At the end of May 2019 Compassion Society bade farewell to a dear friend and valued volunteer, Tiina MacLeod, who after seven years of service with the Society is moving to Wasaga Beach, Ontario.

Back in 2012 Tiina took an early retirement when the company she worked for, Torham Packaging in Stoney Creek, was purchased by an American buyer and the site where she worked was closed. She soon decided to do volunteer work in Burlington and selected Compassion Society.

Walk through the front door of Compassion Society, and the first person you see may be Lynn Bednarsky, who often greets and registers clients at the front desk.  She works every Friday, many Mondays, and other times when needed.

Lynn, who retired eight years ago after twenty-seven years with CIBC, has lived in Burlington since 1989. 

One of Compassion Society’s older volunteers is 77-year-old Roger Grist, a native of Bexley, England, who first came to Canada 53 years ago. Roger is a Registered Nurse who trained in England. When he came to Canada he worked for three years in Burlington’s Joseph Brant Hospital, which had just opened.

Julie began volunteering at Compassion Society four years ago when she was looking for a service project for 36 girls, ages 9-11, that she was leading at the time. The girls not only donated their own surplus clothing, but many of them also collected additional items from friends and family. She has continued to volunteer here since then.