We have received a grant for $20,025 from the First West Foundation! The grant is from the Envision Financial Community Endowment and will help fund our community reintegration program: No One Leaves Alone (NOLA).
The NOLA program connects people on parole with volunteer mentors, who provide support and mentorship.
“A mentor can offer insight, encouragement, or even a listening ear that might otherwise be difficult to access.” said Executive Director Raymond Robyn. “We are very grateful for this grant.”
Specifically, NOLA provides guidance in five key areas: housing, health, employment, education, and relationships. NOLA is available to parolees living in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Right now, NOLA has 10 participants and over 24 active volunteers. With the support of the Envision Financial Community Endowment and other donors, we plan to recruit more volunteers this year and support more people on parole.
Jacob’s Story
Starting over isn’t easy. Before finding himself in an unhealthy lifestyle and, later, in prison, Jacob (not his real name) was locomotive engineer at CN Rail for ten years. “I had a blast operating the locomotives,” he said. “The railway wasn’t a job. It was my life.”
After he was released from prison, Jacob moved to Greater Vancouver and connected with NOLA. One of the NOLA volunteers, Rob, had met Jacob while he was in prison and continued to meet with him after his release. Jacob appreciates Rob’s sincerity, fatherly heart, and regular phone calls.
“Rob is like a teacher,” Jacob said. “He asks a lot of questions. He’s a genuine, nice guy.”
As he adjusted to life in the community, Jacob began exploring employment opportunities. Part of him wanted to return to CN. He missed the thrill of operating a 190-tonne locomotive. Still, he knew returning to CN could lead him back to his old ways. Instead he began learning a new trade.
“We often met in White Rock,” said Rob, “and would go down to Marine Drive and watch the trains. They represented a carefree life for Jacob.”
An Impactful Gift
For Jacob, the holidays are particularly difficult, and this past Christmas was especially tough. Rob saw that Jacob was having a tough time, so he painted a CN locomotive for him. He chose the GE AC4400CW, a model Jacob used to operate.
“I thought it would help him remember the good times,” Rob said, “to keep the good memories while also moving on.”
Jacob said he was deeply moved by the gift and comforted by Rob’s generosity during a difficult season.
“That somebody would take the time, it was very impactful,” he said. “Rob knew I was passionate about the railway because he listened to me.”
Jacob graduated from the NOLA program this past March. He is thankful for his new trade, the NOLA program, and the support he received from Rob.
“It was amazing to have people who are impartial, to have people to talk to,” Jacob said.
“It’s been great to see the positive changes in his life,” Rob said. “It was important to have a group of people to welcome him and accept him for who he is.”
“NOLA can really benefit everyone,” said Robyn. “Successful transitions for parolees lead to less recidivism and safer communities.”
Since 1996, First West Foundation is proud to provide grants through the Envision Financial Community Endowment. To celebrate 25 years of giving, they added $25 to the grant.
A version of this story also appears in The Abbotsford News.