Michelle Zimmer, one of Power To Be's amazing Program Facilitators, recently had a chance to join the Epic Exeo team to participate in a remote helicopter beach clean-up on Vancouver Islands West Coast. In 24 hours the crew managed to collect 26 full helicopter bags and many more lines with buoys and larger items tied to them totaling 8,000lbs.

At Power To Be our team is committed to engaging in impactful community development. The Youth Service Provider Network (YSPN) is one such initiative that Power To Be is part of. Founded by a group of service providers in Victoria, the YSPN serves to connect organizations through collective training initiatives and gratitude events.

Ellen has created hundreds upon hundreds of masks to date. Including a windowed face mask set for Power To Be’s program team. “Power To Be is an ideal client for me, I have a tendency to always think about accessibility and I’m so excited to have their team utilizing the masks,” says Ellen. Power To Be staff have been using the windowed masks while on program to increase accessibility.

Ingredients assembled and spatula in hand, I put my culinary skills to the test! What resulted was a semi-messy, but yummy treat – think oatmeal cookie meets puff wheat square. My favourite part about these cookies is the fact that they are no-bake. They take five minutes to make, and they’re a great grab-and-go snack to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Be sure to check out Power To Be's Quarter 3 update for 2020. Find out what happened this summer as we began offering some new avenues for programs, hosted a new event, and launched our very own store. See the impact of Power To Be, learn more about how we're continuing to support our community, find out what's new with our organization, and explore what’s coming up.

Liam Zahara and Mateo Everitt have committed to an incredible journey in support of Power To Be. Starting next week, they will be cycling and camping 1400 kilometres through parts of Alberta and across British Columbia. Friends since kindergarten, Liam and Mateo both grew up on Bowen Island and have always been avid outdoor enthusiasts. With both Liam and Mateo having been involved with Power To Be in the past, they are excited to start their adventure as they push their bodies to new limits to support our programs and allow others to access nature.

With fall quickly approaching, I have found new motivation to explore new recipes in the kitchen. Specifically healthy cooking, and cooking meals that won’t take a whole lot of time. Luckily, my slow cooker has been my saving grace! This recipe, in particular, is one of my go-to’s, as it’s easy to prep, easier to cook, and delicious. It’s also made from all fresh ingredients, and it’s vegetarian. The best part is, this recipe yields a large serving size and doesn’t lose its quality when reheated, so it’s great for leftovers the next day!

For the success of creating long-lasting connections and change, it is vital that we align and work closely with organizations doing amazing environmental stewardship work. Two partners Power To Be has worked with in our programs to move this notion of stewardship and education forward is The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society in Vancouver and Habitat Acquisition Trust in Victoria.

Want to represent Power To Be while supporting our programs? We are so excited to announce that we have launched our very first online store! You can now purchase our newly designed, branded apparel. All of our products are ethically sourced, and all of the proceeds go back into supporting and innovating Power To Be programs.

Power To Be’s strength is due in large part to our strategic partnerships with funders. “Our relationship with CIBC is one of those holistic partnerships that directly improves the participant experience by supporting us in many ways, and we are very proud and grateful to call CIBC and CIBC Children’s Foundation our partner,” says Tim Cormode, CEO of Power To Be.

Liam Zahara is an avid outdoor enthusiast, with a strong connection to Power To Be. Using his adventures to support a good cause, last year Liam teamed up with Power To Be to run and complete the Sinister 7 100 mile Ultra Marathon and in doing so, raised over $6,500 for our programs! This year, with almost all endurance races canceled due to COVID-19, Liam is trying something a little different that hits close to home.

With summer now in full swing, I’ve been experimenting with making one of my favourite drinks to enjoy on the backyard patio—kombucha. Not only is kombucha relatively easy to make, there are also several reported health benefits including improved digestion and immune system support.

Power To Be has always valued working closely with our community. It has been a tremendous way to learn about emerging ideas and explore new ways to share resources, collaborate on standards, and identify positive opportunities for sectors to cross over. Power To Be has had the pleasure of being apart of the Victoria-based collaborative OneAbility, the Greater Victoria Collaborative for Adapted Sport and Physical Activity.

Power To Be is pleased to present the Quarter 2 update for 2020. Find out what’s been happening over the past 3 months as we've adapted to new and challenging circumstances, and what’s new with our organization. See the impact of Power To Be, read about our virtual programs, learn more about how we're continuing to support our community, and explore what’s coming up. Click the button below to check it out!

Whether you are new to baking or a seasoned veteran in the kitchen, knowing how to make your own bread is a tasty and useful skill to have. In this blog, you will learn how to make your own loaf of whole wheat bread, with alternatives and substitutes to suit your palette.

RBC Foundation has been a valued and long-time supporter of Power To Be. In 2019, RBC supported Power To Be with a grant from the RBC Future Launch program as well as funding for internal capacity enhancement. RBC Future Launch empowers the youth of today for the jobs of tomorrow, making it a great fit for Power To Be's Wilderness School.

Mount Kilimanjaro is an adventurer’s dream. Few have had the opportunity to venture to the summit of this legendary volcano. However, in 2010, a group of passionate Power To Be supporters banded together and set out on the adventure of a lifetime, Power To Climb. This group of 12 people was going to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, to encourage inclusion in the outdoors.

The City of Victoria is collaborating with community partners and non-profit organizations to provide vegetable and herb seedlings to those who need help most, and Power To Be has the great pleasure of being one of those organizations. 

With disruptions to our typical programs due to COVID-19, the Power To Be team has been working to maintain connections with our participants and ensure that our community feels supported during this challenging time. One of the ways we are continuing to engage with our participants is by holding virtual programs. These programs consist of story sharing of favorite trip memories, what we’re doing now to stay connected to nature, nature-based activities and challenges, and just generally a free-flowing dialogue of check-ins on how we’re doing.

Working in synergy can have tremendous power and benefits that extend into many spectrums of connection. When we work with others, we become stronger and are able to represent wider audiences and perspectives. One person or organization cannot create belonging and connection in isolation. To get to the true root of impact, Power To Be partners with others.