Community heroes: Portraits of connection at the Covenant Community Health Centre
Daniel Gallant, Evan Liang and Angela Parisan stand with their portraits at the Covenant Community Health Centre.
Inside the new Covenant Community Health Centre in Mill Woods, a series of portraits invites visitors to pause and reflect on the neighbours who help make this community stronger. The faces belong to six local residents who were nominated by people in the area for embodying the spirit of Mill Woods through kindness, advocacy, creativity and everyday acts of care. Together, these portraits bring warmth and meaning into the space — a reminder that community is shaped by the people who show up for one another.
How the portraits came to life
The idea for the portraits emerged when the Covenant Wellness Community project team learned of a similar project undertaken by another organization, says Lisa Mazur, site lead for Grey Nuns Community Hospital and a member of the project team. The team immediately embraced the concept, especially the idea of featuring both artistic talent and local community members. It chose to produce colourful portraits to bring life into the hallways of the building and complement the other artwork selected for the centre.
After reviewing submissions from photographers, the group unanimously selected Jordon Hon, whose portfolio showed authenticity and warmth, exactly the tone they envisioned, says Lisa.
Nominations for community heroes were then opened to residents of Mill Woods, inviting people to share stories of neighbours who have made a meaningful difference to the area. The committee thoughtfully selected individuals who live in one of Mill Woods’ 14 communities and who embody Covenant Health’s values through actions large and small.
Each nominee agreed to be photographed and to share a bit of their story publicly. What resulted is a set of portraits that reflects not only diversity but also the everyday commitment of ordinary people who give their time, talents and hearts to their community.
Sadiq Huda’s and Arnim and Susan Joop’s portraits are featured at the Covenant Community Health Centre.
Meet the community heroes
Angela Parisian — Creating healing through representation
As the Indigenous care liaison at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Angela Parisian provides cultural and spiritual support to help patients, families and staff navigate moments of vulnerability. Her work — from organizing smudging ceremonies to teaching staff about culturally grounded practices — is rooted in helping people feel understood and cared for.
Angela says the emotion she felt when learning she had been selected as a community hero caught her off guard. “I almost want to ugly cry even thinking about it because back home the heroes that were painted on walls had passed away or made such a significant impact,” she says. “I never would have thought that I would ever be having this opportunity.”
Angela adds that seeing an Indigenous woman recognized in this way is “empowering for my relatives. I’m still alive and I’m still helping in the community.”
Angela’s approach to care is shaped by her family and experiences, she says. Coming from a large family, she knows how important it is to feel supported when you are in the hospital. When she took on her role at Covenant Health, she wanted to be the person she didn’t always have when her own loved ones needed help — someone to sit beside them, translate medical language, provide comfort and help carry the emotional load. Today, she supports “all my relations,” whether Indigenous or non‑Indigenous, because the need for love and encouragement is universal, she says.
Arnim and Susan Joop — Connection through storytelling and everyday acts
Arnim and Susan Joop have lived in Mill Woods for decades, and their contributions to the community stretch from grassroots volunteering to multicultural storytelling. Their nomination praised their decades of service, including the creation of Mill Woods Mosaic, a local newspaper Arnim founded to share positive stories and help neighbours understand one another’s culture.
When Arnim reflects on what heroism means to him, he thinks of the neighbours who left notes on their door during the pandemic, offering help with groceries — small gestures that carried enormous weight.
“The real heroes are the ones who help others without taking credit for it,” he says.
Susan was nominated for embodying that same spirit in her daily life. She initially wondered why she was nominated at all, she says.
“I haven’t done anything great. Maybe little things, but not something big.”
But those “little things” are exactly what endear her to people and prompted her nomination: sharing vegetables from her garden, printing schedules for seniors at the recreational centre who struggle with technology, helping newcomers attend community events and encouraging them to get involved. She says that for many people, especially newcomers, it’s “letting them out of their shell” that makes all the difference.
Together, the Joop's have helped build bridges across cultures, foster understanding and remind their neighbours that compassion often begins with simple, thoughtful actions.
Evan Liang — Music that uplifts and connects
At just 10 years old, Evan Liang has already touched countless lives through music. A young cellist and bagpiper, Evan performs at parks, senior centres, hospitals and community events, not for recognition, but because it makes others happy. His nomination celebrated his musical talent, his kindness and his creative approach to community involvement.
When asked how helping others makes him feel, Evan says, “It makes me feel emotional.” He remembers early performances, especially when he raised money for causes, as moments when he realized he could make a real difference. “When I finished playing and my teachers or neighbours told me they felt like they’d returned to their distant home, I felt really happy,” Evan says.
Evan offers simple advice for other young helpers: “Practice, practice and practice more, not just to perfect your skills, but to immerse yourself in it and feel it with your heart.” He says he focuses on the small details, sometimes reminding himself to “focus on your finger” as he plays.
Looking ahead, Evan hopes to form a small youth orchestra with friends called “The Little Bach Orchestra” or “Alberta Scottish Youth Duo” so they can perform together for the community.
His portrait is a hopeful glimpse into the next generation of community builders.
Sadiq Huda — Building the spaces that bring people together
Sadiq Huda has spent years helping create spaces where people can gather, learn and feel connected. As a founding member of the Baitul Aman Islamic Society and co‑founder of Edmonton United Limited, he has worked to support seniors, youth and newcomers through programs, events and community initiatives.
Sadiq says he doesn’t see himself as a hero. “I don’t like the term hero, because it means one person. To me, the community itself is the hero.” His commitment to the community is inspired in part by watching his father volunteer when he was young. Everyone has something to offer, he says.
Sadiq describes a moment that made him truly appreciate the impact of his work: after a community dinner for the Baitul Aman Islamic Society, he watched children playing basketball under the organization’s supervision. “I realized then what impact this organization has,” he says. “These kids could be out there doing drugs, the seniors could be at home isolated, but instead they’re here, together.”
Sadiq encourages people who want to get involved in the community to start with something small. Even words of encouragement can uplift volunteers who put in a great deal of unseen effort, he says. He hopes for a future where Mill Woods continues to grow safer and more connected.
Daniel Gallant — Running toward joy, one interaction at a time
Daniel Gallant is known for his joyful daily runs through Mill Woods — often wearing themed outfits, waving to everyone he passes and bringing bursts of energy to the streets. His nomination for the community heroes project recognized his community positivity, volunteerism and advocacy for inclusion and mental health.
Daniel says being chosen as a community hero was deeply meaningful and he feels “super humbled to be featured alongside five other people who are pillars of the community.”
“It feels like the culmination of the journey,” he says.
His running journey began when he weighed about 450 pounds and decided to take a single first step. “I just got out there and tried,” he says. Over time, he learned not to judge himself but to pick himself up and go a little bit further. Running soon became a source of connection as much as exercise.
Daniel says that there isn’t one defining moment of impact behind his runs. Instead, he cherishes “tiny interactions from day to day,” the “microtransactions” that happen, whether it’s a quick wave, a honk from a passing driver or a smile exchanged with someone he’ll never meet again. He remembers running in a Santa costume when a little girl yelled “Santa!” across a parking lot. He ran over and gave her a candy cane, and he carries the joy of that moment with him still. On difficult days, he’ll lace up “just to wave at the neighbors… just to feel that connection back to the community,” he says.
Daniel has the same advice for others that motivated him to start running. “Just do it.” He believes that if people act with positivity, they’ll never regret trying — even if the first step feels small.
Daniel Gallant’s, Evan Liang’s and Angela Parisian’s portraits are displayed at the Covenant Community Health Centre.
A portrait of community
Each of the community heroes brings something unique to Mill Woods: Angela’s cultural leadership and healing presence, Arnim and Susan’s bridge‑building and everyday generosity, Evan’s joyful music, Sadiq’s commitment to creating safe spaces and Daniel’s uplifting energy and advocacy.
Their portraits inside the Covenant Community Health Centre remind visitors that community is built not through grand gestures but through consistent acts of kindness, curiosity and compassion. Together, their stories show that belonging grows when people choose to show up for one another — again and again.
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