I arrived in Edmonton, from Montreal, in 2013 and wasn’t keen on the place. I didn’t know many people and wasn’t sure what, if anything, the community would offer a newcomer. When school started in the fall, my opinion totally changed. I now spend time volunteering in my community and attending and supporting festivals and events. When you give freely of yourself, you open up new opportunities; not just for yourself, but also for those you work with or help.  We live in a multi-cultural society and we benefit from its diversity. As we volunteer, we can gather information, experience and learn from each other!