“We Don’t Take Mean Girls”: Kim Duffield and the Growth of Gal Pals Sarnia-Lambton

The Sarnia Journal has partnered with local photographer Art Connolly to feature his captivating “Humans of Sarnia” series as he delves into the lives and experiences of everyday people in Sarnia.

When you speak with Kim Duffield, one thing becomes immediately apparent: she is someone who refuses to stand still when life becomes difficult. Reinvention, perseverance, and community have quietly shaped nearly every chapter of her story.

Kim was born in Corner Brook NFLD but has lived in Sarnia for the past 50 years. She still keeps in touch with friends she met shortly after arriving in the city as a young girl — something she clearly values deeply. Those lifelong connections seem to reflect the kind of person Kim has become herself: loyal, community-minded, and invested in people.

She attended St. Joe’s for one year before moving on to Our Lady of Mercy and later St. Pat’s on Bright Street and then East Street. After graduating, Kim studied print journalism, photography, and desktop publishing, interests that naturally led her into the printing industry. She spent nearly 10 years working with Kwick Kopy Printing before stepping away from the workforce to raise her children as a stay-at-home mother.

Later in life, Kim decided to return to school at the age of 40 to study executive administration. At the time, she was navigating the realities of separation and single motherhood while trying to build a more stable future. Much of the employment she found was temporary or contract-based, and even permanent opportunities often disappeared unexpectedly due to restructuring or mergers.

After one particularly frustrating experience, Kim remembers finally saying to herself:

“That’s it. I’m just done with this.”

Ironically, that moment became the turning point.

A friend who owned EXIT Realty asked Kim if she could temporarily help fill an administrative role during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a short-term position quickly became permanent. As Kim became more familiar with the agents and the industry, she realized real estate might offer opportunities she had never seriously considered before.

“I started taking the real estate courses while sitting at my desk because everything was being done virtually,” she explained.

Kim describes herself as someone who is constantly learning. Today, she holds three college diplomas along with numerous certificates.

“I just constantly ask questions,” she said with a laugh.

Kim was married for 16 years and is the proud mother of three grown children. Her son is a Red Seal carpenter, while her twin daughters are both pursuing careers of their own — one studying to become a dental assistant and the other recently graduating from a PSW program.

But perhaps one of Kim’s most meaningful contributions to the community began with something very simple: friendship.

In 2022, after years of lockdowns and social isolation during COVID, Kim and a few close friends decided they missed spending time together.

“We were tired of not being able to go out and see each other after all of that being locked up,” Kim explained. “So we just started getting together, going out for dinner, a few girlfriends, and then I added more people to the Facebook page.”

That small gathering eventually evolved into Gal Pals Sarnia-Lambton — a thriving women’s social group that now has more than 2,000 members.

Kim jokingly describes it as “a lot of estrogen in one place,” but behind the humour is something genuinely impactful. The group organizes monthly dinners, paint nights, workshops, outings, and charitable initiatives that bring women together from all walks of life. The age range spans from women in their twenties to women in their eighties, and the group has become especially valuable for newcomers to Sarnia looking to build friendships and community connections.

As the group expanded, Kim realized there was also an opportunity to help local charities. After partnering with Michelle Parks from Tampon Tuesday during one of their outings, Gal Pals began organizing donations for organizations including River City Vineyard, Women’s Interval Home, the Humane Society, and several other community groups.

The organization behind the scenes is impressive. Volunteers help coordinate restaurants, events, donations, and outreach efforts. Kim emphasized that the group is very much a team effort, with many women contributing their time to make events successful.

There is no fee to join Gal Pals Sarnia-Lambton, and Kim says all women are welcome.

The group’s mission centers around empowering women through meaningful connection, mutual support, and shared growth.

And as Kim put it plainly:

“We don’t take mean girls.”

That sentence says a great deal about the atmosphere Kim and her team have worked hard to create.

In a time when many people feel isolated or disconnected, Gal Pals Sarnia-Lambton has become more than just a social group. For many women, it has become a place to meet friends, rediscover confidence, support local charities, and feel part of something larger than themselves.

What Kim Duffield has built deserves real recognition. Through persistence, compassion, and an incredible amount of volunteer effort, she has helped create a welcoming community that continues to make a positive impact throughout Sarnia-Lambton. It is clear that Kim’s kindness, leadership, and dedication have touched the lives of many women in this community — and Sarnia is better because of those efforts.

If you would like to learn more about Gal Pals Sarnia-Lambton or request to join the group, you can visit their Facebook page here:

Gal Pals Sarnia-Lambton Facebook Group

Humans of Sarnia founder Art Connolly is a man fuelled by curiosity and a passion for connecting with people in Sarnia. Inspired by the renowned “Humans of New York” series, with a camera in hand, he captures the very essence of the individuals he encounters, preserving their stories through his lens. Follow his series at the Humans of Sarnia website and Facebook.