Elizabeth has been a spirited and regular volunteer at Coffee and Conversation for six years. Elizabeth began volunteering at Global Gathering Place after hearing her sister’s frequent and enthusiastic support and love of Global Gathering Place from her volunteer experience with us.   

Elizabeth has since been committed to GGP and Coffee and Conversation because of the incredible and unique people she meets each week. The staff has also always been very quick to welcome Elizabeth as a vital volunteer. Elizabeth said, “they always make me feel that I have something to offer the newcomers.”   

Elizabeth has a love of getting to know and understand new people and hearing their stories. “I also enjoy helping them to improve their English-speaking skills, probably because I was an elementary school teacher for many years,” Elizabeth noted as what she finds most enjoyable about volunteering with GGP.

Over her years with GGP, Elizabeth has met a great number of newcomers from all over the world, from every age, and stage of life, who have all come to Canada under a variety of circumstances. Without exception, they are all very grateful to be in Canada. Elizabeth has heard many, many times that “people in Saskatoon are so kind and helpful”.   

Beginning this spring, Elizabeth has been meeting with a group of four Ukrainian women during Coffee and Conversation who have all come to Saskatoon within the past year along with their small children. “I am amazed at their courage, resilience, and determination,” Elizabeth said. “They are working at physically demanding jobs, caring for their families, and learning English too!” Even with the limited shared language, the group of women can always find things to discuss—food, clothing, families, cooking—and since the start of these conversations, Elizabeth has noticed a massive growth in their English language skills! 

Hearing stories of the struggles and distress that many of the newcomers experienced prior to their arrival in Canada has made Elizabeth realize that she has taken for granted the many blessings she has enjoyed all of her life simply because she was born in Canada.    

“It makes me appreciate the freedoms, opportunities, and privileges we have. We must continue to honour and uphold these values,” Elizabeth said. She has been very impressed by the newcomers who are arriving in Saskatoon. “The ones I have met are wonderful people who will enrich our society, just as my life has been enriched by meeting them.”   

Thank you so much to Elizabeth for her unwavering dedication to spending time with our clients to practise their English. We are so happy to have volunteers like Elizabeth who selflessly spend hours of their weeks exchanging stories with our clients and helping them make connections within our community.