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Toby Bourque has tons of education, yet this year he decided to go back to school. Not to add to his engineering qualifications, though. He just went next door—to the school he’d been driving past every day—and asked how he could help.
Luckily for Toby, and the kids and teachers at Glen Falls Elementary, employees at J.D. Irving Ltd. had laid some crucial groundwork. Ten years ago, a few committed Saint John business leaders decided they had to do something about poverty in their city. Fortunately, they weren’t daunted by the magnitude of the challenge. Rather, they researched root causes and rolled up their sleeves.
These influential people, including J.K. Irving, were resolved to find ways to improve the lives of people in their community, especially kids. Quietly at first, Irving encouraged his employees at J.D. Irving to mentor students at nearby Prince Charles Elementary. Today this program is known as PALS, Partners Assisting Local Schools. It is seven years young.
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Andy Pedersen made a trip to his hometown to investigate PALS for Progress. He learned that this made-in-Saint John program is now helping nine schools. Qualified businesses of all sizes contribute in many ways—from serving breakfast, to scrap-booking at lunchtime, to providing reading buddies after school. Plans are afoot to include three more schools in the program, and there is a waiting list to volunteer. PALS for Prince Charles, the pilot project, was honoured in 2006 with a Global Best Award by the International Partnership Network, one of 13 finalists worldwide.
Andy found the iconic 80-year-old CEO’s motivation powerfully moving. “By the time young people are in Grade 8,” J.K. Irving told him, “the die has been cast. After that it becomes difficult to make changes.”
Often we are inspired by people we see on TV or read about online. In our big and busy world, it can be easy to forget that inspiring people can be found right here at home, making a big difference with little fanfare.
Turn to page 43 and meet Toby Bourque and some fellow Saint Johners —the kind of people we need in every neighbourhood. |
