Her Excellency Mrs. Sharon Johnston - Official Opening of a New Building at Renison University College

published on October 30, 2015 in The Governor General of Canada

It is a special occasion for David and me to be on the Renison University College campus to open your newest building.

It’s hard to believe that just five years ago, David was President of the University and I was running a horse farm called Chatterbox Farm. We welcomed students, faculty members, staff, and generous donors into our wonderful home surrounded by horse-and-buggy Mennonites. Our neighbours have remained our friends and made sure we kept up with the births, courtships, marriages and deaths of their families. They gave us friendship and love.

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I have witnessed people living through some very difficult situations, but always with compassion. I have spent some time with the Vancouver Police Department, whose officers do social intervention on a daily basis. In fact, the city’s East Side is a living laboratory for social work. I visited a needle exchange clinic called Insight, with Dr. Julio Montaner. He described how drug addicts are taught to carry an opioid antagonist injection in case they come across a fellow addict who has overdosed on heroin. I had to stop for a moment to digest this fact. Despite debilitating drug use, addicts can still save another addict’s life. This is a profound example of human caring.

You’re doing important work here at Renison. I’m so glad to see that you’re expanding and having continued success. You’re helping real people and making our communities and our country healthier and more caring.

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Julio Montaner

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

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Her Excellency Mrs. Sharon Johnston - Official Opening of a New Building at Renison University College

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