Premier John Horgan and Pam Alexis, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, stopped by our office last Thursday as part of a tour to meet folks living and working in Abbotsford.
During the 45-minute meeting, Premier Horgan spoke with staff, volunteers, and program participants.
One NOLA participant explained the value of the program: “Inside an institution you are a name and number. I read about No One Leaves Alone and I thought, I’m a candidate for that because I’m alone. NOLA has always treated me like a human being. And that is the greatest thing.”
Another participant added, “When you go [to prison] you lose trust in everybody. NOLA has helped me trust people again.”
“Mentoring is what the human condition should be about,” Premier Horgan said, after listening to the stories. “It was people who intervened in my life that helped me to be who I am—not where I am. Who I am. The ‘who I am’ is the key part. It’s not what you accomplish. It’s who you are and what you do every day to help those around you.”
Alexis thanked us for our “important and invaluable work.” She said, “The longevity of M2/W2 speaks volumes about the association and the positive impact it has on the community. We are lucky to have you in our midst.”
Executive Director Raymond Robyn said that it was an honour host Premier Horgan and Pam Alexis at the office. “They took the time to stop by, hear our stories, and affirm our efforts to provide mentorship and support to people affected by incarceration.”
“I’m glad to have shared the table with our staff, volunteers, and program participants,” he added. “These are the dedicated and compassionate people who make our work a success. Our vision is to end imprisonment, one person at a time. The only way this will happen is if people come together, recognize the struggles we face, and set out to overcome them.”
A version of this story also appears in The Abbotsford News.