Marilyn Simpson knows about hope. It’s something that’s been present throughout her life including her work with L’Arche Comox Valley. L’Arche has been a part of Marilyn’s story for more than 25 years – as a volunteer and a member of the Board – and she remembers it like it was yesterday.
A Path to the Valley
The Comox Valley has been Marilyn’s home for more than 54 years, though she was born in a small mining town in Northern Ontario. As the eldest daughter, caring for her younger siblings was a big part of her life, earning her 25 cents for an evening of babysitting at age 11.
Marilyn married her husband in 1960, and they moved to Ottawa with the RCAF (Royal Canadian Armed Forces). Then in 1971 the couple received their dream posting with 19 Wing Comox, going from Ottawa’s snowy winters to the Valley’s green grass and mild temperatures. Suddenly, they were Islanders!
The couple raised their four children in the Valley and attended church where Marilyn taught Religious Education. This is where she and her family met new friends including Lock and Joanne Mawhinney – founders of L’Arche Comox Valley – and their young family. And, while she didn’t know it at the time, Marilyn’s life was about to change.
Finding Her Passion
Marilyn lights up when she talks about children. We all have special talents and Marilyn’s include her ability to connect with kids.
Lock Mawhinney, who was a well-known educator and the first Director of Special Education for the Comox Valley School District, saw how Marilyn interacted with her own children and others. One day he asked her if she’d be interested in a role as a Teacher’s Assistant working with students with developmental disabilities.
Marilyn accepted the opportunity and found her passion, working for 20 years alongside youth with diverse abilities from kindergarten to grade 11.
“I worked one-on-one with students,” she explains. “They called me ‘Mrs. S’ because Simpson was a mouthful for so many kids.”
“It was important for me to encourage each student, and for them to hear, ‘I believe in you’. Those simple words helped them to persist and achieve small wins, which created hope and often even more growth. It had a profound impact on so many students, supporting them as they reached greater heights than many expected.”
And as the children grew, so did Marilyn. “You might think the students benefited the most, but I received incredible rewards,” she adds.
Next Stop: L’Arche Comox Valley
“Lock’s invitation to join the Board in 1999 was life changing for me,” says Marilyn. Times were hectic and often difficult – raising a family, running a household, working, and being a member of a fledgling Board.
Before Marilyn joined, L’Arche had been fundraising for many years, with the members doing all they could to establish a shared home for people with diverse abilities – something that was greatly needed even back then. And in 2000, thanks to a lot of hard work and the great generosity of donors, L’Arche opened Jubilee House, providing a home for four differently abled members and their live-in Assistants.
Lives Touched by L’Arche
“L’Arche is one of the strongest, most loving and necessary parts of my life,” says Marilyn. And as time marches on, the now great grandmother continues to be involved.
“I visit when I’m able, sometimes with treats,” she says. “I also do some volunteer work at home like helping with thank you cards to donors. It’s so important to say, ‘thank you’ and let everyone know they’re appreciated.”
Marilyn continues to give encouragement and hope wherever she can. “It costs nothing, but it’s invaluable,” she says with a soft smile. “And in some cases, you’ll never know just how much your words, or even just a smile, has touched another person.”
