Our Mission

I believe that the history of The Bridge is a story worth knowing, worth understanding, worth preserving, and hopefully a source of pride for all who have been and/or will continue to be involved with our ministry.  The spirit that has allowed The Bridge to continue for 40 years through both wonderful and sometimes very difficult times is our greatest strength.  While the people, places and programs have changed and mostly grown, the one thing that has remained is the power that has allowed us the privilege of serving thousands of men, their families and the community at large.  With clean hearts but often dirty hands we have as a 'ministry', made the world a better place.  That's pretty amazing and something we should all be proud of." - Garry Glowacki, a proud member of the Bridge community.

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Daisy Dunlop was the founder and first Community Chaplain of "The Bridge Community Church Corrections Programme", which has operated in Brampton since 1974.  Although the birthing process was a complicated struggle, Daisy and her dedicated supporters fought the good fight, creating a ministry within the Anglican Diocese and GTA that continues today.

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Daisy started her career years as a trained nurse but felt called by God to mission, so at 27 she went to Pakistan on an Anglican mission.  There she learned Urdo and she worked with the local villagers.  Unfortunately her time on the mission ended when she developed a severe case of dysentery.  She returned to Canada feeling really burned out.  Later, Daisy met Sister Loretta and she was introduced to volunteer work in Kingston Penitentiary.

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When Daisy spoke of this, she said she was called by God after her first visit to the penitentiary.  She talked to inmates who shared such intimate thoughts and feelings and she was "blown away by their humanity".  She felt God call her to help society understand this and to help prisoners move towards repentance, restoration and renewal.  She said one of the biggest jobs was to help society get to "a place of forgiveness" as well.  She said "the enemy has destroyed these people and taken what God has made to be perfect, and changed it or twisted it".  She understood that many conditions and life circumstances evolve to make people do what they did to commit vicious and selfish acts, but she felt that it was the responsibility of all of us, as a society, to try to prevent this from happening.  Her heart ached for their potential, their unmet potential.  She felt she had a responsibility to do something.

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When she returned to Brampton, she took a course from Bob Juliano, the Superintendent of Training for the Chaplains in the Ontario Correctional Institute (OCI).  As time went on, the OCI treatment programs had begun, and Daisy was able to form the Bridge Prison Ministry.  David Jones organized a meeting with Bishop Garnsworthy and Daisy received a certificate from the Anglican Church to say she was approved for chaplaincy in the field of Corrections, and was commissioned in a chapel service.  Daisy mentioned that she and the Bishop become friends and that he was very supportive of the Bridge Program.

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Daisy spoke of the first Bridge Board fondly, and in particular she remembered David Jones, the first Board Chair.  David was a reverend of Christ Church, Brampton at that time.  She mentioned Judge Jerry Young, who she remembered as being very kind, and John Smith, who visited the Bridge program session and agreed to be on the board.  She also spoke very fondly of Bishop Fricker, who worked on the Diocese Outreach Board who was very supportive of the Bridge.

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One of Daisy's sayings was that "adversity tenderizes people".  She found that many of her volunteers were people who had developed a compassionate heart through adversity of their own.  They had a heart for ministry since they understood that "there by the grace of God go I".  Daisy felt strongly that although people can suffer, it is important to let them know that God is with them in their situations and that faith in God can carry you through the suffering.

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When asked how she had the courage to set up The Bridge, whether she had a complete vision she said "No, that God had led her one step at a time and that the Bridge was formed through blind faith".  She said God would only reveal the next step because it was less intimidating that way.  If someone had told her in advance what she was expected to create and maintain throughout the years of The Bridge, she may have been too afraid to try.  However, by accepting each step as presented, she realized that God was setting her feet in a guided path, and allowing her to conduct a ministry that she felled called to.  Daisy developed and delivered training programs for the volunteers and continuously fostered their discipleship.  The volunteers were an important part of The Bridge program, and Daisy thought highly of them and their willingness to walk with those who have been incarcerated.

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Daisy worked directly with inmates in group sessions but more importantly, she continued to work with them once they were released, providing support and encouragement.  Daisy said while she saw many residents make huge personal changes and turn their attitudes and lives around, she also felt God's call to challenge society in understanding this true experience of redemption.  She often said one of her biggest jobs was to help society get to a place of forgiveness when aspects of society can be hypocritical or simply just afraid.

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On Dec 6th, 2013, Daisy passed away.  Who knows how many lives she helped, how important she was to the residents, families, clients and volunteers as she developed and grew The Bridge program.  Daisy's vision continues to live in the spirit and the original program of The Bridge serves today as the foundation for Brampton Prison Ministry as we continue to help those whom many in society have deemed unworthy, unwashed or the least of us.

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In 1994, The Bridge was in the difficult position of very possibly having to fold due to circumstances around a Community Worker who had fallen into hard times and bad habits.  All of the stakeholders were concerned and leery of the administration of the ministry.  Eventually all members of the board resigned except for the treasurer who chose to stay in order to be able to support and at least be able to pay the new community worker who had just been hired at least until the completion of existing contracts.  That community worker was Garry Glowacki.

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Garry had in fact been one of, if not THE first actual inmate that Daisy worked with.  Garry came into OCI a damaged and angry heroin addict with very obvious self-inflicted wounds on both of his wrists, but more importantly deep scars on his soul and psyche.  Garry was slightly involved with the creation of the original board but was too erratic to stay on.  He remained in contact with Daisy for many years and was aware of her trials and tribulations but continued to believe in her and believe that The Bridge and it's principles were in fact a big part of his personal recovery even though it took years before he gained his sobriety a d sanity.

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Garry had left the City of Toronto as a foreman with the Works Department to assume a role he felt called to.  Although he was advised not to give up a secure job to assume the position and all responsibilities for keeping The Bridge alive, he chose to stay and fight what he believed was a battle worth fighting.  He left that city job for half the wages, no benefits, no pension and twice the hours.  However he learned very quickly you can't put a price on redemption.

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Garry started out as the only employee and struggled to maintain an office within OCI, running it's programs, operating the first community center, it's programs and it's groups.  All under a limited and fragile budget.  He felt determined to keep a ministry alive that he knew had changed the lives of so many before him while also seeing the changes in himself and the volunteers.  He was eventually able to acquire additional funding to hire more staff and was promoted to Program Director.  Eventually as the need and his experience grew, he was given the title of Executive Director and assumed the increased responsibilities and programming developments.

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While The Bridge has both grown and evolved, it has always maintained it's spiritual focus becoming more inclusive and welcoming to all.  Much of this has been due to social and societal changes and even the increased cultural diversity of the community we serve.

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In the almost 50 years since it's origins.  The Bridge has grown and evolved, changed and shifted to who we are now, Brampton Prison Ministry.  No longer just a community church group but is most certainly a valuable and well respected ministry within the community.  It has seen growth in it's volunteer and staffing capacity, re-established a community center, and increased it's programs and service numbers.

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Brampton Prison Ministry is now at another place of growth and while it's exciting, it will probably require a higher degree of dedication and focus.  Not only to maintain the spirit of our founders but to change the lives of countless more who seek to return to lives that matter.