Skip to main content

A Tribute to Karin Gordon and Tom Denton

I spoke on a Members Statement Thursday May 12 to pay tribute to Karin Gordon and Tom Denton who have done so much to help refugees coming to Manitoba.  My comments are below. 

Karin Gordon and Tom Denton

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, today I pay tribute to Karin Gordon and Tom Denton. Together, particularly through the Hospitality House Refugee Ministry, they have contributed to tens of thousands of refugees coming to Winnipeg.

Karin Gordon, who is in the gallery today with family and friends, grew up in Thunder Bay in a family which helped refugees. She became an expert in radiation, and worked for many years at CancerCare Manitoba before returning to her passion–helping refugees.

      A graduate of Acadia Uni­ver­sity and Dalhousie University's school of law, Tom Denton served for 14 years in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve before taking on the role of executive director at the International Centre of Winnipeg in 1984. There, for many years, he was the face of refugee sponsorship in Manitoba, a role he continued as executive director of Hospitality House. He has received many, many awards, including the Order of Canada.

* (14:00)

      In 2009, he was joined by Karin Gordon, who started as a volunteer involved primarily in refugee settle­ment. Karin became progressively more in­volved, to the point of being active–acting executive director in recent years. Karin Gordon and Tom Denton have worked together as an in­cred­ible team at Hospitality House, one of the largest acceptors of refugees in Manitoba and with an impressive track record of success. Karin has done an in­cred­ible job helping new­comers, so that many call her mom. She recently retired and has handed over the reins to others.

      Thank you, Karin Gordon and Tom Denton, for the in­cred­ible efforts you have made together to help refugees to come, to settle and to succeed in Canada.

      Madam Speaker, I ask that the list of people in the gallery can be included in Hansard.

      Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

As well as Karin Gordon there were in the gallery for following people: Noor Khan Ahmadzai, Daniel Awshek, Andrea Cameron, Elodie Furaha, Karin Gordon, Gillian Gordon, Elias Mohamud Mohamed

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manitoba School Boards have contributed much innovation and advancement of education in Manitoba

On Thursday March 25, in Question Period, I asked the Premier why he is getitng rid of school boards when they have contributed to much to the improvement of education in Manitoba.  My question and the Premier's response are below (from Hansard).  Manitoba Education System Elimination of Boards and Divisions Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   Madam Speaker, Manitoba school boards have been an incredible source of new ideas and innovation.       The White Horse Plains school board brought in audio and video links to Hutterite schools. The Seine River School Division piloted Roots of Empathy, to help kids learn empathy, and also Kids at Play: half-day kindergarten, half-day early-childhood education. The Seven Oaks School Division brought in Met schools. And there are many, many more examples.       Why is the Premier getting rid of school boards when they've done so well at listening to parents, at ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March.  South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory.   The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions.   This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14.  Manitoba ( red line )  started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then.   South Dakota ( blue line )   has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4.  Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations
18 comments
Read more

There is an imperative to have a provincial plan to ensure every child learns to read

Too many Manitoba children with learning disabilities like dyslexia are not being identified and helped early on starting in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.   The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it is the provinces responsibility to ensure that every child learns to read, and even when, in the case of a child with dyslexia intensive intervention is needed.  In 12 years Manitoba has failed to produce a provincial plan to address this issue.  We are holding a Forum (see below) on this subject.  Please come out to the Forum.  There is no cost. Everyone is welcome.  To learn more about the need to do better helping children, youth and adults with a learning disability click on this link    
Post a Comment
Read more