Regina’s North Central community mourns a hero

It’s hard to imagine North Central Family Centre without Ivan Amichand.

“He had those sparkly Trinidadian eyes, and he’d say, ‘You know, it doesn’t matter what challenges we face today, we’re gonna overcome it. we have to have faith,’” said Sandy Wandel, Associate Director of the North Central Family Centre.

Keeping the faith is a challenge right now – but the centre has seen an outpouring of love and support from passers-by to high-profile dignitaries.

“I think when you work in the trenches, you forget sometimes how much people notice. You kind of think they aren’t, but they are. And they are really appreciative.”

Sandy Wandel launched the centre alongside Ivan eleven years ago. She recalls the last moments they spent together, helping a new immigrant.

“Mohammad said to me, ‘I’m going to miss you so much because it’ll be hard to come to the centre and not see you.’ And Ivan, being always the one that built everybody else up, even though he was taking him and helping him, said to me, ‘Sandy, that’s how people feel about you. And I want you to know how people feel about you.’ Those are the nicest words that I can remember,” said Wandel.

Ivan was heavily involved in helping Regina youth. This week’s news has been especially shocking to them.

For now though, Sandy and her team are staying strong and healing as a family.

“The centre is not going anywhere. It’s still going to continue on. We’re going to feel his loss, but we’re all here together. And we’re going to share his loss together,” said Wandel.