Connor moved to Vancouver over 10 years ago but was born in Jasper National Park. That’s right - inside of a beautiful National Park! He moved to Vancouver because he spent some time here as a kid and fell in love with the city, in part because it rarely snows. “I don’t have to go outside and have my face hurt, so that’s good,” he jokes.
When he first moved to Vancouver to attend school for computer science, he stayed with family friends. It wasn’t an easy start because he hadn't established a support system here yet, but he was willing to make it work. After eventually dropping out of school, he started to face a lot of instability and uncertainty that only increased when COVID hit. Connor shares, “My life was not really good… I was dealing with a lot of personal issues.”
Connor had been hearing about Mission Possible for many years from a friend living in the Downtown Eastside. His friend once worked with MP and was always quick to remind Connor that when he was ready, he should check out the organization. At the same time, Connor started seeing MP’s crews around more often, so he decided to take the step. With nothing to lose, he officially joined the Clean Team in November 2022. Connor had his own expectations when he walked in, but what he found left him immediately impressed. He recalls attending a graduation during his first month at MP and how it made him realize the impact that was being made here. He shares, “I felt this is the place that would help me launch myself into life and to stabilize.”
On the Clean Team, Connor found joy exploring the city with the different cleaning routes and being in an environment where people from similar backgrounds came together. After the challenges of COVID, Conner was glad to be able to find something to look forward to, sharing, “This is the only job I have done where it feels that I am doing something with a higher purpose. I feel like I am giving back to the community even if it's a very humble thing like picking up garbage.” This sense of working toward the greater good was a vital piece for him, and he expanded, “I felt like I had a lot more purpose in my work when I was here. And that was really good because it made me feel like I was a part of the world and I was doing something beneficial for the world.”
From quitting drinking, experiencing meaningful employment, and seeing work from a different, less cynical view, Connor felt changed from his time at Mission Possible. “It was definitely one of the better experiences of my life,” he shares. He highlights that the support he received from staff, supervisors, and fellow associates was unlike that of any other employment program he’s joined before. Connor was especially grateful for the authenticity that he saw in every person at every level of the organization.
After just four months on the Clean Team, Connor transitioned into an external position with a junk removal and cleaning company. It was a difficult transition, and Connor worked hard to give his new environment a chance. He continued to access coaching sessions at MP to work through his struggles at his new workplace and eventually decided to leave his job and return to MP. In July 2023, Connor joined MP Neighbours as a Community Navigator, giving him the opportunity to continue creating meaningful change in his community by bridging the gaps between the diverse groups in the Downtown Eastside.
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