Andrew Ross Findlater (Ross)

Why I volunteer with CVIMS and what I like about it.

What I enjoy most about having been a language tutor with CVIMS during the past three years is seeing the change in newcomers as they become more confident in their ability to communicate in English and they see that they will be OK living here. The easiest to deal with are students taking LINC courses who need some extra support, for which you get to be part of the team at CVIMS. A bit more work are people who don’t fit into the LINC courses for one reason or another. The high points for me are many. They have included the high school student who grew in confidence over a couple of years, the pregnant woman telling me how well her doctor’s appointment had gone after I had helped her prepare for it, newcomers who had to work full time to support their families who became comfortable handling everyday situations, a literacy student without previous formal education who learned to write in English, and someone learning his first foreign language at age 42 from a much different social background who is taking first steps now.

I grew up in a very multicultural place (Montreal), and helping support ESL students allows me contact with a more multicultural group of people than I would meet otherwise here. One of Canada’s strengths (that I have been proud of travelling and working around the world) has been its willingness to accept and integrate people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This is also my personal way of supporting that policy in an increasingly polarised world.

I grew up immersed in a very bilingual environment, and have always enjoyed the challenge of learning new languages because of that. I find learning about the newcomers’ languages is a bonus that I had not anticipated.

Helping to support the language training at CVIMS is not a sacrifice for me, it is something I look forward to. I do this on a weekly basis when I am here, which is something I can do because I am a retired health care worker.

I started volunteering at CVIMS around the same time I began working as a substitute LINC instructor, and it has been an incredibly meaningful journey for me. I truly loved volunteering, especially because I grew up in a family where community service was always important. After moving to Nanaimo, volunteering at CVIMS allowed me to continue something I had been passionate about since I was a teenager. The experience has been amazing; getting to know people from different backgrounds, contributing to the community, and especially working as a classroom assistant for LINC classes has been very rewarding.

One of my most memorable moments was being appreciated at the Volunteer Appreciation Night. It felt really special to be recognized, and it reminded me how valuable volunteering truly is.

Volunteering has had a big impact on me both personally and professionally. I used to be quite introverted, but through this experience, I’ve become much more comfortable interacting with others. Professionally, I’ve gained valuable experience working with different teams, which has helped me grow and build confidence.

For anyone considering volunteering, I would say that it’s really about making a difference and supporting your community. Once you do that, the feeling you get from seeing the positive impact is truly amazing. Volunteering is always a great way to give back and grow at the same time.

I will truly miss volunteering at CVIMS and being part of such an incredibly supportive team. Thank you again for this opportunity and for all your support.
Have a great day!