It seems the longer we’re out here, the busier we get. We’ve been pretty busy since we left our Vancouver over 5 ½ months ago, but now we’re a different kind of busy. We’re not just the kind of busy you get from running a marathon almost every day. Added to this, we’re now busy from 7:00am – 10:00pm on our ‘non-run’ days meeting people. (thank god for hotel sponsors – thanks Kath!)
It’s a great thing though. Believe it or not, even though most of our days are filled running down highways, we are out here more to connect with PEOPLE than with the PAVEMENT. And our second day in Halifax did not disappoint.
The day started with an interview bright ‘n early with Jayson Baxton on Breakfast TV, early only because we had a ‘walk to school’ date with the kids of St. Stephen’s Elementary School. Indeed, to kick off our presentation, all 200+ kids met on their assigned corner around the school to promote an alternative way to commute around town and get to school: by using our own two feet!
Waiting for us at school was none other than our new Road Manager: Simon Hill! Simon had flown out from Vancouver, with huge thanks to Warren Carr and EcoNeutral, to replace our beloved Vanessa who will be returning back to Victoria. Stay tuned for future “changing of the guard” blogs…
After yet another high energy presentation with more powerful environmental activists under 5ft, complete with a tour of the E-volution RV, we whisked off to Inglis Street Elementary School where we were met by yet another excitable group. This school was set up by an incredible mum, Jane, who attended our Moksha Yoga event the day before, and booked us on the spot in the change room of all places! As a mum, Jane understands at a very personal level that we’re not just running for the environment here. We’re out here for her kids’ future. “I’ve got 4 kids,” she told me. “The environment is really important to me.” I was really moved by Jane’s balance of seriousness and inspiration to take daily action, now.
We knew we were in the right place when we saw, right at the school’s entrance, these kids had gone through their garbage and pulled out pieces they’d found in there that should have been in the recycling bin, and taped them to the wall! Needless to say, out “secret” tip #10 for kids to “teach your parents weller” was a big hit.
We get asked all the time if the tour is turning out to be what we expected. Given that I thought we might have an event or two every week, and in cities like Halifax we had 7 events in 2 days, I’d have to say it’s turning out to be a whole lot more than I ever anticipated. (I also have to admit, I only thought we’d need 5 people on our team to run the show, including Matt and I. We’re now over 30…)
Just wait till you read about what happened at Planet Organic Market later that afternoon…