For Brent, volunteering at Siloam Mission is about community – showing up for neighbours, and being reminded that hope is always within reach.
A registered nurse at Indigenous Services Canada, Brent spends one shift each month volunteering in Siloam’s Saul Sair Health Centre, building relationships and providing care to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, and complex health challenges. Every visit is an opportunity to build trust, restore dignity, and meet people exactly where they are.
Brent’s connection to Siloam began long before he ever wore a nurse’s uniform.
In his early twenties, while working at Starbucks, Brent volunteered in Siloam’s kitchen through a community service program. One lesson from that experience stayed with him: learn people’s names, say please and thank you, and treat every guest with the same respect you would offer someone dining in a five-star restaurant.
Not long after, Brent’s own life took a difficult turn. He experienced addiction and homelessness firsthand, spending time on the other side of the care he now provides. Through recovery, he found the strength to rebuild – and set his sights on nursing school. Determined to help others walking a path he knew too well, he went on to earn his nursing degree.
Once his career was underway, there was only one place he wanted to return.
“I wanted more than anything to come back to Siloam,” Brent says. “This time, I wanted to be on the other side of the table.”
Today, Brent brings something to every shift that can’t be taught in a classroom: lived experience. Having faced some of the same challenges as many people who seek support at Siloam, he understands what it feels like to be judged or misunderstood. He works hard to make Siloam’s Saul Sair Health Centre a place where community members feel respected, welcomed, and comfortable seeking care.
That understanding builds real connection.
One client, after learning Brent was volunteering his time, insisted on buying him a coffee to say thank you – a small gesture that stayed with Brent long after. Another recognized him on the street and shared something simple but powerful: that he trusted him, and hoped to see him again at Siloam.
While many know Siloam Mission for its meals and shelter, Brent hopes more people discover the full range of care available through the Saul Sair Health Centre – including nursing, dental, foot care, chiropractic services, massage therapy, optometry, health education, and opioid treatment. These services help address health concerns early, before they become emergencies, while connecting people to housing supports and other essential care.
It is this everyday, life-changing work that Brent worries about as donations decline. When people have a safe, welcoming place to go, they are far more likely to seek help before a crisis hits.
Still, Brent remains hopeful. He has seen firsthand how generous Winnipeggers are once they understand the need – and he believes that spirit will continue to carry Siloam forward.
For Brent, every shift is both a reminder of how far he has come and a chance to help someone else take their next step. He knows that sometimes the smallest moments – a conversation, a kind word, a person feeling seen – can make a lasting difference.
If Brent’s story inspires you to volunteer with us, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Volunteer Services at volunteer@siloam.ca
