Preenceel-Maryl Hill is one of the many smiling faces that greet folks as they enter Centre Flavie, which distributes household goods free of charge to those in need. She volunteers at the reception four days a week, welcoming and onboarding clients, and learning a lot herself.
“I arrived from Haiti in September of 2024,” she explains. “That first year, I stayed home with my daughter, who hadn’t started school yet, and my son as they got used to our new home. But once my daughter entered kindergarten, I was ready to get back to work. I was trained in accounting in Haiti, and I know that I want to get my Chartered Professional Accounting (CPA) designation now, but my English isn’t quite where it needs to be.”
A hard worker, and never one to give up, Hill reached out to the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM), who connected her to Centre Flavie, where she could do good by volunteering while meeting new people and working on her English. “I started two days a week, and I just loved it right away,” Hill shares. “I have nothing else going on during the day, I want to be useful and move towards my goals, so I quickly started volunteering four days a week.”
She admits that even though her husband had family in Winnipeg, integrating into a new community wasn’t easy. She knew she was struggling to get by in English, and it was hard to get everyday tasks completed as easily as they used to be. “I remember saying that I’d had enough of all this work and that we should move to Montreal,” Hill remembers with a laugh. “Then I found Flavie, where everyone is so nice. People are always happy to help and to explain things. There’s lots that I didn’t know about life in Winnipeg that I’ve learned from my colleagues. It’s like a family atmosphere; it feels good to be here.”
Besides being a busy mom and volunteering nearly full-time at Centre Flavie, Hill is not done finding ways to keep learning about Winnipeg and practicing her English. “I’ve been doing all my research,” she says. “I found Toastmasters and other groups that I can join to practice my English. I have felt a bit like I’m standing still since 2024. I wasn’t working or going to school and I’ve missed it! Now, in 2026, it’s time. It’s time to get everything organized and moving forward again.”
In the meantime, she’s thrilled to be spending time with the other volunteers and clients at Centre Flavie. “For me, so far, this has been my best experience in Winnipeg,” she reflects. “I get out of the house, I get to use my skills and abilities, I get to meet so many interesting people. Being here every day is really uplifting,” she concludes. “All around me, I see true compassion, true love for the other. Even if right now, I don’t have much to give, I know I can give my time, and that feels good.”
Interested in joining our Compassion Crew? Find out more about volunteering within the Network here.