Stories to Share

“Music is a universal experience. I think that everyone has some sort of connection to music.”   Skylar, a master’s student in music therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University, is spending their summer interning at ShelterCare and supportive housing as part of their certification.  This is something new for our ShelterCare program, which has never had a […]

“With my first step on Canadian soil, I felt relief. I felt safe.” Mayerly came to Canada in June 2022 with her husband Samir and teenaged son, Juan, fleeing political unrest in their home country of Colombia. “There were death threats against my family,” said Mayerly. “We had to leave.” They left with just one […]

Matt Mason learned something very important about himself during the COVID-19 pandemic – working remotely was not for him. “I missed the human interaction,” said Matt. “I missed the rhythm of going to work and seeing everybody. Conversing over Skype was not the same as seeing somebody in person and being able to communicate with […]

“When I get up in the morning, I think, ‘can I make someone happy today, make them smile?’” At 86 years old, Mabel has an incredibly positive outlook on life. It’s even more impressive knowing she doesn’t have long to live. Mabel lives with heart failure and cancer, and is in pain every day – […]

The one-bedroom unit is simply furnished, and might not seem that special at first glance. But for Big B (the name he prefers to go by), it means so much.  His care and attention is everywhere.  Everything is neat and tidy. Some of his artwork hangs on the walls, and Big B is quick to […]

When Daryl was a teen, he thought he had found the cure for all of life’s problems. “I took my first drink and thought, ‘this stuff fixes everything,’” said Daryl. “I wanted to be a rock star, and I decided this is what rock stars do.” Daryl left home in his 20s, pursuing his dreams. […]

“I wish everyone had food.” Binny Musselman, a Grade 5 student, has always been troubled by how many people in our community don’t have enough to eat. She comes by it naturally – her grandparents, Betty and John Galbraith, regularly dedicate one day a week to volunteering at House of Friendship’s Emergency Food Hamper program. […]

“I think we all have a duty, a responsibility to the community we live in.” Brandon Strnad became a monthly donor at House of Friendship because of this belief – and because of the challenges he faced as a child. “I had a rough childhood,” said Brandon. “I could have turned out a lot differently.” […]

Joan* doesn’t know where she would be without House of Friendship. Every week, Joan receives food deliveries through the Kingsdale Neighbourhood Food program – delivered to her door because Joan is unable to pick it up herself. Joan has been living in Kitchener since 2016. She moved here suddenly after escaping horrific abuse. For a […]

Do you remember that feeling of not fitting in? Of not belonging? That’s what it was like for Oumar and his family, as newcomers to Canada. They arrived from Iraq in 2003, just days before the American invasion. They had to leave everything behind and start over. While Oumar was just a baby when he […]