Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 27/00) - Tears were flowing last Saturday as Jan Stirling received a national citation for her years of helping immigrants settle into life in Canada.

Long-time Yellowknifer Jan Stirling has received a special citation for her work in helping make life easier for immigrants choosing to live North of 60.

For a ceremony held as part of national Citizenship Week, hundreds filled the seats set up in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly Saturday. Among the crowd were many first-generation citizens and others who were born and raised here. Many were there specifically to thank Stirling who received a citation for citizenship from Citizenship and Immigration Canada in recognition of her efforts in helping immigrants settle into Canada.

"As a personal recipient of Jan's warm and giving spirit ... I can say she makes you feel like you'll be OK," said an emotional Sandy Lee, Range Lake MLA.

Lee and her mother came to Yellowknife in 1978 after immigrating from South Korea.

"Many of us know we are so much bigger than we could have been because of her."

Stirling accepted gifts and flowers from Lee, Tony Whitford, speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

Each time she rose to say thank-you she couldn't hide her tears.

"I'm very proud but I'm sorry I'm so weepy," she said after the ceremony. "I'm very honoured and very proud to be a Canadian."

Stirling, or "Grandma Jan" as she is known, was one of few Canadians presented with the citation. For 20 years she welcomed immigrant families into her home and comforted them through the difficulties one faces when in a new country.

She started helping new Canadians in 1980 when Vietnamese refugees came to Yellowknife.

"When they first came what they went through to get here was pretty dreadful," Stirling said.

"I used to visit them with an English-Vietnamese dictionary and find out words related to health needs such as rash or ache."

Her generosity expanded to include all immigrants.

As Lee said, she helps those when they are feeling completely isolated.

Stirling, who served as a nurse-in-charge for Yellowknife's public health unit in Yellowknife for 26 years, retired in 1997. A year later, the building she worked in was re-named the Jan Stirling Centre.

Stirling was born in Carlisle, England and grew up in New Brunswick. She is also the recipient of several awards including 1991's Volunteer Service Award, and a national Caring Canadian Award from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson last August.

She is currently the president of the Yellowknife Senior's Society and is a volunteer with the United Church.