It was a sunny afternoon and Matsqui Institution’s Citizens

Advisory Committee was on a tour of the prison’s skills training shops. Walter Paetkau, Executive Director of what was then MSA Community Services was walking with me. I respected Walter and his organization highly. He had my immediate attention when he said, “we are getting a government grant to do some projects in the community. You could apply if you’re interested.” Two weeks later I was working for Community Services.

When Walter assigned me to work on a project with seniors, I wasn’t excited initially. For several months I had a partner. Joan was a fun loving red head who laughed easily. She had the looks and personality to be on stage. We organized two town hall meetings that stirred considerable interest among seniors. They liked us and were ecstatic that Community Services was taking an interest in them. When we asked if they would like to have a centre where they could drink coffee, play games and meet people, they quickly said “yes.”

We enlisted several seniors to work on the idea of creating a centre. When we learned there might be money available from the provincial government, I took three senior ladies along to Vancouver to talk with the official who had the power to provide funding. The ladies loved the excursion. One of them insisted on buying my lunch.

We named the centre Friendship House and to my amazement, the seniors persuaded family and friends to donate all the furniture, including a piano. I could plunk a little and Joan had a good voice. For several months we visited the centre once each week. I played the piano and Joan, with her uplifting personality and strong voice quickly created an atmosphere of excitement. The people loved it and I learned that it’s possible to grow old and still be enthusiastic about life.

Knowing I had an interest in writing, Walter began asking me to accompany him to meetings about issues important to the work of the organization. He had a growing vision and the ability to attract people to it. Personal media attention seemed unimportant to him. However, he understood that the media could play a critical role in alerting the community to needs and issues that required attention. In pursuing goals he could be relentless, but he was also able to work patiently at putting pieces in place.

Walter accepted two capable Matsqui Institution inmates as volunteers. One had been successful in a Vancouver radio station until a judge sentenced him to prison for murder. Several individuals on social assistance made a substantive contribution through participation in a work experience program. Walter was able to discern the potential in people, even if their track record was dismal. Observing the blossoming of some of these individuals, I came to realize that through encouragement, guidance and support, a life of failure can be turned into a life of productivity and fulfilment.

Unfortunately, one of the inmates fell in love with a young female volunteer. Desperate to be with her, he persuaded her to run away to Mexico with him. He had concocted a clever scheme to gain control of some Community Services funds. He used the money to finance this poorly thought through plan. His girlfriend returned after a week. He phoned the prison a few days later to say he was coming back. For him it meant no more temporary absences.

The media created a huge uproar and the government withdrew funding for some projects, including the one I was working on. Fortunately, I had learned a lot and felt ready to move on.

Looking back now, I realize it was a stroke of ultimate good fortune to begin this phase of my work life in a position to observe Walter in action. The Community Services experience and the personal influence of Walter Paetkau altered my attitude, outlook and thinking. Walter’s unassuming but forceful leadership style, his values, compassion and perseverance continue to impact my life to this time.