About Your Care Mentors and Care Sheppards
Things You should know …
Your Care Mentors
The people you’ll meet on this page are compassionate volunteers who follow the example of Jesus Christ as channels of God’s love during your caregiving journey.
You may be wondering…
- How will I be matched with the right Care Mentor?
After we receive your request, our program coordinator will guide you through a simple and confidential process, then help you find a mentor who best fits your unique needs. - How often will I connect with my Care Mentor?
All visits take place by phone. You and your mentor will decide together what works best, typically once a week or every other week for 30 to 60 minutes. - How long does the mentoring relationship last?
Normally, a six-month relationship works well. However, you or your mentor can pause or end the relationship when needed.
Baha
My father died when I was just 18 months old, and I was raised by my mother and much older brother. When I immigrated to Canada, I brought my mother with me to care for her. Years later, my brother—then 67 and in poor health—also joined me, and I became his caregiver too. The hardest moment was placing him in a nursing home against his wishes. As your care mentor, my focus will be to give you some emotional support by seeking to understand. Because, in my understanding, I hope you will gain better insight to set realistic expectations for yourself.
Margaret
During the first year of our marriage, it felt as if we had more dinners in the hospital cafeteria than in our little apartment. Why? Shortly after our wedding, my husband’s mother became quite unwell. Being young and inexperienced in a multicultural family was a hard lesson in life and caregiving. Later, that caregiving experience served me well when it was my turn to care for my Dad and my Mom in their aging years. While I struggled in my first caregiving role, I learned that the best I can do is PRAY. If you select me as your care mentor, my focus will be to pray. Yes, I will be your prayer partner.
Martha
Each morning, I wrapped him in his favourite blanket and moved him beside his favourite window. Cancer had stolen the strength from my husband of 35 years, but not the quiet love we shared. We read Psalms as we sipped tea in quiet reflections. God’s word becomes our hiding place. Through its wisdom, we gained insights into what we do not understand or control. If you select me as your care mentor, my focus will not be to answer your questions but rather to give you some spiritual insights that relate to your spiritual challenges and concerns.
About Your Care Shepherd
Care Shepherds are retired pastors who offer pastoral care, spiritual and emotional support to our Care Mentors. Each mentor is paired with a Shepherd who provides prayer, guidance, and a listening ear, especially when complex needs or deeper spiritual concerns arise. You can think of them as “Higher Level Support.” While offering their insight and rich experience, our Shepherds also uphold the strictest commitment to confidentiality.
Pastor Joe Example
Pastor Joe brings over 45 years of faithful ministry experience, including a decade serving in the mission fields of Central America and 35 years in church and community leadership. He is widely respected not only as a gifted teacher of God’s Word but also as a compassionate shepherd with a tender heart for the lonely, the grieving, and those in need of encouragement. His calm presence and deep empathy have comforted many through life’s most difficult seasons. Pastor Joe is joyfully married to Mandy, the love of his life. Together, they cherish three children, five grandchildren, and two beloved dogs.
