It’s always a special treat to visit the West Coast of Vancouver Island. I was invited to speak at Wickaninnish Elementary School today in Tofino about leadership, defining your own success, and The HEAL Project that starts in May 2011. The content was heavy but the kids were extremely motivated and I’m excited about what’s  about to go down in Tuff and Ukee. At the end of the 1.5 hour talk, 15 minutes of Q&A and deliberations on my favorite colour, my age, and education level we had a giant group hug. It was hilarious – it was, unprecedented. Apparently, there is a strict no touching ban at the school. The hug pile turned into a bit of a mosh pit of smiles, laughter and positive energy.

Talking with Cam at Long Beach Radio

After the presentation the kids decided that amping up the recycling program at their schools was a good idea. One student decided that it needed to be done, another immediately jumped on board to start the Facebook page, and roughly twenty others showed their support to meet tomorrow and be part of the project. There were also some interesting fund raising ideas. One of the boys shyly admitted that he could build dog houses. What?! What an amazing skill to have and product to sell to raise money for the SPCA, North Island Wildlife Recovery Association, or anything really. If there are any businesses that would like to provide discount materials for rain forest grade dog house builders please call Wickaninnish Elementary so we can get this fund raiser started immediately. The funniest idea that seemed to have gravity is what we ended up calling “the smile revolution.” Inspired by the Free Hugs video concept and previous smile revolutions at Aspen Park Elementary in Comox, the kids at Wick definitely thought smiling at each other all day for the rest of the year was a perfect idea. I think they’re right.

Later in the afternoon I chatted on Long Beach Radio with my friend Cam. I have some roots with radio in Tofino because I built the first station here back in 1999 with Pete Moffat. The 101.7 CHOO FM experience was a beautiful period of my life and my West Coast family Pete, Sarah, Chance, and Blaze were a big part of it. Cam and I chatted about that a bit, and The HEAL Project. The station has evolved into something amazing. A small room that is absolutely jammed with equipment, bikes, funky posters and wires hanging from the ceiling – so in other words – paradise, overhanging the ocean on the end of a wharf next to First Street Pier.  ‘Authenticity’ was the word that came to my mind the second I walked into the place. Cam said he would send me the interview in a couple of days so I’ll post it here when I get it. Check back in a few days to listen to it.

My room at Ocean Village Resort

I was treated to dinner at The Shelter Restaurant tonight by some teachers from Wickaninnish Elementary, my friend Kim from the Rain Coast Education Society and DJ Cam. The atmosphere was perfect for a West Coast restaurant and the food was good. I highly recommend the Teriyaki Street Bowl – it’s bangin’ – but I am curious about the Yellow Curry dish. If you try it let me know.

When I arrived in Tofino this morning I was checked into Ocean Village Resort on Mackenzie Beach by a guy named Shane at the front desk who moved to Tofino from LA. What? That’s a radical transition. His commute to work has gone from 4 hours round trip to 8 steps down some stairs. That is a beautiful thing. I’ve seen these A-Frame cottages from the beach a million times but I’ve never stayed here before. I’m impressed – my room is clean, cozy, has all the amenities, and oh yah, pounding waves outside my room and rain drops on my roof. It’s like the poem that Cam and I read aloud earlier that day in the halls of the school. It was so slam I couldn’t help but take a picture of it to remember today by.