Longtime Island Community Services employee Trish Nobile retires this month after dedicating 40 years to supporting Island youth and their families.
Trish began working at Island Community Services in 1983 supporting youth at GIPSY (Gulf Islands Program Serving Youth), an alternative high school program, and then worked for many years as a School-based Youth and Family Counsellor at the high school. While in this role she and co-worker Jack Rosen took youth on many outdoor camping and kayaking adventures.
Most recently, Trish has worked as a Youth Outreach Counsellor supporting marginalized and at-risk youth in this community. With a knack for engaging youth and meeting them where they are at, she has helped many reunite with their families following conflict, find housing and employment, and to go on to live independent and successful lives. Throughout her years with Island Community Services Trish has volunteered her time with the local union acting as Chairperson and Shop Steward.
Trish played an instrumental role in the creation of the Core Inn Youth Project Society following the tragic death of two Island youth in 1993. Fundraising together with other dedicated community members, the Society was able to purchase the building at 134 McPhillips Avenue in Ganges that became the Core Inn Youth Centre. Over the years many board and staff members came and went but Trish remained dedicated to the project working as Coordinator until the Society amalgamated with Island Community Services in 2007.
Trish’s love of music and entertainment has led to her involvement with many local groups and festivals over the years including Salt Spring Festival of the Arts and the Salt Spring Island Folk Club. Through her dedication and hard work, the Salt Spring Island Folk Club has brought Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Express to the Island several times, raising thousands for the Food Bank while offering a world class musical act to the locals.
We want to thank Trish for all of her hard work and care over the years. She has truly made a profound difference in the lives of so many in our community.