Testimonials

Chris: Working in a Meaningful Way
Motivation and Support
Glad I made that call
Starting over in a new country

Chris: Working in a Meaningful Way

Imagine waking up one day with no job, no relationships and facing bankruptcy. This was the reality for Chris, 5 years ago after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Chris struggled to find his balance and suffered through several ups and downs in his recovery. Working in shipping and receiving a year and half ago, he went on sick leave and then on long term disability.

Wanting to use his creative and artistic skills, Chris and his employment counsellor created a plan to return to school to complete a graphic design program at Vancouver Community College.

With the support and encouragement of his counsellor, Chris completed a proposal for HRDC to receive full funding for his program. Since completing his 9 month program in May 2009 Chris speaks with confidence and pride about the work that he has completed since.

Now 34 years old, Chris thinks back and says, “The same time last year, I was depressed.  Now I am really enjoying the work that I do.”

Chris would like to use his talents in raising awareness for social issues through design. The new look and feel of the PACT brochure and marketing materials were created by him.

“PACT has made a large impact on my life,” says Chris. “Without PACT this would have never happened.”

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Motivation and Support

"After graduating from college and not being able to find a job for a few months I became very depressed. I was very anxious about the job searching process and found it very hard to cope with overwhelming worry and guilt associate with being unemployed. I was so down and out that I stopped looking for work altogether. This was the time when I saw a newspaper ad about PACT Employment Services.

I started to meet weekly with an Employment Counsellor. She was very understanding and supportive and worked with me each step of the way in eliminating my anxiety associated with job searching process. Izabela helped me with the resume, cover letter and most importantly with the confidence when it comes to interviews. Her motivation and support was instrumental in finding an amazing job for me. With her help, I was able to go through a very competitive process of interviews and to acquire a wonderful job at a very reputable organization. PACT Employment Services centre is a very valuable resource for the community."

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Glad I made that call

"Thank you for everything you have done for me with this PACT program. Thank you for telling me about the diversity program and pushing me and letting me know I can do things that I maybe tell myself I cannot. It is really easy to just say "I don't think I can do that" and if you say it enough times you believe it and you really can't or won't. You believe, as well as my family and my doctors, that I CAN do the things I put my mind to and I can deal with the anxiety and that it's not something to be ashamed of.

I am really glad there are people like you in the world that actually care about people with mental illness. By assisting people with mental illness to get a job, you are really helping give us a piece of our lives back. I am truly thankful that I found out about your program while at a doctor's visit, I found the paper advertisement at my pharmacists office. I am glad I made that call.

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Starting over in a new country

I was looking for a job in 1999 and came to PACT and met with Isla. That was a wonderful experience. The first thing she did was have me put on paper what I did in my whole life regarding work and studies – in order to see what I really want in that particular moment. I was a newcomer from Mexico and I was confused what path to choose.

In Mexico I used to be a university instructor – Spanish and Latin American Studies. I was a single mother. I had a house, a nice car, a good job. In 1995 there was an economic downturn in Mexico and many people lost their houses. I lost my house and was laid off from my job and I found myself without anything. So I decided to come to Canada. I had traveled a lot through my job and visited many places, but I chose to come to Vancouver.

I didn’t have any money, and then I got sick and had to have surgery. I was really sad and depressed. It just was very difficult although I was very grateful to be here.

Isla provided me with vocational tests. She made me feel – from then until now –respected, like someone was listening to me in Canada. She appreciated me not only as a professional but as an individual. That was very helpful for me.

She helped me to do a one year web design course at BCIT. I was 46 years old and it was difficult for me to study computers. I didn’t have a clue about programming computers!  I was the oldest in the class – the others often didn’t speak to me because they knew I didn’t know anything but I graduated with honours from BCIT!

I went to Whistler for a couple of years – I was doing my business in website designs. I wasn’t rich, but I was doing well. But the business became difficult to sustain – there was a lot competition, and technology was always refreshing. I used to charge $1500 - $3000, so it was difficult to go lower, it takes a lot of time to create a website.

I met with Isla again one year ago. I was not working in web design – it was difficult to get jobs and also difficult because I was starting to lose my eyesight, and had pain from sitting in the same position for 8 to 10 hours.

I told Isla, “I don’t want to continue in web design. First, there aren’t enough jobs, and it is impacting my body, and it is also very isolating. I need more contact with people.”

I don’t have the words to describe it.  She is a very important person in my life – she was always supportive. She always understood what I meant. She helped me find another career using my love of art and psychology.

My daughter has been living here in Vancouver for a number of years as well. I said “Please help my daughter too, she’s lost”. When you come to a new country you feel like you’re missing a lot of things and finding work that pays above minimum wage can be a real struggle.  With the assistance of Isla my daughter and I applied for and received funding for training.   We started the same program in the health care field at a local community college – and that was one of the most beautiful experiences. We had the opportunity to stay together and be classmates. It was very helpful. We were the only students with English as a Second Language so it was a relief for us to go to the cafeteria and feel supported by each other. Now we are working in the same field. As mother and daughter it has been a blessing. My daughter feels more confident. I like that because she wasn’t feeling good before.

So I definitely owe all this to Isla.  And this absolute trust when I am here at PACT. It is a very solid, stable place. I’m not only speaking about 2 or 3 years in PACT. It is over ten years I have never had any other experience being here.

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