Devoted to the dash
Winnipegger’s weekly commitment to people at Lighthouse Mission one way to make impact between the dates on his headstone
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/06/2023 (999 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Headstones typically feature the deceased person’s date of birth and the date they died, with a dash in between. Bob Kitlar thinks a lot about that dash.
For Kitlar, the dash will represent his upbringing in Fort Garry, back when it was a rural neighbourhood with mink farms, dairy herds and poplar forests.
The dash will represent the 71-year-old’s education at Red River College and the University of Manitoba, and the 37 1/2 years he spent working in a laboratory for the province before shifting into semi-retirement approximately a decade ago.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS VOLUNTEER Photo of Bob Kitlar at Lighthouse Mission where he volunteers helping with the food bank and visiting with guests. June 1st 2023
The dash will represent the decades he’s spent with his beloved wife Deborah, and it will represent his commitment to his church, the volunteer work he does and the many charities he supports financially.
“The big questions I often ask myself are: How can I make a difference in my community?” Kitlar says. “How can I tell another generation of the love of Jesus Christ?”
It’s questions like those that drew Kitlar to Lighthouse Mission, where he has volunteered for the last 21 months.
Kitlar spends every Thursday at the Christian non-profit, which provides meals and fellowship to hundreds of Winnipeggers struggling with poverty and homelessness.
He spends the morning registering guests for the mission’s food bank and the afternoon serving lunch and visiting with guests.
“The gratitude our guests demonstrate every week never ceases to amaze me,” Kitlar says.
He has developed a strong bond with the guests and considers many of them his friends. He appreciates the conversations they have at Lighthouse Mission.
One friend he has made asked him what he did for a living, and Kitlar replied that he did prospecting and worked for many years in the Manitoba government’s Mines, Resources and Environmental Management Department.
“He started asking accurate questions about prospecting and if we might get a chance to do some,” Kitlar says, who was pleasantly surprised by the man’s knowledge. “You could have knocked me over with a feather.”
Another friend he has made helps him register folks for the food bank.
“She stands in line as early as 5:30 to obtain her grocery requirements and is always so cheery, no matter the weather. My heart swells.”
In addition to his involvement at Lighthouse Mission, Kitlar has served on numerous boards in the past 30 years.
He is heavily involved at his church, Saint James Lutheran, and he picks up part-time work to supplement his pension so he and his wife can continue to support the charities they care about.
Kitlar says he inherited his passion for helping others from his parents, who survived the Great Depression and did whatever they could to help those around them.
“We were taught to help others with no thought of receiving a financial reward,” he says. “Therefore, to me, volunteering becomes instinctual and a commitment rather than an involvement. It becomes part of your DNA and is like breathing: you do it without thinking.”
Kitlar is a patient and compassionate person, says Peter McMullen, director at Lighthouse Mission.
“He’s certainly absolutely selfless and dedicated,” McMullen says. “Lighthouse Mission has a very special place in his heart, and it’s so evident in the way he carries himself here.”
McMullen is looking for more volunteers to help with tasks including food preparation, serving meals and visiting with guests.
Visit lighthousemission.ca for details.
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Volunteer opportunities
THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
The Movement Centre of Manitoba needs volunteers for a variety of roles for the Perogy Run at Kildonan Park on June 25. Volunteers will register participants, cheer on and help direct wheelers/walkers/runners along the race route, oversee the family fun zone and help with setup and take down after the event. Apply online at wfp.to/0Cb by Saturday.
The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba needs volunteers for its MAD camp, a two-week event focused on mental health, music, art and dance for youth aged 12-17. Volunteers are needed for art sessions, off-site trips and peer support. English proficiency, experience with youth or mental health, and artistic, interpersonal and leadership skills are required. Training will be provided for mental wellness and conflict resolution. The camp runs from July 3 to Aug. 25, with various shifts available to choose from. Three volunteers are needed for each time slot. Email volunteer@moodmb.ca by June 21.
Counsellors are needed for the FortWhyte Alive camp. Volunteers aged 14-18 will guide children in outdoor adventures such as swimming, nature hikes, canoeing, fishing, archery, mountain bike excursions and more. Must serve for at least two full weeks (the volunteer chooses) during the summer months. The hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Apply online at wfp.to/0Cp by June 30.
The West Central Women’s Resource Centre needs an English Conversation Circle Volunteer. The volunteer will help adult learners improve their basic conversation skills. This requires identifying individual learning needs, building confidence and demonstrating study skills. The volunteer will also manage the classroom and create a welcoming, supportive environment. Teaching experience is required. Personal hours worked will be recorded. The time commitment is Saturdays, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., via Zoom. Email elby@wcwrc.ca or phone 204-774-8975 (ext. 219) by Oct. 30.
The International Reggae Afro Latin Music & Arts Festival needs volunteers for various roles such as setup, helping with vendors and providing event information to attendees. Volunteers of all skill levels are encouraged to apply online at wfp.to/0Dy by Saturday.
Concordia Hospital needs volunteers for its courtyard gardening team. Volunteers will work outside from May through September. Volunteers — under staff supervision — prepare flower beds, plant, weed, water, prune and deadhead. Volunteers must be able to work in hot weather, stoop and bend. The commitment is one or two shifts per week, between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon. Previous experience is an asset. Call Melanie at 204-661-7292 by June 30.
Victoria Lifeline needs volunteers to install and service Lifeline in homes around Winnipeg. Must be available one day per week, and have a valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle. Expenses will be reimbursed monthly, and training is provided. Call 204-956-6773 or go to wfp.to/oQ0 by June 30.
Gimli International Film Festival needs operations, box office and venue volunteers. The festival runs from July 26-30, and volunteer shifts begin July 24. The minimum commitment is 12 hours. Volunteers receive a festival pass, a T-shirt and a volunteer appreciation pancake breakfast. Email volunteer@gimlifilm.com or apply online at wfp.to/0QK by July 5.
The St. Mary’s Road Foodbank, a Harvest Manitoba depot located in St. Mary’s Road United Church, needs a volunteer co-ordinator to lead a group of dedicated volunteers on Wednesdays. Enthusiasm for working in the community and good interpersonal and communication skills are assets. The current co-ordinator will train the new one. Email Joan Boone at joanboone@shaw.ca by July 30.
Folklorama’s Brazilian pavilion needs volunteers from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12. The pavilion shares the culture of Brazil through performances and drinks, food and souvenirs, and hosts up to 22,000 guests in a week. Volunteer positions include selling admission tickets, selling food and drink tickets, preparing or serving food, preparing or serving alcohol and other drinks, cleaning tables between shows, and serving VIP guests. Flexible shifts. Training will be provided. Email vivabrazil.volunteers@gmail.com by Aug. 6.
Royal City Soccer Club, a non-profit community organization that started in 1993, needs volunteers for its summer camp. It operates weekdays from July 3 until Sept. 1. All nine weeks are available to volunteer for. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old by the time their week of volunteering starts. Volunteers might be assigned any of the following tasks: assisting staff members with coaching and supervising children, equipment collection and maintenance (such as inflating soccer balls and collecting cones) and general help around camp. Apply online at royalsoccer.com by Aug. 30.
The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. When disaster strikes, you can help, and the Red Cross can show you how. Go to http://wfp.to/0pE, email volunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818-2155.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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