New Art Adorns PAFN Walls in Tribute to Artist and Autism Advocate Carolyn Ledohowski

Art was at the heart of everything Carolyn Ledohowski did. From sculpting and fashion design to a dream of pursuing animation, creativity was a constant.

According to her family, Carolyn was fiercely independent in her artistic journey. She was always driven to grow, seeking out new techniques and honing her skills through online resources and self-guided learning, always eager to challenge herself and explore her craft on her own terms.

When the Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) began looking for meaningful ways to decorate its Centre of Excellence, Carolyn’s family saw an opportunity to honour her memory.

“Carolyn dreamed of having her artwork on public display. In some sense, this is making that dream come true,” her family shared. “What does it mean when someone helps your child with fulfilling a dream? It is hard to describe.”

Together, Carolyn’s mother Susan, father Mark, sister Caitlyn, and a close family friend delivered two of Carolyn’s original pieces to the centre, along with a third piece created by Caitlyn.

For Carolyn’s family, these art donations are a way to carry on Carolyn’s legacy. Carolyn was a strong believer in autistic advocacy, especially from those with lived experience.

“Carolyn wished to help others with autism,” said her father, Mark. “We are thankful for this opportunity to continue to honour her wishes.”

Now that her work has found a home on the walls of PAFN, her family hopes it continues to spark joy and offer freedom from labels, just as Carolyn intended.

As Carolyn once wrote, “She wants you to have just as much fun looking at her work as she did creating that work.”