They say that friends are the family you choose and for Robin Coster,
no statement could be truer to life. Robin came to Community Living Oakville as a young woman and quickly settled into her house.
Relaxed and friendly, Robin got on well with all of her housemates, but life really changed for Robin when she met Tammy. Tammy was a former residential manager with Community Living Oakville and she resided on the lower level of the house that Robin lived in. As a new manager, Robin was happy to show Tammy the ropes and help her learn how to best support the people that lived with her. Over time, they forged a wonderful and long lasting friendship and considered each other family. It was a heartbreaking separation, many years later, when Tammy moved across the country to Edmonton.
Robin was never very interested in learning about computers and modern technology, but decided that by doing so she could help to maintain her relationship with Tammy. Robin learned how to use Facebook and Skype and was able to see pictures of Tammy’s new home and have live conversations with her. Although technology helped ease the pain of the separation a little bit, nothing can truly replace the comfort of being in the same room as a loved one. And so, Robin set a plan in motion. She would budget accordingly with the end goal being able to fly out for a visit with Tammy. It happened. Robin made it happen. And now, every year, Robin packs her bags and travels to Edmonton where she spends the holiday season with Tammy and her family. There is no better gift for Robin, than being able to spend time with the ones she loves.
When Robin isn’t jet-setting across Canada, her attention turns to her other great love – sports! Whether she is watching her favourite baseball and football teams from the bleachers or cheering on her teammates at the bowling alley, she is always an enthusiastic fan. She has won numerous awards for outstanding achievement and sportsmanship with Special Olympics bowling and is a force to be reckoned with on the lanes.
The desire to be part of team is an important aspect of Robin’s life, one which sparked her interest in finding employment and working as part of an inclusive team. Robin began working at Burger King in February 2016 as a dining room attendant. Every Wednesday morning, Robin wakes up eager to put on her uniform and go to work. The skills that she has developed through this employment opportunity have ignited a newfound sense of independence and strengthened her confidence in her abilities. More importantly, she has built lasting friendships with her coworkers, and they all look forward to working alongside Robin. She speaks highly of her work and offers mentorship and encouragement to her peers whom are seeking employment.
In the future, Robin aspires to have a career working with children and hopes to one day attend Sheridan College for Early Childhood Education. Her relentless positivity and determination make Robin an inspiration to her peers, and she embodies the true qualities of what it means to be a leader within her community!