Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do. In celebration of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we would like to express immense gratitude for our dedicated community of volunteers.

From participant parent to event volunteer, to Power To Summit racer and monthly donor, Christie knows what Power To Be is all about! Christie first joined the Power To Be community four years ago when her youngest son became involved in the Wilderness School program.

Last month we partnered with Helicopters Without Borders (HWB), a grassroots charity in Vancouver, to donate paddleboards to Kitasoo First Nation. The paddleboards will be used this summer, amongst the whole community, so that everyone in the Kitasoo Nation has an opportunity to explore nature.

Over the last 3-4 years Power To Be has had the opportunity to do multi/ progressive day programs with a class from North Saanich Middle School. For most of them simply being outside for the whole day is quite the adventure. It’s an opportunity for them to explore, be challenged, and grow. Adventure squad is all about exploring the natural environment.

Power To Be is always exploring ways to improve and expand the programs we offer. Thanks to meaningful conversations and a generous grant from the BC Rehab Foundation, we were able to build relationships and partnerships with organizations both old and new which in turn has helped us cater to the needs of our participants.

In the north end of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park next to Butchart Gardens, lies the beautiful Tod Inlet. I have hiked down through the mossy forest above Tod Creek to the beautiful inlet in several different seasons. There is always something beautiful to see!

In the spirit of going BIG, we are combining our 2 signature events (Power To Summit Vancouver and Power To Summit Victoria) into 1 BIG event! From May 27^th – 29^th we are inviting racers from Victoria, Vancouver, and anywhere in the world to join in on the adventure and show your support for Power To Be!

Power To Be joined One Planet Saanich a few years ago as a way to connect to our local neighbours and municipality members and to contribute to being a part of something together. Power To Be strives for authentic action, and the One Planet Action Plan framework provides ambitious sustainability objectives and goals throughout our organization.

Alyssa is described as extremely dependable, creative, and deeply caring. She first started with us as a program volunteer in 2016, and since then has been an exceptional supporter of Power To Be in a number of different ways.

Pāora Tangira truly has a way with words, and with people. Pāora joined the Power To Be team in 2016 and has made his mark at Prospect Lake and within the organization. Pāora is incredibly calm and compassionate with participants, and ALWAYS takes the time to be sure they are comfortable (physically and mentally) before beginning a program.

The Ted Rogers Scholarships have benefitted nearly 1,800 across Canada, helping to remove financial barriers to post-secondary education and helping youth achieve their highest potential. By working closely with youth service providers across Canada to make sure that the program is as accessible and as barrier free as possible, Rogers has created a successful program with broad impact. 

At the end of fall 2021, youth from the Wilderness School were offered an opportunity to work alongside a Power To Be volunteer, to help track the habitat and lifecycles of the Western Screech owl. Being able to be a part of and contribute to important ecological work such as this is a beautiful way in which we can honour the lands and waters we are so fortunate to dwell on.

As we wrapped up 2021, we were thrilled to engage with our community in new ways and share rich stories of the impact of Power To Be. Check out the final quarterly impact report of 2021 as we reflect on the year, and share stories about our community, our initiatives, and our impact.

Power To Be's initiatives are guided by the philosophy and approaches we carry in moving our purpose and vision forward. By working with partners, we are able to build up our team, our participants and our community collectively.

Known for his keenness, friendly energy, and versatility, Alex is praised for contributing to the success of some of our biggest fundraising projects this year. As a placement volunteer with our Advancement department, Alex has been hands on from day one with a “bring it on” kind of attitude!

This year, to get into the holiday spirit, Power To Be staff put a new spin on “Giving Tuesday” and participated in our very own “Give Back Tuesday”, which was a chance to partner with local non-profits and provide volunteer support. In Vancouver, our team partnered up with our friends from Backpack Buddies, while on the Victoria side, our staff team partnered with Soap For Hope Canada.

Tim says that Power To Be reduces the risk so he doesn’t have to second guess what’s going on which allows him to feel a sense of security. He also loves the company during Power To Be programs, fellow participants talk about what is going on around him and he always feels connected to his surroundings.

Whether we are paddling, exploring, climbing, stretching or simply getting the wiggles out, participation in Power To Be’s programs often involves moving our bodies in some way! Our physical activity outcome in our Theory of Change seeks to support individuals with increasing their access to physical activity.

Our goal with Power To Be is to create that space for our participants, where they feel safe, can be their authentic self, and they feel nurtured and appreciated, going beyond just being accepted and supported. West Van Youth staff and Power To Be collaborated to design and create a unique program that met the needs of the youth, while emphasizing themes of inclusion and empowerment so youth would feel more comfortable accessing outdoor spaces.

One of the most wonderful things about spending time in nature is the sense of imagination it evokes. We are so fortune at Power To Be to have access to wilderness at our Prospect Lake site. A particularly special spot at the site is our Play Forest. This area offers an invitation to simply play, unstructured and exploratory, and encourages curiosity and discovery.