volunteer profile - Roslyn

Roslyn came to Calgary in March of 2003 from that wonderful province to our east. She was in touch with the volunteer program at CCIS within a couple of months. That’s the type of person she is. She wants to become involved with her community. It didn’t take her long before she was actively playing shuffleboard and bowling with the seniors group at Colonel Belcher.

She is the mother of five, two of whom are twin boys. It is through her sons that she had her first experience working with people who struggle with English; her twin boys are dyslexic. She soon learned that the spoken word has more significance that the written word and retention is better. This has helped so much with her volunteer work with immigrant seniors.

Roslyn and her family, especially her daughters Pat and Bonnie, welcome learners into their home as if they were a family member. Together, they celebrate birthdays and special events. Learners regularly play family scrabble games, card games, take part in pot-luck dinners and in general become part of the extended family. All these activities enhance English language learning. They really do learn about life in Calgary, and that is the premise behind the Senior Host program at CCIS. To not only learn English, but become familiar with life in a new country.