January has shaped up to be an exciting month. The Vancouver skies reminded us that it is indeed wintertime. We had a few snowy days which were beautiful but very chilly. At month end the snow has melted away and we are back to our typical rainy grey with an occasional splash of sunshine.

Early in the month we welcomed a new staff member to our little team. Melissa Vassallo comes to us from Seattle by way of Los Angeles, Sydney and Wellington New Zealand. She has a passion for travel and is thrilled to join Lattitude. She has been taking some of the administrative duties off Stuart’s busy desk and is looking forward to working with everyone far and wide.

Melissa, Pia and Stuart

Last weekend we welcomed twenty two new volunteers to the Vancouver area for incoming Canadian orientation. Our new group travelled from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom for their placements all over Canada. There were a few flight delays coming in, but once everyone arrived there was much fun had by all. We discussed how to make the most of this wonderful experience and how to navigate the new environment. Topics included placement expectations, accommodation, immigration and visas, communication, social events and quick tips for Canadian living to name but a few. We worked hard to make sure everyone’s questions were answered and that the new volunteers felt comfortable and welcomed in our fair city. We also enjoyed some of the local cuisine at Davie Mongolian BBQ which gave the volunteers a chance to chat and get to know one another.

Best of luck to all of our new Canadian volunteers!

New volunteers arrive in Vancouver

New Canadian Volunteers