It is Saturday, and while everyday is a day to celebrate heroes in our midst, today is the day I name just a few of the heroes I know.

Last year at this time, I felt the sadness of the passing of one man who had made a difference in our world. It wasn’t  because he gave his money to charity, or had built an empire. There are no streets named after this man, or buildings erected in his honour. This man was a humble man. A man of little means. A man for whom making a difference meant sharing his time as a volunteer as much as he could at the place where he lived – a homeless shelter. Terry Pettigrew passed away on May 30, 2011. For the months prior to his death, he spoke up and for, those for whom society is not always a welcoming place. In the final weeks of his life, Terry reconnected with a brother he hadn’t seen in 34 years. And in that connection, a family was reunited, history was redirected, and hearts were healed.

Terry Pettigrew and his brother Larry are heroes.

On Thursday, the one year anniversary of Terry’s death, Sean French of the Community Action Committee (a group of 140 agencies working together to end homelessness every day in our city) posted a link to the MacLean’s article that was published last year about the life and times of Terry Pettigrew. I was touched to see that Sean remembered. And, in Sean’s remembering, I was reminded of the depth of the heart and soul of those working to end homelessness. While shelters play a role in keeping people safe, we must never accept them as ‘the answer’ to homelessness. We must never accept that shelters are the only way. Through the effort and commitment of people like Sean who work tirelessly to ensure there is a way home for those who have lost their way to the streets, it is possible that one day, in the not too distant future, we will be able to say, “Homelessness died today. It’s had its day.  It is done.”

Sean French and all those working to end homelessness are heroes.

A young family died last week on a lonely stretch of road along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. A father, mother and 18 month old son were tragically lost in what is being called a murder suicide. As happens in these situations, we wonder – how could this have happened? How safe are our families? I am currently working part-time as the interim director of communications for an amazing place – Calgary Counselling Centre. If we are to stop family violence, stop depression from taking lives, stop abuse and the breakdown of our families, we need places like CCC so that when people need help, it is available. No waiting. No economic constraints. No judgments. In the wake of the deaths, Christine Berry, who heads up the Family Violence program at the CCC, provided media with insight about  depression and family violence. She dispelled myths. Provided facts and ensured everyone knew – there is hope and there is help. We may not be able to stop all such tragedies from happening – though it’s an important goal to strive towards – but we can breakdown the stigma of mental health. We can ensure people know there is help and it’s okay to ask for it.

Christine Berry and everyone at CCC and all those working to end family violence and domestic abuse are heroes.

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My internet at home is sporadic and until Wednesday when Shaw is coming to fix it, will continue to be so. It’s interesting being without it — interesting and enlightening. It is nice, and good, sometimes to disconnect!

See everyone tomorrow.

Have a beautiful and wonder-filled Sunday.