My Mom, Pauline, has been an amazing role model of strength and perseverance throughout my life. After raising her four children, she went back to school at age 44. I was 12 at the time.
Photo MWCN
She did evening classes and by the time I was ready to attend the same University in the same program as her, she was graduating. She chose to do that part time to still be available to her family. In those years, she acquired her Family Life Education certificate and her BA in Applied Human Sciences. She also helped the homeless and worked in the prison ministry as a volunteer. She always believed in the good in people and had compassion for everyone. Twenty years ago, she started an organization that has become the Montérégie West Community Network (MWCN). She is now the Executive Director of the organization which now has three offices throughout the region, Châteauguay, Huntingdon and Pincourt. Another satellite office is in the planning to open up in Candiac in the next few months. MWCN also has 10 employees working diligently in supporting the English-speaking Quebecers. She works tirelessly with the communities and the government to ensure that the English-speaking community has access to health care and other services within their first language, something that is not always available to us in the province of Quebec. My Mom has been through hardships and heartaches and always strives to work through them and get to the top. That is why she has always been my true mentor and example in life!
Submitted by Deborah Wiedow, daughter
