Garry has been volunteering with us since the summer of 2017. He has provided support in many areas, from one-on-one mentorship to after-school programs but he works primarily in our English classes, assisting high-needs learners. Like many of our volunteers, Garry decided to give back during his retirement. He chose GGP because he had a wonderful prior experience with his church, assisting a family who emigrated from Colombia. “I really enjoyed this and found it rewarding, so why not pursue helping new Canadians with English,” Garry said.
On Monday mornings, Garry joins Lisa Thiessen’s Literacy Foundations class to help her teach entry-level language skills to learners who are new to these concepts. Garry works attentively with two students who need additional support in the classroom. Lisa also noted that he “adds great insight about Canadian culture when we discuss things in class, such as holidays and sports,” helping her to integrate students into their new community.
Garry describes his work with GGP in glowing terms and says, “You really feel like what you are doing makes a difference in someone’s life. I can’t imagine not doing this.” One story that he said he’ll never forget is when he asked a client how she was coping with her first winter and she replied, “It’s cold but I will trade this for feeling safe.”
Something that surprised him when he first came to us was how readily newcomers embrace their new culture. Garry says, “They celebrate their traditions, as they should, but they also want to experience the things this country has to offer. They appreciate the new life they have here more than we can know and want to embrace it — all of it!”
