Dennis first began volunteering with GGP by chance. Our Main Office was on the route of his regular walking path, and he says that as he passed GGP, “I would think to myself, I should walk in and volunteer here. After a while, on one of my morning walks, I had that same thought, and I turned and walked into the office and asked about volunteering. It all started from there.” This was in 2023, and since then, Dennis has volunteered weekly with GGP in one of our CLB 1-2 ESL classes. Dennis loves being able to sit down with our students each Thursday to help them learn English so that they can “go about their lives and feel better about themselves.”

Dennis values the opportunity to meet people from all over the globe. Every week, he engages with newcomers coming to GGP to learn English who are all hopeful of creating a fulfilling life in Saskatoon and living more comfortably in Canada. “It makes me feel good to be able to help in my small way, to help people get a start in Saskatoon—learning to speak basic English helps them on that path. It’s interesting to meet all the people who come into the classroom, they are of all ages and from all over the world with a wide variety of background experience.”

Dennis expresses deep gratitude towards GGP for giving him the opportunity to give back to the community and “to offer love and kindness to these brave people who are coming to a new country and, in a sense, starting all over again. When I think about that, I am filled with awe at their courage and determination to find a better life for themselves.” Dennis finds great joy in volunteering in our English classes which allows him to “help new Canadians find their way; find their spot in this new country of theirs. It’s a positive experience for me and it helps me feel like I’m giving back to my community, to all of the people who have helped me in my life.”

As a third-generation Canadian, Dennis reflects that his grandfather had a similar experience as many of our clients when first entering Canada. “I am grateful that he [came to Canada] because it has given me a good life and I hope that this country can give all of these new immigrants a chance at a new life,” Dennis says.

Thank you to Dennis for his dedicated and passionate presence in our English classes. Language plays a large role in the success of newcomers during their settlement, and we are grateful to all of our volunteers who make this process as smooth as possible.