Stories

Transforming lives begins with something as simple as a friendly smile and a non-judgmental ear.

That’s why Our Place believes in offering a hand up rather than a hand out. The lives that have been transformed because of the love, support and friendship that radiates within our building is incredible. See a few of our stories below, plus more stories can be found on our Donor Impact and Gratitude pages.

April 9, 2020

A Changing Landscape

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A Changing Landscape By Grant McKenzie Our Place is not the same today as it was the day before, and it won’t be the same tomorrow. In…
January 9, 2020

Stingrays Story

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At 63, Stingray is finally finding a measure of peace in his life. A violent childhood led to a violent adulthood, but he has discovered…
January 2, 2020

Scooter Repair

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Art is someone who feels deeply for others, and when he heard the stories of people struggling with basic mobility, he knew he needed…
September 16, 2019

Robert’s Story

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Robert is no stranger to diversity. Life has placed many obstacles in his path, and yet he battles them all with a joke on his lips,…
September 16, 2019

The Diverters

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In Victoria, the sight of a returnable bottle or a discarded paper cup being placed in the trash can ruin someone’s perfectly nice…
May 15, 2019

Blanche’s Story

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Special moments never used to mean anything to Blanche. Memorable days just didn’t exist for a woman whose daily drive was focused…
May 15, 2019

Alex’s Journey

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Alex was at a loss. Another job had fallen by the wayside and he was unemployed once again. With the high cost of rent taking…
January 7, 2019

Marlon’s Story

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For most of his 57 years, Marlon Bowe’s life was defined by a cycle of addiction, poverty, violence and prison sentences. He’s…
January 7, 2019

outREACH Choir

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As a lifelong voice coach, choir director and mother of a special needs child, Anne-Marie Brimacombe learned all about the therapeutic…
September 17, 2018

Carlos’s Story

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As a young boy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Carlos’s first job was to wrap chicken eggs in newspaper for his mother. “I would…
September 17, 2018

Greg’s Story

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At 70 years old, Greg is a golden ray of sunshine every time he sits down at Our Place to begin his volunteer shift. Compassionate,…
May 22, 2018

Robert’s Story

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“I’ve got a giant hole in my heart — not being in contact with my kids, not being in touch with my family, my sister. . . .”…