Oloruntoyin learned at an early age to be independent.  

“My mother died when I was 11 and my dad trained us that we were on our own after that. We had a group of about seven of us who were always thinking of strategies to be something better,” said the Eva’s Satellite overnight youth worker.  

“My youth made me realize that I can help other youth survive and make good decisions about what they’re facing.” 

He was a teacher in Nigeria before immigrating to Canada seven years ago. After studying addiction and mental health for youth and families in college, he pursued his passion for serving young people by working for an agency that placed youth workers. 

Working the overnight shift at Eva’s Satellite changed his life.  

“I had this feeling that this was the place I would love to work. That shift made me fall in love with Eva’s and the people,” he said.  

Now in a full-time role, you’ll find him entering Satellite around 11 p.m. with a friendly smile and an open heart for his colleagues and the young people he serves.  

Oloruntoyin strives to be a trusted and supportive figure for all youth at Satellite. Nights can be especially difficult for young people in an emergency shelter as they adjust to an unfamiliar environment, often far from home. With a steady and reassuring presence, Oloruntoyin helps create a sense of stability and comfort during these challenging moments. 

“At night, there are times when someone needs to talk and I’m always there. I try to understand who they are. That’s the purpose of every interaction: You start with the minor before building the trust to help them with major things.” 

With the support of staff like Oloruntoyin, the young people at Eva’s are able to work towards stabilizing their lives and moving on to bigger goals for the future.