Dolly Shinhat pays her personal experience forward as director general of Our Harbour

“I said, ‘I’m not depressed — I just need a few days off,’ which is what we tell ourselves,” recalls Dolly Shinhat, BA 88, after burning out and being diagnosed with depression at the height of her 30-year career in the fast-paced fundraising and philanthropy sector.

That experience nearly a decade ago gives Shinhat a window into challenges faced by some of her clientele at Our Harbour, the non-profit organization she leads as director general. Located in the Montreal suburb of Saint-Lambert, it provides long-term housing and support to people coping with mental illnesses.

While homelessness is more camouflaged in the suburbs and more affluent areas, it’s still there and was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Shinhat says. Our Harbour’s programs for residents encourage socialization, recreation and skill-building, with activities that run the gamut from yoga to cooking to resumé writing and financial planning.

“We are the only organization that provides English-language services throughout the Montérégie,” she says, referring to a large region of southwestern Quebec, “yet, we also serve francophones.” Research shows that people who do not receive health care in their own language have poorer health outcomes, she explains. “It’s quite serious when you look at those statistics.”

Shinhat compares her work since joining the organization in 2017 to an exciting rollercoaster ride — never knowing what’s over the next peak. Her varied responsibilities include fundraising, grant writing and reporting, managing finances, working with board members, and recruiting and managing volunteers. She also deals with landlords and supports the resident-care team on the ground, as well as educating the wider community about mental illness.

Our Harbour is growing, and now looking at hiring a voluntee­­r and intern manager. “The nature of volunteering has changed over the decades and today, potential volunteers not only want to bring their skills to help others, but they also want to know h­­­ow they can benefit from the experience themselves. And we need to respond to that.”

Career launched at Concordia

After graduating in 1988 with a BA in library studies and anthropology, Shinhat completed an internship at the Concordia Library, then began working there. While she loved her colleagues, she soon realized she wanted something else. She moved into University Advancement and kicked off her fundraising career, working in prospect research, then stewardship and donor relations. Always keen to try new things, she also took a few classes in early childhood education while employed at the university.

After a satisfying 14 years at Concordia, Shinhat went on to Centennial Academy, McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine, the MUHC Foundation and, finally, the World Federation of Hemophilia, where she stayed for five years. “That’s when I burned out and was diagnosed with depression,” she says.

“It was a difficult time,” Shinhat admits. “Fortunately, I had a good health-care plan as well as family, friends and all the supports to get me through it. I learned a lot about mental health just from my own experience, and I see what it would have been like without those supports.

Two years later, she began looking for a new job — less stressful, at a smaller organization, closer to home, and not necessarily full time. “I even thought of starting my own business,” she says. “I was at the employment office to ask about that and on my way out, I checked the job postings. There was Our Harbour — looking for a director general.

“I felt this was a place where I could bring everything I had learned — my experience and skills — and contribute to its growth,” says Shinhat, who is in her sixth year at the organization.

‘A huge advantage’

Shinhat earned her degree as a mature student. After dropping out, she was welcomed back to finish part-time, on her own terms, while working. “That flexibility is a huge advantage Concordia has over the competition,” she says.

In addition to the academics, she believes higher education instills confidence, opens doors and creates networks that can last a lifetime.

“I’ve discovered the importance of networking and the people you know. I don’t know everything — none of us do — but if you know somebody who might know, it is so helpful to be able to call on them for advice.”

Keeping in touch with her former Concordia colleagues over the years, Shinhat has called them for expertise, guidance and encouragement. “We are coaches and mentors to each other as well as friends,” she says. “If you can find that in your student life and sustain it through your working life, that’s a wonderful thing.”