Purchase Gift Cards this Holiday Season to Support GGP
GGP’s FundScrip fundraiser is back! You buy gift cards through GGP at face value for stores you already use, and GGP receives a donation from every card sold. No extra cost to you, just extra support for our clients. Gift cards also make easy presents for friends and family who are hard to shop for.
GGP Volunteer’s Experience in our English Classes: I Always Feel I Get More From the Students Than I Give
When Karen Bolstad retired from her job as a mediator in Small Claims Court, she began looking for volunteer opportunities that would interest her. Her husband, Don Purich, had been volunteering with Global Gathering Place in a variety of classes since 2020 and enjoyed it so much that Karen felt she had to try it.
From Guangzhou to Saskatoon: GGP Client’s Story of Belonging
Olivia Ho came to Saskatoon from Guangzhou, China, where she was surrounded by family, friends, a familiar way of life, and a career as a sales manager. Moving to Canada meant leaving almost all of that behind including her children, but Olivia arrived with curiosity, hope, and a willingness to embrace new experiences. “I knew it wouldn’t always be easy, but I also believed that it’s never too late to learn something new or make a change in life.”
“Volunteers at GGP Made My Experience Unforgettable”: Giving Back Following Time at GGP
For Ario Safaeian, volunteering with Global Gathering Place wasn’t a coincidence: “It was a callback from all the experiences I had as a newcomer in Canada,” he says. Ario and his family moved to Canada in 2019 and have called it home ever since. During that first summer in Saskatoon, he spent most of his time in GGP programs, like Computer Class, Coffee and Conversation, and Breaking Ground, and found his very first friends in Canada. “The volunteers at GGP made my experience unforgettable. Once I finished the program, I realized now it is my turn to give back.”
From Paris to the Paris of the Prairies: How this Volunteer Chose to Give Back
Samblo arrived in Canada in 2024, determined to become a part of his new community while improving his English and meeting people from a variety of cultures. To Samblo, Global Gathering Place seemed like the perfect place to build connections, learn from others, and give back by volunteering.
GGP’s Client Flourishing with her Family in their New Home
Nazli met her now-husband, Mehmet, in 2010 while he was vacationing in their shared home country, Türkiye. Nazli moved to Canada in 2011 to be with him, settling first in Toronto. This transition meant adjusting to a new culture, being away from her family, and learning a new language, her biggest struggle.