Bavleen Kaur didn’t expect to have to call 911 the same day she learned about it.
A newcomer to Canada at the time, Kaur was observing a Canadian Red Cross workshop as part of her volunteer training in December 2019. Later that day, she encountered an injured, semi-conscious man in a bus shelter. She called 911, something she had learned about during the SmartStart workshop.
“I followed the steps — I stayed calm and I gave clear instructions — and (help) came in three minutes while I was on the phone call,” Kaur said. “If I hadn’t attended the workshop that morning, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”
SmartStart provides new Canadians with a fundamental understanding of how to respond to emergencies and prevent injuries. Participants learn basic home safety, road safety, best practices in infant and child safety, and extreme weather risks. They also learn when and how to call 911.
Born and raised in Jalandhar, India, Kaur moved to Manitoba in August 2019 to study at the University of Winnipeg.
“After a couple months, I realized I had some free time and I wanted to put it to good use,” said Kaur, who is in her early 20s. “I myself was a newcomer at the time … so I wanted to participate and see what this program was all about.”
Kaur, who now facilitates SmartStart workshops, said one of the things she most enjoys about volunteering is the wide array of people she encounters.
“I am a people person — I love to meet people,” she says. “I have met so many people from different nationalities, all working together.”
Kaur says volunteering helped get her out of her comfort zone and gave her the confidence to speak in front of groups and connect with people.
“When I joined the Red Cross as a newcomer, it helped me learn new skills and gain experience,” she said.
She credits volunteering with SmartStart with giving her professional experience that has helped her in her job as a personnel manager at Walmart.
Her interest in volunteering stems from the gratitude she has for everything she received during the first few months after she moved to Canada.
“As a newcomer, I have first-hand experience knowing how much it means to receive knowledge and support,” Kaur said. “I do not miss any chance to give back to the community or pass it forward to those in need.”
A lesson she learned from her parents — to use one’s time wisely — also motivates her.
“Spending all this time on volunteering really fills me with satisfaction.”
When Kaur isn’t working or volunteering, she enjoys making art.
She also maintains a blog at bavlyfe.com where she shares personal stories with the hope that newcomers can gain insight into life in Canada, as well as pick up study and career tips.
She hopes that people consider volunteering.
“There are many ways (people) can volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross,” she says.
Visit redcross.ca/volunteer for details.
If you know a special volunteer, email aaron.epp@gmail.com.