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Volunteer relates to children who are grieving by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 15 | Friday, April 25, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville's Ian Hopkins is no stranger to volunteering. He's been doing it for years, either coaching children's baseball and soccer, or most recently, spending time at the Lighthouse Program for Grieving Children. Modelled after The Dougy Centre for Grieving Children and Families in Portland, Oregon, Lighthouse provides peer-support groups for children aged three to 12, their primary caregivers and teens aged 13-18. Hopkins has been volunteering with the organization for more than two years, after reading an Oakville Beaver article featuring Lighthouse. "I read the article and I thought, `Wow, this is the kind of place I want to be involved with' and contacted them," he told the Beaver. Hopkins says he understands the Lighthouse and the work it does -- his mother was killed in a car accident when he was 16 years old. "Everybody's experience is different, but I could relate to what some of these children were going through. I just thought this was a valuable use of my time. I could maybe do something worthwhile working there," he said. The Lighthouse Program appealed to him, ally found that refreshing, as odd as that may sound." Hopkins volunteers his Monday evenings at the Lighthouse working as a facilitator -- an apt term, he says, as his job is to facilitate discussion with the youths. He notes the environment is not always heavy; sometimes the participants open up and want to talk about what's going on with them, while other times they just want to spend time with other children, have fun and play games. "It's been interesting to say the least," said Hopkins. "It's rewarding and I love working see Children on p.19 Ian Hopkins Hopkins explains, because it doesn't offer counselling, but rather peer support -- a place where people with shared experiences can hang out, talk (if they want to) and confront things head on. "They don't use euphemisms, like `passed on.' If somebody died, they say they died," he said. "It removes any ambiguity... and I actu- Open House May 3rd · 10 am - 2 pm Admissions testing available. Pre-registration required. 2241 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga, Ont. (QEW/Mississauga Rd.) For more information please call 905-891-1890 x103 or email: admissions@hnmcs.ca Enriched university preparatory school for girls in grades 5-12. www.hnmcs.ca Same or Next Day Delivery to oakville TO SCHOOL! A Rotherglen education offers positive, safe and friendly learning environments that inspire and promote intellectual curiosity, creativity and academic excellence in our students.This is achieved through the integration of an exceptional curriculum including the arts, athletics, community service and leadership opportunities. LOVE COMING OUR STUDENTS Great big Green Super Sac Huge Sac... Small Price! TO BOOK A CALL TODAY Home of the Give your child a Rotherglen education. Oakville Primary Campus Montessori: Ages 3-5 to Grade 1 2045 Sixth Line, Oakville, ON 905-338-3528 TOUR Applications for 2014/2015 are now being accepted. PERSONAL black soil Delivery iNcluDeD only $ Oakville Elementary Campus Grade 1 to 8 2050 Neyagawa Blvd, Oakville, ON 905-849-1897 buy 2 SacS Save $20! 1 1 9 + $5 refundable deposit on sac www.rotherglen.com 1.866.465.8657