With 35 years under his belt at the Canadian Red Cross, Guy Choquet is a critical member of the organization. His journey started at the age of 15 when he stepped forward to contribute his time as a water safety leader volunteer at the Canadian Red Cross. From then on, he never looked back.

After an arduous journey as an asylum seeker from Colombia via the U.S., Juan Andres Espinel says his first moments after crossing the border into Canada have shaped his new life ever since. This is how he went from migrant to volunteer.

Brought together by the Canadian Red Cross Friendly Calls program, Erma Crouse and Sasha Sadlemyer have forged a strong bond over their six months of weekly phone calls.
The differences between the pair are striking, making their shared connection even more special.
 

Thanks to funding from Indigenous Services Canada, via First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and in collaboration with the First Nations Health Managers Association, the Canadian Red Cross launched a Help Desk to support Indigenous community leaders prepare for and respond to COVID-19. Here is how the Help Desk made it possible to help one of these leaders.

For many Canadians, probably every Canadian, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing some form of upset in daily life. The cycles of lockdowns and various protocols can be overwhelming at a time when your stress levels are already higher than normal. With so many things out of our control, what can we do about it?

Getting outside during the COVID-19 pandemic can be a boon for both body and mind, but not everyone is lucky enough to live near nature or have the means to get there. That’s why Altrusa International of Nanaimo decided to distribute bus tickets and maps to people in need - along with masks and hand sanitizer - to help them connect with the outdoors.

For me, knitting is one of those things that does wonders for my mental health, now more than ever.
As the pile of my so called “pandemic projects” and “COVID cast-ons” grew, I couldn’t help but connect the dots to other times when my chosen hobby played a part during history.

“The primary goal of our work is to increase social connectedness,” explains Frank Cohn, director of DUDES Club, a British Columbia-based non-profit organization that promotes men’s health and wellness, particularly among Indigenous communities.