with no VI (Very Important) but just people
Attentive ears and solid solidarity
One man who stands out amongst such people is Les Horne
Les Horne was just always there ……………………………………..

Today I mourn for a man whose seat at front row middle is empty
But whose compassionate spirit fills our hearts
The man I saw leading a big applause when I spoke
Now with this poem I know will raise his spiritual applause
A man who with his heart served children quietly and efficiently
A man who every time I touched land of Canada touched my hand
Made me stronger in moments of persecution back home
A man who believed in others and believed support to others was support to children
Children never his but fought for day and night
Founder of Defence for Children International
Les who was always there………………………………………….

Those who spoke he paid attention, he asked questions
Those who were new as me he sought to know and embrace
That seat Les Horne took to listen is one seat I know through and through
It`s empty and its emptiness leaves quite some void
Even as he physically not there because he was always there
Les Horne is always here now, spiritually
For how can only today he not be here
When he was on time here always
Les Horne is and was always there ……………………………………

Rest In Peace Les

In memory of Les, this award of up to $1000 will be presented by DCICanada on an annual basis to a young person or group of young people whose proposal to promote children’s rights is selected.

As we launch it this November 17th, we are asking you as friends of Les Horne to contribute to a fund to support this award in his memory. All contributions, large or small, will be gratefully received. If you are unable to attend the memorial event on the 17th, you may contribute by cheque to DCICanada (Les Horne Award).*

* Charitable receipts will be provided for donations of $10.00 or more.

is pleased to invite you to attend a

Celebration of the Life of Les Horne

 6:00 pm on November 17, 2011 at the City of Toronto Archives 255 Spadina Rd., Toronto

So many are grieving the recent loss of Les Horne, first Child Advocate in Ontario, founding member of DCI-Canada and true champion for children. Several of those who knew him well will reminisce about his life and the contributions he made to the lives of those he touched.

There will also be an opportunity for guests to speak of their own encounters with him, and celebrate his wit, his kind generosity, his wisdom, as well as the breadth of his knowledge and the skill with which he negotiated and often reshaped Ontario’s system of services for children.

Light refreshments will be served.

Les Horne was passionate about his commitment to children. He believed that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was not simply a political document but represented real promises to children, promises they should be able to count on. He also believed that children’s voices should be heard particularly those children who are most vulnerable or at risk. He acted on these beliefs every day and inspired those around him to share his commitment.

From 1981 to 1990, Les Horne was the first Child Advocate in Ontario. Prior to this appointment, Les had a long history of dealing with some of the most challenging children in the Province. In days when children as young as seven were sent to training schools, Les was given the task of establishing a new facility, White Oaks Village, to separate these children from older offenders and to provide the intense level of care needed in a family-like setting. He also was responsible for Sprucedale Training School, where he demonstrated the value of programs such as Positive Peer Culture and set a high standard for training schools across the Province.

Les was a strong advocate for community supports rather than institutional care and when he was asked to participate in a task group on the future of corrections in Ontario, it was no surprise that the group recommended the closure of large institutions in favour of smaller community-based homes. He then went on to act as a consultant to the resulting provincial Group Homes Program.

One of the most significant contributions Les made in the Province of Ontario, was the development of an individualized approach to “hard to serve” youth whose needs could not be met by any single agency or Ministry program. For each of these young persons, an individualized plan was developed, often across several ministries, with a single consistent worker to provide support within a relationship of trust.

In addition to his formal work, Les led a very active volunteer life. He was a founding member of Forestview Church and was often sought out for his wisdom and advice. For many years he wrote a prayer for each Sunday morning service, sometimes with words of joy, sometimes reflecting the pain and confusion he felt around him.

Les loved music and he was a regular visitor to a number of homes for seniors, with his guitar and songs. He was always ready to jump in when anyone needed his help or support, whether that meant advocating with an institution, offering a shoulder to lean on or a kind or funny word, Les’s faith was his life and he lived his faith rather than preaching it.

As a member of Circles of Support and Accountability with the Mennonite Central Committee, Les was part of a support group for Charlie, a young man who had spent a brutal childhood in Huronia Regional Centre for the developmentally handicapped followed by long years in the prison system. Charlie’s life changed with his relationship with Les whom he regarded as a father figure. He frequently called Les late at night or multiple times the same day. Les was always there for him.

Les was also a founding member of the Coalition on the Rights of Children, bringing together a number of NGOs to strengthen support for children whose rights were being abused. The Coalition resulted in an amplification of the voices raised on behalf of children.

Perhaps Les’s greatest volunteer achievement was his dedicated work with Defence for Children International, an international organization committed to promoting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and working towards its full implementation across the world. Les was present at the United Nations General Assembly when the Convention was adopted and joined others in urging Canada to ratify the document. A founding member of the Canadian section of Defence for Children International in 1989, Les remained as its Executive Director until his recent death.

It is impossible in a few short paragraphs to capture the extent of Les’s work on behalf of children. He was an advocate who understood that advocating for kids meant allowing their voices to be heard rather than imposing the views of “experts”. While he worked to change systems, he was at his strongest and most tenacious when faced with the pain or injustice felt by an individual child. He refused to give up even when the task seemed impossible.

Les had an amazing ability to connect with people. He was that rare person who really listened to others, hearing both the sense of the words spoken but also the emotion behind the words. He seldom took credit for achievements, most often attributing successes to others. He had a warmth and sense of humour which put both children and adults at ease and his enthusiasm and generosity of spirit were well known.

We will miss Les. With his passing the children of our world have lost a true champion and we have all lost a wonderful friend.