Ian’s Story: From Lost to Leader — The Cascade Way

When the Cascade Health & Learning Hub first opened, we were still painting the rooms. Volunteers were few, but the vision was strong: a space where people could learn, heal, and rebuild. That’s when Ian Curry walked through the door — full of energy, but carrying grief and uncertainty.

Ian was an ex-miner, diagnosed with dyslexia at school and never taught to read or write. After the death of his father — the man who had helped him start businesses and navigate life — Ian found himself lost. He’d been sent to the Job Centre, and just a week earlier, visited another charity that asked him to run errands, pick up sand, and deliver materials. But Ian knew he had more to offer.
When we sat down for his interview, he was surprised. I hadn’t asked him to do any jobs. Instead, we talked — about his grief, his goals, and what Cascade could
offer. Ian needed to learn to read, write, and use computers. We made a deal: he’d help with plumbing, doors, radiators, and in return, I’d teach him — gently, patiently — and help him rebuild his confidence.

And he did.

Ian became a peer mentor, helping others while learning himself. He ran the centre at times, supported men in court, and led small groups where he shared his journey. He moved from course to course, growing stronger with each step. After two years, he felt ready to tackle college — and with our blessing, he went.

But college wasn’t ready for Ian.

He found that teachers looked down on him, laughed at his ideas, and dismissed the alternative learning methods that had helped him thrive at Cascade. They didn’t understand dyslexia. They weren’t ready to see what Ian could see. His confidence began to crumble.

He returned to the doctors. He was prescribed antidepressants, referred to a psychiatrist, and began seeking support from America, where he found research, funding, and resources that validated his experience.

Then Ian did something extraordinary.

He stood outside that college with banners and shirts, boldly declaring what he felt about their teaching methods — how they made people feel small, misunderstood, and broken. He sent me the photos. He spoke about The Cascade Way of Learning. Even through trauma, he had come through the other side.

Ian’s story is not just about recovery — it’s about resistance, resilience, and the power of being truly seen.