Going from policing to non-profit is natural, says new head of the Gathering Place
CBC
Transitioning from decades of policing to leading a non-profit isn't unprecedented at the Gathering Place, and Colin McNeil says his background will help connect him with communities and face the challenges ahead as the number of people coming through the door continues to grow.
"My policing background, my work and my [volunteering] in the community — it's a natural connection," McNeil told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show earlier this week.
“The transition from policing into this non-profit sector and this community has been refreshing for me, and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”
McNeil has only been in the role for around a week, but enters at a time the shelter and service delivery hub has never been busier.
The St. John's-based organization offers an expansive range of services, including hot food, laundry, tech literacy, housing and much more.
"We have about 3,200 registered guests right now, which is an all-time high. We’re serving as many as 600 meals a day. Back in the fall, in October I believe, we served over 18,000 meals," McNeil said.
"It’s a continuous increase. So we’ve had to react to be able to provide those services to our guests, to meet those service demands. And that’s what I intend on doing and what I intend on driving forward.”
McNeil is stepping into the role after 31 years in law enforcement, most recently as the deputy chief of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
He takes over from another former police officer, Paul Davis who is also a former premier.
Also a community volunteer and former board member of Thrive, which works with at-risk youth, McNeil said he's made a career out of forming strong community bonds — bonds he hopes can make life better for those who need services like food, housing and more.
“The issue is not going anywhere. Look around in our community, and it’s going on right across the country. No one has the solutions, and we need to all come together as a community to try to understand what’s happening, so we can try to put solutions in place," he said.
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