Heather Gagnon, 27, is finishing a two-year social service worker course at Cambrian College in Greater Sudbury.
But before she enrolled, she faced some tough times.
“When I was pregnant, I had left an abusive relationship,” said student Heather Gagnon.
“(That) led me to couch surfing which is a form of hidden homelessness.”
Gagnon said once she becomes a social service worker, she hopes to help others facing intimate partner violence.
“It’s an epidemic now, especially in Indigenous communities,” she said.
“I really want people to know that they deserve better and what that experience they have with their abusive partner that is not love.”
Gagnon was recently awarded two bursaries at Cambrian totalling $6,000.
“In this case, Heather received two bursaries that were tied both to financial need (and) also for a student that exemplifies community spirit, support on campus perhaps for volunteers for organizations throughout the community,” said Brandi Braithwaite, Cambrian’s director of alumni and development.
“Heather provided an essay for both of those applications that really just stood out.”
An emotional Gagnon said she will be forever grateful to her professors at Cambrian for their understanding while she was raising her son, Royce, alone while still attending college.
“They actually helped me with my son so I could come to classes,” she said.
“It was really nice. They don’t understand just how much maybe they do but just getting that help, they really touched my heart.”
Gagnon officially graduates in June and will then head home to Moose Factory.
She said she hopes her experiences will help bring her non-judgment and empathy as a social service worker.
