Towards the end of my contract coordinating the Gala of Hope for the Canadian Cancer Society, I got offered a job at the BC Cancer Foundation. The BCCF is the fundraising arm of the local cancer centre - the BC Cancer Agency, Centre for the Southern Interior - where patients receive cancer treatment and care. To add to the chaos at this time, my permanent residency came through at the end of April. Finally! It was such a relief! Anyway, I saw this as an opportunity, for once I started work, initially I would not accumulate enough holiday to go to England, so I thought I would grab the chance now. It was last minute, but it was great to see my family. My neice and nephew had just grown so much since I'd left a year and a half ago!
Then, two days after getting back to Canada I started my new job. I love it and my manager, Cynthia (far right) is a really nice lady, and the other members of the team pictured here, Rose and Karen, are great. The best thing was that because I'd been a volunteer at the centre right up until Christmas, everything was very familiar to me and I knew so many people. The first few weeks I would get hugs every day from various staff and volunteers congratulating me on the job! It was great! As much I find biology and science fascinating, I feel like I have found my new niche in life. I just enjoy my very people-interactive career now! A far cry from doing lonesome bench research! * Mush
