• Home
  • Blog
  • Roadtrip FAQ
  • Schedule
    • NFP Org's
  • Becky
  • Sponsors
  • Contact
    • Take Part

Welcome!

12/22/2011

9 Comments

 
Hello! Bonjour! Hey there! Hi! Good Evening!
Welcome to Roadtrip with Reason's little home in the blogosphere.
Picture
Logo designed by Sara Farnell + my face!
I was told to write up a little something in anticipation of your arrival, following Roadtrip with Reason's version of the "Canadian Original" segment on CTV National News.

(I just need to take a moment to freak out over the fact that this story was aired on CTV National News. Ahhh! I have been faithfully watching CTV at 11:00 p.m. since childhood. This blows my mind! Excitement overload!)

Thank you, so much, for being a curious cat and coming to learn more about my incredible cross-Canada journey that took place between July - November 2011. It's possible that you are visiting my blog for the very first time, so I thought it would be useful to share the roadtrip timeline/milestones with you!

September 2010
- The roadtrip idea is shared with family/friends

October 2010
- Basic planning officially begins

January 2011
 - Roadtrip with Reason = my new year's resolution

March 2011
 - Idea is accepted into Pepsi Refresh Project contest, voting begins


May 2011
- Named an official 5K Grant Recipient from Pepsi Refresh Project

June 2011
- Connected with Garry Sowerby & Lisa Calvi on Twitter over Ralph the Pelican & ended up recieving sponsorship from Chevrolet Canada with a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Social media = the best
- Roadtrip planning goes into overdrive

July 2011
- Finished my contract with the Arts Council of Muskoka, moved out of apartment
- Picked up the 2011 Chevy Cruze, named him Archie
- Celebrated at the Roadtrip with Reason launch party
- Officially hit the road on July 19th

August 2011
- 1st official volunteer day in St. John's, Newfoundland on August 1st with For the Love of Learning

August to November 2011 
- Drove 20,000 KM with Archie
- Volunteered with 13 non-profit organizations
- Fell in love with Canada, coast to coast
- Blogged, tweeted, updated, & filmed every step of the way
- Met the heads & hearts behind each non-profit, inspired every day
- Most amazing experience of my life

November 2011
- Brand new MacBook Pro laptop with all of my roadtrip photo's & videos was stolen from car in Burnaby, BC
- Speaking presentation at Take a Hike the following morning, filmed by CTV news (terrible timing, eh?)
- Said goodbye to Archie in Vancouver, BC
- Took the Via Rail train on November 6th
- Arrived home to Oakville, ON on November 10th
Picture
Archie in Pincher Creek, Alberta

Phewf! The cross-Canada journey went by in a flash and it was truly an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to join 13 different non-profit organizations  and offer my 'helping hands', while also getting to know the staff/volunteers and the reason why they were so passionate about their cause(s). It was an honour to spend time with each of them, and it's my joy to be able to share their messages with you. Some of the volunteer reflections come in video form and since the theft of my laptop/footage , in written form. 
  
Be sure to go through my blog history to view some of the reflections, pictures, videos and general updates from my Roadtrip with Reason -- lots and lots of great memories to share. You can also look forward to the final reflections before the new year, and a final video.

I have been back home in Ontario for a month now, adjusting to life off of the road and putting the finishing touches on the Roadtrip with Reason reflections. I am now focusing on finding my next professional adventure (i.e. a job!) in the non-profit sector and am so excited to continue on my life quest of creating positive change.

Please take the time to visit the websites of the non-profit organizations  that joined me on my journey. Their hardwork, dedication and passion for their causes is what should be featured and celebrated - they were the reason for this roadtrip, afterall. 

I encourage you to "do your part & show some heart" as a volunteer with one of these amazing organizations, or find a cause that you are passionate about and just give back. They need our time, energy, passion and support to keep doing what they are doing, and what they are doing is so worthy.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

With love & warmth,
Becky Conlon

P.S. Have questions or comments? Want to learn more about this journey? Send me an e-mail at becky at roadtrip with reason dot ca, or connect with me on Facebook or Twitter ....
Picture
Becky's note: Click HERE to see the clip. Absolutely wild. Thanks for the love!
9 Comments

Volunteer Reflection: Rock Bay Landing Shelter (Cool Aid Society)

12/21/2011

3 Comments

 
Note: Due to the theft    of my Macbook Pro and it's files (all photo/video footage), I have had to adapt the way in which I share and reflect on each organization that took part in the Roadtrip with Reason. You can view a few video profiles that were already posted prior to the theft here   . Thanks for your support!
Rock Bay Landing Shelter
(October 2011)

After a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with my family in Victoria (British Columbia), I said my farewells and watched them hop the ferry back to the mainland - leaving just Archie and I behind. I was continuing on to complete the last leg of my cross-Canada volunteer journey and had plans to stick around Vancouver Island to explore. My next volunteer stop was at the Rock Bay Landing Shelter in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Rock Bay Landing shelter is an extension of the Cool Aid Society, which is a non-profit organization that strives to "provide holistic shelter, housing, and community health services to adults experiencing marginalization in the Victoria area". The Cool Aid Society began back in 1968 when a "Cool Aid Hostel" (emergency shelter) was established for transient youth travelling the country. Now they run 4 shelters in Victoria, BC -  Rock Bay Landing is their most recent addition. 

I arrived to RBL on a beautiful sunny day in October and was completely surprised to find such a modern, clean, green (solar panels!) and safe space. To be completely honest, I strolled by the building twice just to be 100% sure I wasn't lost. This was unlike any shelter that I had seen before. I later learned that the reason why RBL was so impressive was because it only opened on November 3rd, 2010 and had been a major (and necessary) undertaking for the organization. 
Picture

Facts about Rock Bay Landing
- 84 permanent shelter beds
- 23 units of transitional housing
- 2 units of family shelter (only one in Victoria)
- 40 shelter mat spaces, available for overflow
- Advanced security / safety features for staff and clients
- Day storage, cart accommodation
- Laundry, showers, clothing, dining facilities, workshops
- Volunteer opportunities for clients

It's a pretty spectacular building that also hosts equally spectacular staff and volunteers. I was welcomed to RBL by Sarah Hook, the Volunteer Coordinator, and immediately felt my little fears melt away. What a gem! When she was taking me on the initial tour of  RBL - laundry, showers, courtyard, activity room, offices, day storage, clothing 'store', kitchen, classrooms, transitional rooms, etc - it was clear that I wasn't the only one who thought she was gem-like. It was nice to see some clients' interactions with staff, and appreciation for the work that they put in on a daily basis. After spending a few days volunteering at RBL, I was more understanding of the realities (& struggles) that the staff do face. It's not an easy task to keep the shelter running so smoothly.

Not an easy task at all. 

As a volunteer, some of my roles were to sort donations for the shelter 'store' (clients are able to take a limited amount of clean clothing for themselves), do shower sign-in/out (& hand out towels/toiletries), prepare lunch and dinner services (with the creative head-Chef's who make delicious & nutritious meals with limited resources), serve meals to the clients, assist with an arts workshop, and complete room-checks (clients have to leave their rooms during the day for janitorial staff) ... but my favourite part of the experience was engaging with the clients.

I learned a lot about the stigmas surrounding people who use services provided by the Cool Aid Society. I learned that there are families living there, teenagers, adults, mothers, seniors, addicts, full-time employees, immigrants, couples, victims, runaways, volunteers, people with mental health issues, and everyone else in between. I learned that these clients love art, hockey teams, cooking, playing soccer, going to the movies, their hometowns, holiday celebrations and fireworks. I learned that they are educated, plan to get educated and have dreams just like the rest of us.

I learned that the people at Rock Bay Landing are exactly like you and I.
They are human, after all.

At the end of my time with Rock Bay Landing, I concluded that although it's a 24-hr co-ed shelter space, it looks and feels more like a University residence. This is a really great thing, in my opinion. It's a home - a place for memories, tears, struggles, overcoming obstacles, sharing meals, friends, family, motivation, successes and hope.

Everyone needs a place to call home, even if it's only a short-term fix.

My experience at RBL reminded me of how lucky I am as an individual, and how lucky we (as Canadians) are to have dedicated staff/volunteers who work so, so hard to offer support to those who really need it. I sincerely hope that one day RBL is no longer necessary, but until that day, I am grateful to know that the Cool Aid Society is there.

For more information on the Cool Aid Society, click here   ...and if you're in the Victoria area, I encourage you to check-out their Christmas initiative "homeless partners ". 
3 Comments

Thankful.

10/10/2011

5 Comments

 
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!!!
Picture
Glacier. Alberta. Cool.
I am currently in Sidney-by-the-Sea, BC - enjoying the Thanksgiving festivities with my family. Turkey dinner is happening tonight and I could not be more excited. Mmm mmm. In the spirit of this holiday, I have created a succinct list of all the things I am thankful for...

1. This experience - what an opportunity it has been! So much to say. Stay tuned for lots of reflection in the coming weeks.

2. Chevrolet Canada - I can't imagine doing the cross-Canada journey without "my" 2011 Chevy Cruze. Archie has become my partner in crime - the only constant I have had throughout the 3 months on the road. He has played the best tunes, provided a great place to snooze, been thoughtful with his gas intake, and never ever let me down. 17, 000 KM later and I still think that he is the best! It's going to be tough to say goodbye. (Yes, I am a crazy car lady. Haha) 

3. The Pepsi Refresh Project - the funding that started it all. The long days of planning, designing this website, hounding everyone for their daily votes, and living in a constant state of anxiety for two months - it all worked out! I am so grateful to be a member of the Pepsi Refresh Project grantee family!

4. Henry's - my equipment friends. It still amazes me that they stepped up to the plate and offered me such an amazing video camera that I use on a daily basis. I couldn't have created any of the videos without it!

5. Anyone who has sponsored me in some way - so many people have fed me, housed me, and thrown a couple bucks my way. I am so appreciative of each and every kind gesture.

6. The non-profit organizations that have been involved in this journey. I have not yet been disappointed by any of my volunteer visits. I am really glad that I have had the ability to discover and share some of the most innovative, successful, and passionate change-makers in Canada. I am so grateful that these organizations exist and that the people who work/volunteer for them are willing to (often) be overworked, underpaid, and understaffed just to ensure that some kind of change happens. Amazing human beings.

7. My family. How cool is it that my parents flew all the way out to British Columbia to enjoy Thanksgiving with my brother, his ladyfriend and I? Pretty cool. It feels/smells like home - except with the ocean and mountain views.

8. Anyone who has taken the time to read my posts, engage in my project, send me a kind e-mail or offer encouraging words. The past 3 months have been incredibly challenging for a variety of reasons, but it has also been incredibly fulfilling and I can't thank you enough for being a part of it!

9. My friends. I have nice friends, but there a select few who have gone above and beyond to support me throughout this journey. You know who you are. I heart you, so much.

10. Canada. It's beautiful and has provided the most amazing backdrop for this experience. I love, love, love my home and native land. 

I hope that you have had the best Thanksgiving, wherever you are. I am going to go stuff my face now.

Happy Trails & Travels,
Becky xo
5 Comments

    What is this?

    Welcome! My name is Becky. I took a roadtrip across Canada, from July to November 2011. This roadtrip was a special one though, because it had reason!

    Go through my blog history to catch up on my 4-month cross-Canada roadtrip where I supported small non-profit organizations and explored the idea of volunteerism. It was so inspiring, life changing and so much FUN...

    Click HERE   to get put on my e-mailing list! You can also check me out on twitter   or facebook!

    Tweet. Tweet.

    Archives

    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    Categories

    All
    Alberta
    Apathy Is Boring
    Archie
    Aviva
    Bear
    Blog
    Boom Boom
    British Columbia
    Camping
    Canada
    Chevrolet
    Chevy
    Contest
    Couchsurfing
    Doubt
    East
    Fail
    Friends
    Henry's
    Inspiration
    Kindness
    Love
    Manitoba
    Media
    Music
    National Park
    New Brunswick
    Newfoundland
    News
    New Year
    Nonprofit
    Non Profit
    Non-profit
    Nova Scotia
    Ontario
    Party
    Pei
    Pepsi
    Pictures
    Planning
    Quebec
    Quote
    Random Act
    Random Act Wednesday
    Reflection
    Roadtrip
    Sad
    Saskatchewan
    Sponsor
    Thankful
    Timeraiser
    Travel
    Update
    Victoria
    Video
    Volunteer
    Volunteering
    Voting

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.