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Let's Be The Light
I created this page as a way of giving back to the people and places that have shaped who I am and where I stand today. Every link on this page directs you straight to the official donation page of the organization—no funds pass through me at any point. Each cause is accompanied by a brief note on why it matters to me.
Tribute: Darla Beverley Black
(April 9, 1940 – January 22, 2019)
Darla Beverley Black of Port Moody, British Columbia, spent her life giving to children, to her community, and to everyone lucky enough to cross her path. Darla loved working with children throughout her many years teaching in Coquitlam and through her volunteer work with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver. True to who she was, she asked for nothing in return, only that kindness, hope, and healing continue.
Darla was my Big Buddy, but the role she played in my life went far beyond any title. I met her as a child in the School Mentoring Program. Every Thursday, she would take me out of class for one hour to create—to paint, glue, build, imagine. It doesn’t sound like much, but for me, that hour changed everything. In a world that often felt uncertain, Darla was steady, patient, present, and kind. She became my first real friend, my teacher, my safe place, and my guiding light.
She saw me before I knew how to see myself. She showed me that love doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing, that gentleness can be revolutionary, and that being truly seen can save a life. She met me exactly where I was and helped me glimpse who I could become. Without Darla, the early foundations of my life—and everything that followed—would not exist in the way they do today.
Darla had a heart big enough to hold everyone. Through her teaching and her volunteer work, she gave children what every soul deserves: a place to belong. She made sure I never felt forgotten or abandoned and remains the light that reminds me of my strength, and the proof that love given freely never fades.
This tribute exists because of her.
In keeping with Darla’s wishes, donations may be made directly to Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver or the Crossroads Hospice Society—Two causes that reflect the way she lived: with generosity, compassion, and an incredible amount of care for others.
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
https://www.bigbrothersvancouver.com/donate/
Crossroads Hospice Society
https://www.crossroadshospice.org/donate-online
You may also choose to plant a tree in her memory through the link below:
https://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/darla-black-1072445236
Darla, may your legacy live on in the branches that reach for the sun, and in every heart you’ve ever helped to shape.
Well, that’s all for now, friend.
Bye-bye for now.
Love,
Your best friend,
Vanessa
"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Tribute: Mr. S & SHARE Society
Some people come into your life and change the course of it. For me, that person was Mr. Sabot—a mentor, a supporter, and someone who showed up for me during my make-or-break season.
Mr. Sabot was more than a teacher. He was a guide who saw possibility where I saw struggle, strength where I felt weak, and potential where I felt invisible. He embodied the essence of compassion in action: listening first, holding space without judgment, and always encouraging those around him to step forward.
He didn’t just teach lectures; he taught dignity, offered some of my first lessons in resilience, and gave me the courage to keep going when life felt dark and heavy. The difference he made in my life is the life I am able to live and lead today.
SHARE Society reflects that same spirit. SHARE is a community program dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing adversity. Through essential services, compassionate care, and programs that strengthen belonging, SHARE meets people where they are—just as Mr. Sabot met me.
This isn’t charity for charity’s sake. It’s support that restores hope, fosters growth, and reminds people they are not alone in their struggle.
As I shared in Resilience in Residence:
“To this day, I believe that as dark as the world can be, when you see people at your lowest, you also witness incredible light.”
Programs like SHARE are a testament to that truth.
They are the light.
I know the impact of programs like SHARE because I live that difference every day through the confidence I carry, the strength I practice, and the hope I hold for others. When you support SHARE, your donation goes directly to people navigating some of life’s hardest moments. There is no middle-man, your contribution flows straight to programs that change lives.
If you feel moved to continue compassion, dignity, and real-world support, you can donate directly to SHARE here:
https://sharesociety.ca/donate-to-share
Thank you for helping nurture community, compassion, and healing. Every contribution makes a difference and every act of kindness ripples forward.
Final Note
I believe we have drifted from our sense of community as a collective. Somewhere along the way, we began to replace connection with resources, and called it enough, but community was never meant to be outsourced.
If you cannot donate to any of these tributes, I ask only this: do your part in paying it forward, whatever that looks like for you. Be mindful and notice the change that begins when you decide to help. Help has a way of rippling outward—long after the moment has passed—and it is rewarding to witness your generosity change the world around you. What matters is not the size of the gesture, but the willingness to act.
Giving back is not reserved for those with excess. It is the responsibility of those who can see and for those who are aware that change is needed. If you can help, I believe you should, because that is how light moves through the world.
Help me spread much-needed light through this world, and when you do, I invite you to share your stories with me along the way.