Every month CTV partners up with Volunteer Calgary to bring you stories about outstanding volunteers.
If you want to feel inspired to give back to your community, sit down and chat with Lorne Haggarty for a few minutes. When Lorne retired from teaching he knew there was much more he wanted to do. He has contributed close to 14 years of dedicated and heartfelt service to the Distress Centre and the Calgary community. After my visit with Lorne I couldn’t help but feel that he is a true example of the difference one person can make in an organization and in the lives of others.
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Name: Lorne Haggarty
Organization: The Distress Centre
Describe your first experience with volunteerism: Lorne says he volunteered with Scouts Canada for 15 years when his boys were young. He said he felt it was important to spend time with his boys and be involved in their interests. Aside from Scouts Canada Lorne and his wife also give back by volunteering for Inn From the Cold at their church.
What was your reason/motivation for volunteering with the organization: There are a couple of reasons for Lorne’s involvement with the Distress Centre. He says one was watching his Mom as he grew up in a small town here in Alberta. He says his Mom was a registered nurse and the hospital was 20 miles away, so when she wasn’t working she was the person the community would call upon in a time of need. Lorne goes onto say that seeing his Mom assist so many was always motivation for him to want to give back. And the second reason…one day he was talking to a young man that worked at the Distress Centre every Friday night. Lorne said “I thought this must be a pretty special place for a young man to give up his Friday nights”. The rest is history…
How has volunteering impacted your life: Lorne laughs and says “I’ve driven everyone crazy”. Seriously, he says it has given me a better appreciation for what exists in our city. He says he is much more aware of homelessness, addiction, suicide and the pressure that is in our society. He says they have ongoing training at the Centre and there is always a constant chance to grow and learn. Lorne says he considers himself a life long learner, and really enjoys sharing ideas with the young people that are finishing degrees and working on their education. It’s a great team.
How would you say volunteering has impacted the lives of others: Lorne tells me there is a tremendous feeling to know someone is alive because you helped. He says the mandate of the Distress Centre is to enrich lives, and he feels it does exactly that.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering: That no two shifts are the same. Every time you pick up the phone the stories are different. The place never shuts down and he admires the dedication by the entire team.
What do you like about Calgary: Calgary is vibrant and clean and has a great Mayor. He says it has lots of positives. The Rocky Mountains are close by and we’ve spent a lot of time there as a family.
Which famous person would you like to meet, or have you met: “as I reflect I would have loved to met Rick Hansen. He has been such an inspiration in not only raising money but attention and awareness to spinal cord research”. Lorne says he thinks Rick is a powerful and positive individual.
