ACALA – his home away from home

“I want to make movies; to enable vulnerable groups to have their stories told and their voices heard.”

Meet Abdullah (Dullah) Kafashe

It was not easy growing up in Kigoma, Tanzania. Poverty, corruption, disease and unrest were normal parts of everyday life. The genocide in neighbouring Burundi tragically affected Dullah’s extended family and he lost many relatives. His family protected those that they could. Two cousins rescued by his mother grew up in the safety of his childhood home.

Against staggering odds, Dullah completed high school and became a member of the Tanzanian National Basketball team. On the day that he was writing his national exams, his older brother, a police officer and key supporter of Dullah’s education, was killed tragically in a motor vehicle accident. He left behind three children who were then abandoned by their mother. Dullah’s family stepped in and have looked after them ever since.

Around this time he met a young woman, Maggie, from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, who was working in the nearby refugee camps. There was much suffering in the camps and Dullah volunteered his talents to make life a bit easier for the children there. It would be the start of his commitment to assist those less fortunate than himself.

When Maggie went back to Canada he decided to follow her.  He knew a vital step to becoming a Canadian was to improve his rudimentary English skills. The urban centres of Toronto and Montreal were described as immigrant-friendly and hosted a number of services for newcomers.  But these cities also posed challenges, as ESL classes had wait lists well over 6 months long. Then, one afternoon in Toronto while biking to work, Dullah was held up at gun point for the $10 he carried in his wallet. The cities no longer felt so welcoming.

Feeling overwhelmed, a timely solution came from the east coast.  Maggie’s mother mentioned that ACALA (Antigonish County Adult Learning Association) was accepting students. So this African Muslim immigrant left the diverse urban centers and took a risk – and a train – out Antigonish. The jump from urban anonymity to small town curiosity was immediate.  In a place where everyone wants to know your name and your father’s name and where you’re from he was immediately welcomed into the ACALA program.   Dullah dove into learning, enjoying the great instructors, classmates and content. One of the goals of ACALA is to promote literacy, networking and awareness. Dullah had found a home. “Lise Devilliers is the most instrumental  mentor I’ve had. She has made me the person that I am today.” praises Dullah.

The admiration is mutual. “Dullah is a very inspirational human being on so many levels. Because of his background, he has perspective which he shares willingly with other learners. He has a lovely and beautiful way of listening to those around him,” says Lise.

Following his success at ACALA Dullah was awarded a scholarship from the Coady International Institute where he earned a Diploma in Leadership. Juggling studies and family responsibilities, Dullah still found time to volunteer with L’Arche. Helping people is in his DNA.

In 2011, he packed his bags and joined Maggie in Salluit, a fly-in Inuit community. He arrived in January and was greeted by a treeless landscape, bitterly cold weather and 20 hours of darkness.  But also there to meet him was a people just as curious about this novel, tall African as he was about them. Dullah’s expressive personality, sense of humour, and personal experience dealing with trauma helped break down the cultural barriers. He became immersed in the community.  He took on numerous roles, from helping create a fitness center, coaching basketball, co-founding a running club, offering art and stained glass programs for teenagers at risk; to being a foster parent.

In 2015, he took a year-long program at NSCC and discovered a passion for film and video production. Dullah plans to use this new skillset in the future to give voice to those who have none. A recent highlight was filming a documentary about Salluit youth who travel to Hawaii to run in a half-marathon; a project that promotes health and resilience in Inuit youth.

“My journey has been difficult but I have met so many good people along the way. They have become my family in Canada. Antigonish is a very special place to me. It is such a positive community.”

Every time he returns home, his first visit is to Lise and ACALA. He updates her on his projects, dreams and plans – from personal to professional. He seeks her advice and attentive ear. Leaving the urban centres of Toronto and Montreal for the gifts and relationships so easily discovered in a small community was the best decision he could have made.

ACALA opened doors for him – and now he opens doors for others.

“Laughter in the workplace is one of the most important things in business.”

Meet Mike Sullivan.

Mike’s heart is never far from the water. One of three boys born and raised in Canso, it is a place he treasures for its small town values. His father was a fisherman but didn’t want his sons to follow in his footsteps. That didn’t keep Mike from swimming and boating, passions that he maintains to this day. When he and his wife eventually settled in Antigonish the thing he missed most was the smell of the salt air.

He took a year off after high school and worked at the local Co-op. Despite the friendly staff, he knew that this wouldn’t be his life’s work. His father was also a fine carpenter, so Mike headed off to NSCC to acquire this trade. The next few years found him trying to discover his niche as he took a variety of courses, but none of them grabbed his attention.

He married a local girl and school teacher, Maureen Lumsden. With the decline in the fishery they realized that there wasn’t much of a future for them and their first child in Canso. One day he responded to an ad from Midas looking for a mechanic at their Antigonish outlet. Even though he didn’t have the required papers, he had an aptitude for the job and offered to do a day’s work for nothing so that the boss could check him out. That was on Valentine’s Day, 2000. Three years later he became manager of the business and eventually wrote his exam and got the required documents to become a certified mechanic.

He had finally found his niche.

Despite the success he was having in business, he was dealing with some personal issues which had the capacity to derail his plans. He made some life-changing decisions that set him on a path to happiness and fulfillment.

A few years later he had an opportunity to buy the business. He decided to put his own name on the shingle and the rest is history. Sullivan’s Auto Centre is now a thriving enterprise on the corner of Main and Court Streets.

He and the family took their first big trip together a few years ago to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. It was an amazing experience and Mike picked up some valuable tips on client service, noticing that the staff at this tourist destination was always friendly and smiling.

And what are the keys to his success? “Give everyone the same good service. You need to know how to read people. Never look in someone’s pockets. I treat people fairly. And it helps to be just a little bit crazy!”

Mike is the picture of contentment. “I have a wonderful life. I have a great wife and family, a loyal (and sometimes irreverent!) staff and great customers.”

Whenever he can, he heads down Route 16 to his beloved hometown to relax at his camper and spend a bit of time on his boat.  Inhaling the scent of the briny ocean keeps him grounded and ready for whatever lies ahead.

“I have been treated very well by the arts community in Antigonish, which allowed me to find and build space here.”

Meet Amberlee Boulton.

The daughter of an Anglican priest, Amberlee spent her formative years in Guelph, Ontario; the oldest of three children. The home was a very busy place and her father and mother were very much a team in matters of family and church.

She learned about “community” at an early age, as the church hall was the epicentre of much activity. And it was a forward-thinking, progressive church. In addition to hosting karate classes and a pre-school, it provided a welcoming host space for an LBGT congregation, “Rainbow Church”. It also celebrated the arts. In a show of respect, Sunday collections were done discretely with a basket placed at the back of the church so as not to expose those who couldn’t afford to give.

Her mother, the proclaimed “backbone” of the family, was diagnosed with cancer when Amberlee was 10, and this shaded her outlook on everything for years to come. She died three years later, but not before an epic family trip to Disney, much of the money for it having been raised by the community.

Amberlee discovered her love of music at an early age. She studied classical guitar and performed in Kiwanis festivals.

High school is chaotic at the best of times, but when your anchor is no longer around, things can surely go awry. Girl Guides provided some much needed structure in Amberlee’s life. In grade 9 she went on a Disney cruise, spent time in Nicaragua on a mission trip and travelled to London, England as one of a select group of Pathfinders.

In grade ten things started going off the rails, but thankfully her community of friends rallied around her. In Grade eleven she learned the basics of team building as she co-chaired Student Council.  One day she saw a friend sporting the iconic “X” ring.  Amberlee loved the East coast and wanted to go to University in Antigonish but opted for Waterloo, a little closer to home.

At one point in her educational journey she thought about becoming an Anglican priest, but she was becoming disillusioned with her own church on its lack of progress around issues important to her.

Antigonish continued to beckon, so she spent a period of time shuttling between that small Nova Scotia community and Ontario. Sandwiched in amongst these trips was an incredible visit to India, where she sat with monks, went on pilgrimages and witnessed poverty up close.

She ultimately decided that she need to be near the ocean and she now calls Antigonish home. She is fully engaged in the arts community as coordinator of the Antigonight Art After Dark festival. She has been supported by many local artists and wants to give something back to the community, especially to youth. She mentors the youth group, “Unicorn Vomit”, which celebrates contemporary art in Antigonish.

“One of my goals is to build resilience in young people through the arts” says Amberlee. Her organizational skills, artistic flair and genuine empathy make her an ideal candidate for the job.