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life≠inspiration

O ne of the most

exciting times at

Canadian Living

Magazine is

when the Me to We Award

nominations start to trickle in,

leaving us with a deluge of great

submissions to pore over. It’s

heartwarming and energizing to

read about hundreds of

individuals across Canada who

are creating more vibrant

communities and giving hope

and inspiration to those in need.

“These individuals are selfless in

their acts of compassion and

truly living the Me to We

philosophy,” says Michelle

Douglas, one of the judges and

chair of Free the Children’s

Canadian board of directors.

With the support of Craig and

Marc Kielburger, the ambassadors

for Free the Children, we bring

you the winners of the second

annual Me to We Awards.

Each recipient receives $5,000 to

give to a charitable cause of his

or her choice.

Let their stories inspire you!

260 O C T O B E R 2 0 0 6 ≠ W W W . C A N A D I A N L I V I N G . C O M

We salute six Canadians who, through their

selfless acts of compassion, have changed our world forever.

B Y K A T H R Y N D O R R E L L

Free theChildrenambassadorsMarc and CraigKielburger

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KATY HUTCHISONTURNING TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH, VICTORIA

When Katy Hutchison speaks to a packed room of highschool students the silence is stifling. Their tears andunwavering attention are a testament to the power ofher message: We need to be responsible for our actionsand practise forgiveness.

Katy has been an advocate for restorative justiceand helping kids make positive life choices since herhusband was beaten to death by a teenager nine yearsago after he checked on an unsupervised party at aneighbour’s home. When an arrest was made fiveyears later, the police showed the young man avideotape of Katy speaking about her loss and askingthe accused why he killed her husband. He was somoved that he confessed to the murder. Only 16 hourslater, Katy met with him face-to-face. “It was one ofthe most difficult and empowering things I have everdone,” she says. Since that day, Katy has encouragedhim to make a difference in the lives of young peopleby sharing his story.

“A youth in a detention centre who was chargedwith serious violent crimes told me that until hearingme speak, he saw no purpose in life beyond getting out of jail, lapsing back into drug and alcohol abuseand engaging in an endless cycle of violence,” saysKaty. “Having heard me speak, the individual wouldnow like to get clean and learn to solve problemswithout hurting others. That tells me I am reallymaking a difference.”

Katy has recently released a book, Walking After

Midnight (Raincoast, 2006, $32.95), and plans to focusmore on restorative justice in the years ahead. “I ampassionate about helping to create a criminal justicesystem that includes restorative justice because I knowfirsthand that it creates a safe place where true healingmay begin.”> Katy’s Me to We Award money will go to Leave Out

ViolencE (Love), an organization that helps reduceviolence in the lives of youth and in our communities.

Social Action

In the Community

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JENNIFER FASTCARING ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE ANDTHE KIDS IT AFFECTS, WINNIPEG

Jennifer Fast has taken the philosophy “It takes a village toraise a child” to heart. Two years ago, the full-time mom ofthree boys launched an organization that gives birthday giftpacks to kids who live in second-stage housing, a place wherechildren and moms who have escaped abuse can live safelytogether for up to a year. The gift packs are an initiative that isalso educating the community about domestic violence.

After she partnered with a local second-stage housinginitiative, Jennifer founded Birthday Buddies Inc. and set towork putting together gift packs based on children’s wishlists. Each pack includes a cake, candles, a card, balloons andsmall gifts, as well as a few personal items. Now in its secondyear, Birthday Buddies, which Jennifer runs on a volunteerbasis, has provided gift packs to more than 60 kids. “Knowingthat the gift packs are coming takes a huge burden off themoms during such a stressful time in their lives,” she says. “It allows them to truly share in the excitement andanticipation of their child’s birthday.”

Initially, Jennifer relied on the generosity offamily and friends to fund her venture, but last yearshe started knocking on doors of local schools andsmall businesses, speaking about abuse and askingfor donations. “Domestic violence was notsomething this community was talking about,”she says. “I have been glad to heightenawareness of its effect on the lives of mothers and their children.”

The community has warmly embracedher efforts. Schools donate their fund-raisingproceeds, strangers spot her in hockey arenasand pull out their cheque books, and kidsmake items such as beaded bracelets toinclude in the birthday kits. “I have learned thatthere are so many wonderful people in thecommunity that want to help,” she says.> Jennifer’s Me to We Award money will helpestablish Birthday Buddies Inc. branch officesin Calgary, Brandon, Man., and other citiesacross Canada. For more information, visitwww.birthdaybuddies.ca.

me to we award winners

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LINDSAY LEHRMAKING SURE ALZHEIMER’S PATIENTSARE NOT FORGOTTEN, CALGARY

In many ways Lindsay Lehr is a typical 12-year-old. Sheloves hanging out with friends, playing sports, drawingand taking singing lessons. But Lindsay’s compassion anddetermination to make a difference in the lives of otherssets her apart.

The Grade 6 student has raised $5,600 for theAlzheimer’s Society of Calgary. She took up the cause in2004 when her grandmother, Miyuki, died from the

disease. As Lindsay’s aunt, uncle andcousins cared for Miyuki thousands ofmiles away in Toronto, she developeda keen awareness of how Alzheimer’s

disease affects families. “I thoughtmy mom may get it and would

forget my name and who I am,”

says Lindsay. “I didn’t want that to happen, so I decidedto sell my drawings to teachers and friends to raisemoney for the disease.”

With the help of her mother, Lindsay alsoapproached the Alzheimer’s Society of Calgary to inquireabout selling her artwork. The society had two of herpictures made into greeting cards, which Lindsay tookdoor-to-door in her canvassing efforts. Half of all fundsgoes toward research and finding a cure, while the otherhalf supports families who have a loved one with thedisease, helping to pay for home care, respite andeducation services.

“I like art and wanted to help find a cure forAlzheimer’s disease, and with my work I get to do both,”says Lindsay. “If we all do a little bit, we can all

accomplish a lot and have a big impact.”> Lindsay will donate part of her Me

to We Award money to theAlzheimer’s Society of Calgary

and the rest to help build a

garden at her grandmother’sformer care centre.

Youth in Action (12andunder)

me to we award winners

S P O N S O R E D B Y

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Youth in Action (13-17)KRISTIN STAWIARSKIMAKING KIDS’ LIVES MORE MAGICAL,ANCASTER, ONT.

A ballet dancer since the tender age of two, Kristin Stawiarskifound a way to combine her compassion for others with herpassion for the arts. The 17-year-old created the Kids HelpingKids Campaign three years ago to allow less fortunatechildren to be touched by the magic of dance.

The idea came to Kristin while she was performing withher dance company in their annual production of The

Nutcracker. “I saw the happiness and excitement that childrengot from the show and realized some kids would neverexperience that because they couldn’t afford to buy a ticket,”she says.

Kristin approached the president of The Canadian BalletYouth Ensemble to tell her about her idea of dance studentsraising money to send seriously ill and underprivilegedchildren to The Nutcracker. She discovered her fellow dancerswere eager to lend a hand. “They really wanted to have animpact on a child’s life beyond the actual performance, so westarted canvassing for money.”

Each Christmas season, shows are performed inschools across the community, as well as in TheHamilton Place Theatre. Thanks to Kristin’s efforts,more than 600 students have been sponsored to see aperformance. In addition, 10 in-school workshops areheld each year to give school kids a betterunderstanding of the arts, which is also part of themandate of Kids Helping Kids.

“I think it’s important for all kids to be exposed tothe arts and have the opportunity to create their owndream and vision in life,” says Kristin. “Seeing thisballet can motivate kids who are less fortunate thanothers, giving them hope and determination to workthrough their own personal circumstances.”> Kristin’s Me to We Award money will be donatedto The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble.

me to we award winners

S P O N S O R E D B Y

Diversity

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RISHMA GOVANIDISHING UP MULTICULTURALISM,TORONTO

Rishma Govani has discovered that the way to the heart –and the mind – is through the belly. The advocate formulticulturalism has created a thriving dinner club that isbreaking down barriers by introducing participants to boththe cuisine and culture of countries all over the globe.

Rishma, the daughter of Ugandan refugees, launchedthe Toronto Food Luck Club (TFLC) six years ago when shepersuaded a group of friends to try out a different ethnicrestaurant each month. “The club works in a subtle way byencouraging people to try something new, somethingthey may be scared of, and by challenging theirpreconceived ideas,” says Rishma. Word travelled among friends, and now the TFLC boasts 150 memberswho come from diverse walks of life, demographicsand professions. About 20 people attendeach monthly dinner, and to date they have visited more than65 restaurants. “I am surprisedhow successful it has been,”says Rishma. “It really was a humble beginning.”

TFLC’s philosophy is to think globally byacting and eating locally. Rishma selectsrestaurants that are family-run, reasonablypriced and offer authentic cuisine. “We go toplaces where there is some ethnic colour in therestaurant and family or staff can answer questionsabout the food and culture,” she adds. So farparticipants have had a taste of Tibet, Goa and Tunisia, toname a few countries.

While Rishma knows that Toronto offers a plethoraof ethnic places to visit, she says her club is a concept thatcan be adopted anywhere. All you need is an appetite foradventure and an open mind.> Rishma’s Me to We Award money will go to World

Partnership Walk, which helps fight global poverty, andSunshine Dreams for Kids, which makes dreams come truefor children challenged by severe physical disabilities orlife-threatening illnesses. If you are interested in joiningthe club, visit www.tflc.ca.

me to we award winners

In the Workplace

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JEREMY RHODES INSPIRING TEACHERS TO TOUCHYOUNG LIVES, THORNBURY, ONT.

Jeremy Rhodes knows how to rally teachersaround a great cause. No small feat consideringJeremy doesn’t have formal training in theprofession and had his first real taste of teachingwhen he founded Elephant Thoughts GlobalDevelopment Initiatives in 2002. The nonprofitorganization, based out of Clarksburg, Ont., bringsextracurricular science and technology programsto school kids – including a large number ofaboriginal students – in the belief that this added knowledge will lay the foundation for abright future.

Affectionately known by his students as Dr. Germ, Jeremy uses robotics and fun, whackybut meaningful experiments to get kids hookedon science. He was inspired to create ElephantThoughts after several years of volunteering inAsia. “Overseas I was able to realize what kind ofdifference I wanted to see and make in theworld,” he says. His group’s name is a nod to thisinfluence, he adds, noting the elephant is asymbol of Asia.

The two main programs that the organizationruns are the Canadian Aboriginal Youth ScienceInitiative and Atoms to Asteroids, an after-schoolscience club offered in rural and urban Ontario.Through these initiatives, teachers from acrossOntario have volunteered their time and talent inmore than 100 First Nation communities as well asin more than 50 schools throughout Ontario.

The group is now building a school on theborder of India and Nepal that will be partiallystaffed with volunteer Canadian teachers.“Teachers are very passionate to see this happen,”says Jeremy. “It’s part of our goal to make sure allkids can get a great education.”> Jeremy’s Me To We Award money will gotoward building the school in Nepal.

O N T H E N E TThere’s more! To view our list of honourable

mentions, visit www.canadianliving.com.

me to we award winners