Jocelyne Hamel - 50 Stories for 50 Years (Story # 20)
One rainy evening in 2006, Jocelyne arrived at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House for her Executive Director interview. She was drenched and a bit anxious about meeting the eight people on her interview panel. But her anxiety turned into excitement when she walked through the front door. Jocelyne looked around and thought:
“Wow – this is the most beautiful building I've ever been in.”
That spark of excitement set in motion fourteen years of growth, challenge, innovation, and deep community connection.
Jocelyne started as Executive Director in May 2006. MPNH had a very small budget and deficits that they needed to address. But Jocelyne knew that true success does not come from funding.
“The people, the history, the community engagement – that’s the core,” Jocelyne says.
And MPNH was in transition. Jocelyne recognized the legacy of David Adair, an iconic leader for twenty-five years who passed away two years earlier. People were still grieving.
"We had to honour the history," Jocelyne would reflect. "Remember that everybody had a place here."
The early years were challenging, but Jocelyne stuck it out. She believed in collaboration, in doing things “with” others rather than “for” them. Slowly, they found new funding, brought in new people, and began to grow.
Jocelyne’s fondest memories have one thing in common: they all begin as small volunteer initiatives that blossom. Like Oruguitas Latinas, a volunteer-led program for Latin American families that began in 2007 and still thrives today. And there was Lamin, a volunteer who questioned why there were no programs for men. He started a men’s group that became an official program. Then Lamin himself became part of MPNH staff.
Partnerships brought significant growth. High school youth from MPNH’s youth programs received funding from the City of Vancouver for cameras that they took into their neighborhoods. They created storyboards and films documenting what they liked and didn’t like and discussed recommendations.
“It helped build civic literacy”, Jocelyne recalls.
It certainly did. MPNH’s youth were the first to formally present to social planners at City Hall and contribute directly to Vancouver’s social policy. Their experiences created personal bonds with MPNH. Some continued volunteering while others sought more work within the system.
Another “first” was the community parklet. MPNH was the first nonprofit organization to build a parklet alongside their property. Parklets are often temporary, quickly assembled spaces.
“But ours started from a community process,” Jocelyne states.
It took two and a half years to build the parklet – a testament to what community collaboration can achieve.
It began when a volunteer suggested asking for reclaimed wood from a demolition at East 10th and Kingsway. Then MPNH connected with Projects in Place, an organization of architects and landscapers who would oversee construction. Artists who previously connected with MPNH got involved. Projects in Place partnered with UBC to prepare the reclaimed wood for building.
On building day, almost two and a half years later, even more people came together. Some volunteered to take care of the plants. Others joined in construction.
“It was just such a beautiful legacy,” Jocelyne recalls with pride. “An epitome of how community can come together to build something meaningful that has a legacy for the community itself.”
Jocelyne left MPNH in January 2020, but a legacy of looking outward remains.
“What does the community need? Who else must we partner with? How do we build capacity not just for ourselves but for the whole community network?”
Looking forward, Jocelyne dreams of legacy programs – ways for children who grew up in MPNH programs to stay connected as adults, continuing the cycle of contribution. She wants to see MPNH’s strong, creative childcare continue to flourish. And she hopes for more partnerships with Indigenous organizations and immigrant organizations. Because a neighbourhood house cannot survive alone. As Jocelyne says,
“Hope is discovering that we are connected to everyone and everything. Every small effort you make in collaboration with others is a step toward creating wisdom, compassion, and a stronger community.”
Story written by Carrie Keen through an interview with the participant 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.
