STEPHENVILLE, N.L. — Giving back to her community is something that runs deep for Brenda Dennis.
“It’s about recovery,” the Stephenville woman said recently.
“And for me giving back to other people and seeing the smiles on their faces and knowing I’m making a difference, that’s my recovery.”
When Dennis moved to Newfoundland from Ontario, her intention was to stay for a year. That was 10 years ago.
“Life brought me here for a reason and I’m still here,” she said as she reflected back.
“I actually came here because I got myself into one of those situations that turned out nasty and I was one of the lucky ones that walked away from it.”
She arrived in September 2010 and lived in Port au Port for a few months before moving to Stephenville in January 2011.
It was after the move to Stephenville that Dennis started volunteering at the Bay St. George Women’s Centre where she had previously attended some programming.
Before long she was spending a lot of her time there, volunteering and helping where she could.
Then she took part in the Community Education Network’s Power Up! Program. Her placement for the career transitional program was with the woman’s centre.
The program gave her enough hours for employment insurance and to qualify for sponsorship and she enrolled in the community studies program at the College of the North Atlantic.
It was the perfect program for her.
“Because to me giving back to my community that’s just who I am. I just give back everywhere.”
She’s now working as a project manager with the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network (NAWN).
And she’s still volunteering.
“Give it to a busy person if you need something done,” she said with a laugh as she lists off the groups and organizations she volunteers with.
She’s an advisor for the Stephenville Leo Club, secretary of the Stephenville Lions Club and on the boards of the Indian Head Co-op, the women’s centre, the Bay St. George Residential Support Board and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Newfoundland and Labrador (CMHA-NL).
“They all fit in there and it’s weird because they don’t all coincide the same day or the same time, so it just fits. It’s like a puzzle and it just fits.”
Recently Dennis was presented with the CMHA-NL’s Pottle Award. In memory of Dr. Clarence Pottle, a psychiatrist and the first provincial director of mental health services in the province, the award honours a volunteer who has demonstrated tireless commitment towards furthering mental health in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dennis was nominated by Tianna Butler, CMHA-NL’s western regional manager, and it was the first time the award has gone to someone on the west coast.
She’s proud of the award but still a little in shock at being recognized because she doesn’t do the things she does for recognition.
Two years ago, she received the Lion of the Year award and was also nominated as citizen of the year.
“To look back and to see all the steps that I’ve done and where I am today and the job I’m doing, loves it.
“This is home now,” she said, adding she’s put down roots in the community with her youngest daughter and grandchildren also live here.
Dennis recently participated in a question and answer session with Saltwire Network:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Brenda Lee Dennis
Q. Where and when were you born?
A. I was born in 1977 in Kitchener, Ont.
Q. Where do you live today?
A. Stephenville, N.L.
Q. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A. I’m shy. I have my shy moments.
Q. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
A. Leaving my family and moving to Stephenville.
Q. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
A. I think really the thing that changed my life the most was going through that bad relationship. Because that bad relationship gave me the moment of the hardest thing I did. That was leaving my family. But then I came here, and I built on to it and going through it has made me who I am today and able to give back so much.
Q. What’s your greatest indulgence?
A. Seeing the smiles on my grandbabies faces.
Q. How do you like to relax?
A. Sitting on my couch, wrapped in my blanket, watching Hallmark movies. That is my me time.
Q. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
A. It actually comes from my Nana . . . I always see the good in everything. No matter what is happening or what is going on, I always look and find something good in it.
Q. If you didn’t take this career path, what would have chosen?
A. I don’t think it would have changed. I still think I would be giving back and doing what I’m doing.
Diane Crocker reports on west coast news.
