Two Tri-City volunteers were honoured for their work as homeless and housing advocates at the 2018 Douglas College convocation ceremonies last week.
Sandy and Cathy Burpee received recognition as 2018 Honorary Fellows for their achievements including advocating and building community support for 3030 Gordon Avenue, a permanent shelter and transition housing for people without a home.
But in their own home, a two-bedroom condo in Coquitlam, the two said they are surprised by the recognition and grateful for the college’s acknowledgement, even if they don’t quite think they deserve it.
“We were glad to be participating in the child and family and community studies convocation,"said Cathy. "We could be role models to others. To me that made sense.”
The two are humble about their contributions to the community and said they are most impressed with the Douglas College grads who will be working on making the world a just and safe place for vulnerable people.
“The message we wanted to give is a message that would be energizing to them,” said Sandy, a retired BC Hydro engineer.
As long as many can remember, the Burpees have been working to support those less fortunate.
They worked to end violence in the 1990s with a group called Together Against Violence, and with their Beacon Unitarian Church helped start a food bank with Share Family and Community Services and Como Lake United Church. Cathy also worked as a volunteer with the Society for Community Development, which helped groups dealing with social issues, while Sandy was also a member of the Coquitlam Search and Rescue team, participating in over 50 searches.
Later they began to work on behalf of homeless people and remember the incident that inspired Sandy to become an advocate for those less fortunate.
It was one night while they were meeting friends for dinner in Gastown when they were greeted by a panhandler.
At first the couple brushed passed the man, but then Sandy returned, ashamed, after spending a few minutes in the warmly lit restaurant.
“I went back and gave him $5. He said thank you very much.”
The man stepped out of the shadows and revealed a badly scarred face, the remnants of a terrible family incident.
“He just needed you to recognize him and hear his story,” Cathy recalled.
“I was just very disturbed by it,” Sandy replied.
Sandy is still involved in issues of homelessness, although he recently stepped down as chair of the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group after 11 years at its helm. He does weekly needle sweeps in Coquitlam and picks up litter in the area of the 3030 Gordon Avenue shelter and is planning some workshops about homelessness.
He also monitors the weather for the emergency shelter program that funds temporary mats for people during the winter when temperatures dip below zero.
“Homelessness has always disturbed me at my core,” Sandy said.
His wife, meanwhile, supports Sandy’s advocacy work while also being an involved grandmother.
“Family is important to us,” Cathy commented. “Family always comes first.”
Yet for all the work the two have put into making Coquitlam a better place, many would think the Tri-Cities has become the couples’ extended family.
As Douglas College president Kathy Denton noted in a press release announcing the Burpees’ honorary fellowship:
“Sandy and Cathy Burpee’s tireless advocacy of antipoverty, homelessness and violence prevention initiatives are part of a long-time commitment to our communities that is truly inspiring. Their ability to organize diverse groups to work toward shared goals demonstrates the type of leadership that is needed to tackle some of society’s greatest challenges.”
