I am London
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I am London 2020

Welcome to the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership's seventh annual I am London campaign. This year’s campaign focus is immigrant professionals in the health and well-being sector.

Started in 2013, I am London is a social media campaign that showcases diversity and celebrates successful immigrants who have chosen to call London  home. These proud and engaged members of our community share their inspirational stories.

Mary Gianan, Personal Support Worker, “You are holding them, you are in their bubble.”

9/15/2020

2 Comments

 
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Mary Gianan has been extra careful since COVID-19 struck. She has tried to avoid going out other than to work, and when she must, she always wears a mask.
As a personal support worker (PSW) in a long-term care facility, she says she feels it’s important to take the extra precautions.
“You really are with the residents,” as a PSW, she said. “You are holding them, you are in their bubble, so you have to make sure you’re safe.
“I love my job. I see my residents as family.”
Originally from the Philippines, Mary came to Canada to work as a nanny in 2005. She had to leave her family – her husband, four-year-old daughter and one-and-a-half-year-old son – back home in order to start the family’s immigration process.
“I left pretty early in the morning, I tried to sneak out, but my son was awake. He started calling out to me,” Mary recalled of the day she left for Canada.
“I can still hear him to this day. It was heartbreaking to leave,” she said. “But it was a good decision. I gave a good life to my children.”
Mary lived in London when she first immigrated, then moved to Burlington. But when her family was finally able to join her, she and her husband came back to London to raise their kids.
They had some tough times. Shortly after her husband arrived, her family didn’t have enough money for groceries, so they got help from the food bank.
“I was really down at that time,” Mary recalled. But they persevered and now he also works as a PSW – along with their daughter, who is now 20 – and they recently bought their first home.
With all three of them working in health care, life has changed drastically over the past six months. “We stay in our bubble. We get tested (for COVID-19) every two weeks and we are strict about everything. We wear our masks. We try to be very safe.”
Mary, who was a teacher in the Philippines, feels like working in health care – especially with elderly patients – is a vocation.
“It’s fulfilling. You can give them the love they don’t have now,” she said, adding some residents at her facility have no visitors. ”We hold their hands. They love that. You see how they light up from a simple hug. It’s like having 30 grandmothers and grandfathers.”
Working as a health care provider is just one of the ways Mary is giving back to the community that she said has given her and her family so much. She also volunteers with the Filipino Association for London and District, where she reaches out to newcomers who are “frustrated.” She tells them about her own struggles as a new immigrant.
“I tell them to have patience and to hang on, because Canada is a lovely country,” said Mary.
2 Comments
Ymmanuelle
9/15/2020 09:18:37 pm

Hi Ate, your story is so inspiring that we, (me and my husband) are also looking forward to reach our goals here in Canada. Truly, giving care to our clients is a passion that must be tender and loving. ❤
Even if we are new here, we are very hopeful to meet the end of the rainbow with a pot of gold. We are lucky to have you and the rest of your family. Thank you for helping us out even the simplest thing. Thank you and God bless you more! 🥰

Reply
Miguel Gianan
12/9/2020 05:09:51 pm

Thank you Mommy for providing for is even when times gor tough. I love you ❤️

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  • Home
  • I Am London 2025
  • PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS
    • I AM LONDON 2024 >
      • Diego Cortes
      • Willy Aristide
      • Angela Gjurichanin
      • Selma Popovic
      • Firas Al Basri
      • Amsa Yaro
      • Jules Gutierrez
      • Camila Ariza
      • Patricia Vasconcellos Medeiros
      • Al-Asala Dabke Group
    • I Am London 2023 >
      • Susan Abdula
      • Gaston Mabaya
      • Grace Estrada
      • Chinelo Ezenwa
      • Francis Hinnah
      • Eman Ahmad (Al Sayyah)
      • Sandra Pineda
      • Angad Singh
      • Leticia Tang
    • I Am London 2022
    • I am London 2021
    • I am London 2020
    • I am London 2019
    • I AM LONDON 2018 >
      • - Osama, Sebastien & Lisseth
      • - Alba, Delveen & Afeez
      • - Emilio & Eman
      • - Stanislav, Fan & May
      • - Irina, Carlos & Joan
    • I am London 150 (2017)
    • I am London 2015
    • I am London 2014
    • I am London 2013
  • About
  • Contact