Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House’s Homework Club exists because Elizabeth McIllfaterick is brilliant at figuring out how to provide help and she broke her arm.
In the summer of 2018, Elizabeth had just returned to Vancouver after teaching English in South America. Eager to return to work, she’d applied to volunteer with MPNH’s Family Literacy Outreach program, hoping to continue developing her English language teaching skills. Then she broke her arm. Unable to work, she spent her unexpectedly free summer pitching in at MPNH wherever she could, as long as she could do it one-handed.
Elizabeth helped with community lunches, seniors' lunches and the English Conversation Club, alongside her work tutoring newcomer mothers through Family Literacy Outreach.
She was amazed by everything happening inside a building she'd barely noticed, even though she lived around the corner.
She describes MPNH as a little gem "hidden in plain sight." Captivated by its atmosphere, she says, "I couldn't find a reason to not dive in and help out."
By fall, Elizabeth had become MPNH's volunteer coordinator, welcoming volunteers and matching their abilities with opportunities throughout the house. Some spoke little English but were wonderful cooks. Others had technical skills they could contribute outside regular working hours. Seniors often volunteered in the very programs they attended.
"Everybody has a role in our community. Everybody has a place, age regardless."
The unexpected time off also allowed Elizabeth to devote more attention to Family Literacy Outreach, where she tutored newcomer mothers. Through this work, she became familiar with the challenges newcomer families faced, eventually expanding her work to help their children with schoolwork as well.
She recognized that these students needed additional academic support, particularly as they navigated school while learning English. With support from Morie Ford, who ran Family Literacy Outreach, Elizabeth established a Saturday morning Homework Club. Drawing on her role as volunteer coordinator, she recruited tutors and matched their academic strengths with the needs of newcomer students.
Many tutors were high school students themselves, and the benefits extended beyond homework. For a newcomer navigating an unfamiliar school, recognizing a trusted tutor in the hallway meant having someone they could turn to for help.
Working with the students also helped her discover how much she enjoyed teaching children. In 2022, she left MPNH to pursue her Bachelor of Education at UBC, bringing with her valuable experience and a reference from Morie Ford.
During her teaching practicum, Elizabeth drew on what she'd learned at MPNH to recognize where students learning English might struggle and anticipate the support they needed. She was hired on the last day of her practicum and now teaches at Walnut Grove Secondary School in Langley.
Looking back, Elizabeth recognizes how much MPNH contributed to her journey.
"I benefited from that place just like participants do."
And that, she believes, is what makes the neighbourhood house special.
"It didn't feel like charity," she explains.
People weren't divided into those who needed help and those who provided it. Everyone belonged, and everyone had something to contribute.
"Everybody is both a receiver of help and a giver of help."
Asked what she hopes MPNH will be doing in another 50 years, Elizabeth imagines returning as a senior, perhaps joining the very programs she once helped support.
"I hope it's still a place of belonging, a place of community, a physical place where I can go and see people, meet my neighbours, help somebody, receive help, feel good about that at the end of the day."
Story written by Signy Marcyniuk through an interview with a former staff during her practicum placement at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House.
50 Stories for 50 Years at MPNH is a collection of meaningful stories that celebrate the lasting impact our Neighbourhood House has had over the years. These stories come from long-time participants, families, youth, volunteers, community members, and regular visitors whose lives have been touched, supported, or transformed through our programs, services, and connections at the House.
