Late last month, one of the central members of the GGP community passed away. Sister Juliana Heisler was an industrious force of nature who supported GGP from the early days. Belma can still remember her showing up to carry boxes during our move to the Community Service Village back in 2001. A decade later, when we were looking for a larger space, she orchestrated our move into the Main Office downtown.
She served three terms as a member of our Board, piloting our fundraising efforts and broadening our community connections. More than anything, she led through relationships. Whenever we had a need, she would organize a garage sale or steak dinner and mobilize her extensive network to come out to support our work. We will always remember the ease with which she brought people together for a common cause.
Every December, she would host a joyous Christmas potluck for the GGP community in the gymnasium of her church. It is no surprise that she was born on Christmas Day. Belma visited her on Christmas Eve of this year, as was their annual tradition, and she was in good spirits, sharp as ever.
In addition to her work with GGP, she spent years sponsoring refugees through her church, often welcoming them into her own home. There was no better ambassador for our mission. Many of the organizations she connected us with still support us to this day.
May we all aspire to her community-minded determination and keep her memory alive through the continuation of her good work. She was so loved and will be so missed.
Chris’s Path to Citizenship: From Newcomer to Proud Canadian
Chris first came to Canada on a work permit in 2012 from Jamaica to work in the agricultural sector. He was excited to arrive in late November, immediately welcomed by mountains of snow. A friend eagerly told him about Global Gathering Place (GGP), an organization assisting newcomers in adjusting to life in Saskatoon and Canada. Chris quickly registered and noted that coming to GGP was “a wonderful experience from day one.”
