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

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