Volunteer Spotlight
Our volunteers are the backbone of MCLD. Discover the stories of the incredible individuals who dedicate their time and talent to our community, year after year.
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The Power of Showing Up “For the Love of It”
We are incredibly excited to introduce the very first edition of our Volunteer Spotlight series! This new series is our way of pulling back the curtain to celebrate the amazing people who make the MCLD community what it is today. To kick things off, we sat down with Emma, a dedicated leader and long-time volunteer who has been a pillar of our programs since 2018.
From the Soccer Field to the Pool
Emma’s journey with us didn’t start in an office or a classroom; it started on a soccer pitch. While volunteering for a local soccer program, she discovered a genuine passion for working with children with special needs. Seeking more ways to give back, she was pointed toward our Aqua KIDS program.
What began as a Friday night commitment quickly turned into a multi-year journey. “Even though you typically want your Friday nights off,” Emma reflects, “it never feels like a chore.” By 2019, she had stepped into leadership roles, serving as both a gym facilitator and an art facilitator, guiding both the children and her fellow volunteers.
Finding a Different View on Life
For Emma, the draw to this work is the unique perspective the children provide.
She notes that they often have a different way of understanding the world, which “makes things fun” and challenges her to move “outside the mold of traditional earning” to adapt to each child’s individual needs.
She recalls one particular moment from her first year that stayed with her. She was working with a nonverbal child with autism. By only their second session together, as their mother arrived to pick them up, they looked at Emma and clearly said, “Bye, Emma.” Their mother was stunned; it usually took them years of knowing their teachers before they could say their names. It’s these “real impact” moments that define the volunteer experience.
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
When she isn’t at the MCLD, Emma is finishing her PhD in Neuropsychology, researching nonverbal memory in adults. She also works in schools and private clinics, evaluating children with ADHD and learning difficulties. While her academic path is rigorous, she credits her time volunteering with teaching her things a textbook never could:
Self-Acceptance: She’s learned not to take herself quite so seriously.
Perspective: Seeing how others navigate social struggles has made her more accepting of everyone—including herself.
Validation: Her time here confirmed her lifelong goal of working with children with special needs professionally.
A Vision for the Future
Emma’s hope for the MCLD is to see it grow and reach even more people. She is particularly passionate about raising awareness for “invisible disabilities”—the learning challenges that people often hide or feel a stigma around. Her goal is for the community to become a place where anyone feels comfortable seeking the resources they need.
For those on the fence about volunteering, Emma has simple advice: “Go for it.” She suggests starting with something you’re genuinely interested in, so you aren’t just “giving time,” but doing something truly “for the love of it.”
Inspired by Emma’s story? We are always looking for new faces to join our team and help make an impact! Get in touch, info@ldmontreal.ca.