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

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 ....

Becky's note: Click HERE to see the clip. Absolutely wild. Thanks for the love!

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!

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. 

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

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!

Before I share the tale of my volunteer experience with the Napi Friendship Association (through the Muskoka Foundation), it is important to explain how I found myself there…

While planning my Roadtrip with Reason, I connected with Jay & Sharon from Service Driven on Twitter.  These two have been journeying across the United States (mostly) since February 1st 2011 - volunteering their time and enjoying as much beer/bacon/bikes as possible. Naturally, our projects had a lot in common. In June of 2011, they were passing through Ontario and stayed the night at my apartment in Bracebridge where we discussed their journey, my upcoming journey and Jay’s (hilarious) fear of moose. A month or so later, they sent me an e-mail about The Muskoka Foundation and the ball got rolling.

The Muskoka Foundation is an organization whose vision is to “to create a network of hundreds of modern day explorers, traveling overland in communities around the world, using their professional skills to do good as they go.” They provide the ‘traveling participants’ with programming framework, tools and support to help carry out activities while on the road. I was sold! Plans were made for September to have me volunteer at the Napi Friendship Association (NFA) in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

 I arrived to Pincher Creek without knowing very much about the place. It turns out that Pincher Creek is a small ranching town (approx 3,370 people), directly east of the Canadian Rockies. It is known for its strong Chinook winds (& subsequent wind turbine development), surrounding aboriginal communities, and close vicinity to Waterton Lakes National Park.

I met with Earlene (the Youth Coordinator at NFA) to discuss my volunteering plans for the week and was equal parts nervous and excited. Prior to this experience, I hadn’t had much direct exposure to aboriginal culture and was unsure of how I would be received. No issues here! We decided on a video blogging project for the participants – the plan was to work collectively to create a video about what living in Pincher Creek (or on the Pikkani Reserve) meant to them.

I showed up to the NFA the following day, full of excitement for the project plan that I had created overnight, and was very disappointed to find only 3 participants – very different from the approximated number of 15. I tweaked the program as much as I could and got down to work with the girls…

The plan was to a) Discuss my Roadtrip with Reason thus far & how video blogging played a role; b) Brainstorm ideas about what living in Pincher Creek meant to them, choose 3 main ideas; c) Adventure around Pincher Creek to get both photo and video representation of the main ideas (mountain, prairies & culture); d) Interview girls for additional footage and sound bytes; e) Edit video collaboratively

After strolling around Pincher Creek and making visits to all of the “hot spots”, their school, the trails, some family/friends etc for photos and videos; we warmed up to each other and questions began flowing back and forth. I was extremely curious about their daily lives (typical teens), how their culture played a role (big role), their experience living in this little part of Alberta (not too bad), any racism/prejudice they experienced (some) and their hopes for the futures (lots). They seemed to be equally curious about my project, why I was doing it, what brought me to them and how life was on the road. The day ended with all of us taking beautiful footage of the prairie land, while the sun was setting over the Rockie mountains in the distance. It was a stunning sight (prancing deer included) and I got the sense that these three were more proud of their home than they had originally expressed.

The following day was deemed ‘editing day’ and I showed up to find no one there. Ouch! It turns out that there was a family wedding and some miscommunication with Earlene – she had forgotten that it was a PA Day, which meant that the girls didn’t have transportation from their home on the Pikkani reserve to Pincher Creek. Regardless of the reason, I was disappointed and felt like I had failed as a volunteer/workshop leader. I spent the rest of my afternoon at the Napi Friendship Association uploading/sorting through the hours of footage and began the editing process. I was about a quarter of the way done when the centre was closing. The completed video was too large for online file sharing, so I had intended on sending it to the girls via snail mail. Unfortunately, the video didn’t make it to the girls before the theft my laptop. Another project lost!

Although my experience at the NFA was not ideal or perfect, it still was put on the “meaningful memories” and “what I wouldn’t have done before” lists. I learned so much about Aboriginal culture (something I am very interested in) and was shown so much kindness by the staff, particularly Earlene who lent me her couch for those nights.

I wish that I could’ve shared more experiences with more participants, taught them more about the uses of vlogging/social media and had more of an affect, but what can you do? Earlene kindly reminded me that by sharing my own roadtrip journey with the girls, I was positively influencing them and showing them that their dreams are achievable. I don’t know if that is actually the case, but it felt good to hear at the time.

Following the time of volunteering and at the advice of the NFA staff, I decided to spend the rest of the weekend camping at Waterton Lakes National Park (about 50km away from Pincher Creek). I drove towards Waterton Lakes feeling a little disheartened and blue, but ended up finding one of my most favourite places across Canada – a place that I hadn’t even heard of prior to my visit at NFA. One of the ‘Elders’ in Pincher Creek had told me of the Waterton's long spiritual history in providing needed energy and ‘warmth’ to its visitors. Funny how things work out!

I am so grateful to the Muskoka Foundation for organizing this experience for me. I am absolutely in love with the actions they are taking, and what they are promoting through their organization. I look forward to using their services on one of my future adventures!

“Go into the world and do well,
but more importantly,
go into the world and do good!”

Yes, yes, yes!

For more information on The Muskoka Foundation, go to their website HERE. You can also purchase a 2012 Nature Calendar, full of beautiful photographs taken by youth in their volunteers’ workshops. 100% of the sales (above costs) go back to the host communities and their youth.

It's time for the newest volunteer/non-profit profile video, featuring Farmers Helping Farmers from Prince Edward Island. This organization has been around since 1979 and is 100% volunteer-based - completely impressive. Their hands-on commitment to helping farm families in Kenya is admirable, and I really love that they involve PEI's youth in the process. It was a pleasure to spend time with Farmers Helping Farmers while on my favourite island! I am excited to see them continue their journey of international philanthropy. Enjoy!!

I am officially back on the road. Yippee! 
I spent the last few days driving through Northern Ontario and I am now in Winnipeg preparing for the week.

Some thoughts....

1. Northern Ontario is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. I was genuinely surprised! I had anticipated three days of long, miserable drives and boy, was I wrong. Holy wilderness, batman! It was lovely. I highly suggest taking the drive one day, especially for those of you who think Ontario is "Onterrible". 

2. Fall has arrived and it makes me so very happy. It's my #1 favourite season and it's perfect for road-tripping. The leaves have even begun to change up North, which made the drive that much more beautiful. Manitoba, however, feels especially chilly.....uncomfortably chilly? Perhaps it's because Mr. Sunshine is taking a break today, I hope. Brrr!

3. Wildlife is abundant in Northern Ontario. I (almost) hit a deer and I saw a black bear. A REAL bear! I have a terrible track record for viewing wildlife (i.e. it never happens) and I had prepared myself for this curse to continue as I headed West....but just as I was about to pass over into Manitoba I saw a beautiful black bear on the side of the road. Sadly there was no opportunity for pictures so hopefully there is a next time. So exciting!

4. Don't ever set up your tent the lazy way, ever! I arrived to a strange little campground last night as it was getting dark, so I decided to throw up the tent sans pegs. Why not? This morning when I awoke at 7 a.m. to high winds, rain and tent collapse, I had an idea as to why I should've pegged myself down. You should've seen me trying to pack up as everything blew all over the place - running around in my purple sweatpants. Hilarious! Lesson learned.

5. My creative juices are flowing. I just completed my second volunteer/non-profit profile video, and I am working on my third. Check out The Empathy Factory VIDEO & look for a post tomorrow.

You have no idea how great it feels to be posting this video (below) up. It has been a long, overwhelming and frustrating process to rifle through but the first non-profit profile video is finally complete. The most important thing to note is that For the Love of Learning is a fantastic, worthy and change-making organization in St. John's. Although I arrived during an unusual week - I was still able to grasp the importance of their programming and see the pride and dedication everyone had for the organization. I was particularly impressed with the extremely open and welcoming environment - it didn't matter if you are a University grad, a person struggling with homelessness or a University grad who is homeless.

Some may not understand how art, theatre and creative writing helps at-risk youth, but I can assure you that this program and similar programs do. After meeting some participants, hearing some stories and reading some of the work that was created in the space - there is no doubt in my mind that FTLOL is an organization who is doing great work in St. John's. "A lot with a little" as Peter (in the video) said - I couldn't agree more.