Remembering Bruce Marshall

by Guest Blogger Sheldon Leong

​On a crisp sunny morning in early October, a small group of friends gathered at The Haven, to look at some bird houses? What’s so special about these bird houses? It turns out these colourful bird houses were built by Bruce Marshall, a dear friend of MHI who passed away three years ago.
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For those who didn’t know Bruce, he was a loving husband and father, a veteran, an engineer and a medical doctor, among many other roles he played in the community. Bruce volunteered at MHI when our organization was growing rapidly and provided invaluable support to then Executive Director, Suzanne Le, especially during the construction of The Haven and Veterans’ House: the Andy Carswell Building.

During his 10-year tenure, Bruce served as a board member and a member of the Development Committee, and helped guide MHI as we responded to the city’s homelessness crisis. His care for the people we serve extended to how our buildings and communities were designed to bring comfort to those who have struggled greatly.
At Veterans’ House, each veteran tenant of the 40-unit community has the ability to control the temperature in their own room, unlike many apartment buildings that have a central control. Knowing that some veterans will be on medication to help deal with their PTSD, Bruce knew that temperature can be a trigger and advocated for an HVAC system that will allow each tenant to establish their own comfort level.

As much as MHI and our tenants had gained from Bruce’s involvement, Mary Frances, Bruce’s wife, shares that he received much more than he gave to MHI. She adds that, “After his retirement, MHI provided a meaningful outlet for him to put into practice his engineering and medical knowledge while contributing to a cause he deeply believed in. Bruce liked doing things and getting things done. MHI filled that desire in spades. The success of Veterans’ House and The Haven gave him a huge sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.”

​So, if you are ever at The Haven or Veterans’ House and are greeted by these cheerful and vibrant bird houses, remember our friend, Bruce Marshall.
 
MHI is grateful to Allen Box, Bruce’s friend who helped paint the bird houses that Bruce built and also built another set that have been installed at Veteran’s House.