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Family Far from Home

July 8, 2025 Great People

Only two months after arriving in Canada as an international student from Nigeria, Gaffar Asanbe joined Parkland Clayton Park, serving as both a server and a member of the maintenance team, while studying for his Master’s in Communication at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, N.S. With his family far away, he invited residents Ann Roberts and Betty Woolridge to accompany him to his graduation “to stand in that symbolic space,” he says.

His connection with Parkland grew deeper as he experienced its community-oriented philosophy, “something that is not just preached but practiced in daily interactions,” Gaffar says. He was touched by the warmth with which he was welcomed and made a symbolic acknowledgement in his thesis: “a humble tribute to a place that became more than just a workplace.”

While he holds every resident close to his heart, Ann and Betty embraced him from the start, engaging in deep, meaningful conversations about life, family, and the world. Gaffar is grateful that they have become mentors and “surrogate grandparents” in many ways. Their stories, guidance, and encouragement have offered him both comfort and perspective, “particularly as someone navigating life far from home and family.”

The feeling is mutual. They don’t just see him as a team member. Ann refers to him as her grandson, and Betty describes Gaffar’s daughter as her great-granddaughter, “titles that touched me deeply and made me feel like family,” he highlights.

Their influence has been immense, shaping Gaffar during this crucial period of his life. “I wanted them beside me on such an important day. Without Ann and Betty, my academic journey would have felt far lonelier.”

Their connection is a daily reminder that meaningful friendships grow across generations, and that, even far from home, it’s possible to build a family of the heart.