Well, after 15 years of dreaming about this and the past year spent planning it, I sit in St. John’s, NL days away from beginning this run across Canada. As we took the ferry on Tuesday from Sydney, NS to Port-Au-Basques, NL, I watched the big swells of the North Atlantic and thought… “there’s no turning back now”! I have been overwhelmed the last couple of weeks with last minute details, stuff that should be ready that isn’t and things I should know but don’t! I am learning the true meaning of the 11th hour. And I am learning that fulfilling this dream and taking the message of getting children and youth outside across the country might take a very different shape than I envisioned. A project contact just emailed me and told me I better get used to flying by the seat of my pants… and in a way, that’s comforting!
[blockquote size=”full” align=”left|right” byline=””]As we took the ferry on Tuesday from Sydney, NS to Port-Au-Basuqes, NL, I watched the big swells of the North Atlantic and thought… “there’s no turning back now”![/blockquote]
When we arrived in St. John’s yesterday after a long drive across the province (our wonderful 1984 RV cruises best at 80 km/h!), the city was dry with no signs of snow. I saw the shoulders of the highway where I will be running and thought there’s no way it could stay like this. And sure enough, in true east coast fashion, it began snowing this morning. I sit looking out the window to about 20 cm of snow and wonder how I’m going to pull this off? Why oh why would I ever start this in
January?!
On Monday, I will begin from Signal Hill and run to Holy Family School in Paradise, about 20km from downtown. Here, 600 students will join me for a short walk/run outside in their neighbourhood. Snowballs will be thrown, snow angels will be made… and I will slowly start to find an answer to beginning this run in the heart of an east coast winter.
June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, knowledge systems, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Turtle Island. For countless generations, Indigenous Peoples have learned with and from the land. Indigenous knowledge systems recognize the land as a teacher and emphasize relationships, reciprocity, observation, responsibility, and […]
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the diversity, strength, joy, and stories of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. When we bring stories outdoors, something special happens. Reading beneath a tree, sharing reflections around a circle, wandering through a forest while imagining a character’s journey, or connecting identity to place through art and observation can help learning […]
Every February we honour the legacies, contributions, struggles, and triumphs of Black communities. We’re recognizing both Black History Month and Black Futures Month, acknowledging the past and present while also looking forward to an equitable future that celebrates Black leadership, resilience, and innovation. To help us celebrate Black voices in the outdoors and support anti-racism […]