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We Day Empowers And Inspires Our Youth To “Be The Change”

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We Day

I’m going to do my best to accurately recap the events that were National We Day in Ottawa. Considering the magnitude of the event and effect it had on every single person there, I hope I can do it justice. We Day, for those of you who are not familiar, is an event from Free The Children founders Marc and Craig Kielburger, that inspires our youth to be the leaders in creating local and global change.

I spent the day, along with 5000 young adults who all EARNED their tickets to the event with community service, listening to incredible speakers like Martin Sheen, Spencer West & Rob Stewart, as they told their inspirational stories and encouraged the children to get out there and make a difference in the world, one small act at a time.

There were so many highlights from this event that it is impossible to list them all, so I’ll give you a few of my favourites. For me, it started in the backstage media room, where two very young activists anxiously awaited Free the Children founder, Craig Kielburger’s arrival, so that they could ask their questions and press him for knowledge about how they could make a difference. I hadn’t been there 5 minutes and I was already beaming with inspiration at how devoted they were to changing the world.

Next up was Ottawa native and double lung transplant survivor, Helene Campbell, who strode across the stage and spoke as if she had been doing it her whole life. If ever there was someone to channel when you feel like giving up, she absolutely fits the bill. My favourite part is when she challenged the now famous, YOLO slang, by offering up a much more suitable and inspiring term in Carpe Diem. It wasn’t the first time I teared up at the event and it wouldn’t be the last.

My most vulnerable moment came when young Molly Burke took to the stage. I thought I had done my homework on the speakers but somehow I had missed Molly’s bio and videos. Even typing this, I am welling up at how powerful her story of blindness and bullying was. Of everything I saw at We Day, Molly’s story affected me the most. Please take a second to watch a clip of her incredible story and share it with the children in your life.

While We Day is an event that was developed to inspire our youth to take action in creating change for our world, I can tell you first hand that the children are not the only ones affected. I spent a good portion of my day dancing, and wiping away emotional tears from not only the stories of the speakers, but also from watching how inspired all of the children in that building were. It wasn’t just those kids who experienced a change today, I felt it too. I am absolutely confident that my children are going to be raised as better human beings because I attended this event, and I will be forever grateful for that.

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite messages of the day, from Marc & Craig Kielburger. It’s not enough to wait for the change or follow the change, you have to go out there and Be The Change! That’s a message I will be passing on to my little ones as they grow into young adults themselves. The event was amazing, I met some really awesome people and leave you with a small sampling of the pictures I was able to snag. I highly recommend attending a We Day if your child ever gets the opportunity and please read up on all the inspiring things that Free The Children are doing to help out both locally and globally.

Photo Bombing Martin Sheen!

Photo Bombing Martin Sheen!

Hanging with Spencer West

Hanging with Spencer West

Blogger, Shannon's View From Here's daughter

Blogger, Shannon’s View From Here’s daughter

Blogger, Macaroni Kid Ottawa's son

Blogger, Macaroni Kid Ottawa’s son

Lego + Star Wars = A Great Giveaway From Tag Along Toys

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Tag Along Toys

I can’t think of a better way to introduce a new advertiser to the site, than to run a giveaway for some of their merchandise. Especially when that merchandise combines two of my favourite things in Star Wars and Lego!

Before we get to the giveaway, I would like to introduce you to my new advertiser and one of my favourite places to visit in my city, Tag Along Toys. It’s probably no surprise to people that know me, that I like to hang out in toy stores whether my kids are with me or not. The difference with Tag Along Toys is that it is a local small business that always makes you feel like a part of their family whenever you visit.

The owner, Patti, always has new things for the kids to do, from charity spa days to visits from real princesses, my kids ask to go in every single time we drive by and I can’t blame them. In good news for all of you, Tag Along Toys has just launched their online shop as well, so now all of you can check it out and find a lot of toys that you can’t get at the big box stores.

How about a giveaway to kick off this new partnership? Patti had generously donated this amazing Lego Star Wars, Darth Vader LED Desk Lamp and in honour of the new online store, has opened up the contest to all of Canada (excluding Quebec).

Star Wars Lego

 

All you have to do to win is “Visit Tag Along Toys Website” and leave a comment here letting me know which toy your child would like most. That’s it. I’ll draw the winning comment at Noon on May 10th and we’ll ship it out to you! Good Luck!

 

 

For more great deals and giveaways, you can also follow Tag Along Toys on Twitter and Facebook.

Catch The Harlem Globetrotters at Scotiabank Place on April 11th

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Globetrotters

It’s funny to think that I have never been to a Harlem Globetrotters game. I mean, they’ve been around almost three times longer than I have and are beloved by almost everyone who has seen them. Well, all that is about to change at 7pm on April 11th, when I will be bringing my family to a game for the first time. That’s right, the Globetrotters are bringing their 2013 “You Write The Rules” World Tour to Ottawa’s Scotiabank Place and I will be front and center for all the action. Or maybe middle and left, I guess. Who really knows where seats are anymore.

The “You Write The Rules” Tour will be the first time that the fans will have a say in how the game will be officiated. Fans can vote for which rule(s) they want the Harlem Globetrotters to implement during their game by visiting www.harlemglobetrotters.com/rule and voting on rules, such as the use of two basketballs, double points, a 4-point shot (Buckets Blakes’ specialty), the dreaded penalty box and playing 6-on-5.

It sounds like a great time for the whole family and I can’t wait to get there! Tickets to see the world’s most famous basketball team start at $15 and can be purchased by visiting www.CapitalTickets.ca, by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 1-877-788-FANS (3267); in person at The Sens Store at Carlingwood Mall and Place d’Orléans, any Ottawa Sports Experts location; Les Galeries de Hull and at the Scotiabank Place box office.

Also, thanks to my friends at Scotiabank Place, I will have the opportunity to interview Globetrotter Buckets Blakes in the coming days and will share that experience with you once it’s done. Hope to see you at the show! For more info on the Globetrotters, you can follow them on Twitter or on their Facebook Page.

How Canadians Learn To Ride A Bicycle

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Canadian Cycle

Forget bending over. We have our own methods of teaching our children how to ride!

My Day With The Cast Of Disney On Ice

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Disney on Ice2

When I pitched the idea of me skating with the cast of Disney on Ice, I was only half joking. In my mind, there was no way they were going to take time out of their busy touring schedule to let me do this. As it turns out, the joke was on me when they gladly accepted my offer.

So, after a rigorous hunt for a videographer, I set out to Scotiabank Place at 6am on a Friday morning and had my opportunity in the Disney on Ice spotlight. After attending the amazing show with my family the night before, I was more nervous than I had been in a long time. Even as I left the arena that day, I still hadn’t processed how awesome the experience was. That was, until I saw the video that Algonquin College student and life saver, Troy Baker, had put together for me.

This was my first experience with live interviewing someone and also with creating my own video and I’m proud as heck at how everything turned out. I want to say a huge, huge thank you to everyone at Scotiabank Place and Feld Entertainment for helping facilitate my request. I also want to thank Whitney Thomas and the rest of the cast from Disney on Ice for being so friendly and welcoming, even though I made them wake up very early to watch me humiliate myself. Finally, thanks to Troy Baker for stepping in and shooting and editing all the footage, you saved the day, man! I realize that life changing sounds like an exaggeration but that’s exactly what it was in a lot of ways and I am very grateful to have had the experience.

Without further ado, here is a quick recap video of my day with the cast of Disney on Ice. The show was amazing as well and I highly recommend checking it out! Enjoy!

Canadian Spotlight – Stompin’ Tom Connors

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Stompin Tom Connors

Canada lost a legend tonight. A message on Stompin’ Tom Connors’ official website confirmed that the singer of the wildly famous and amazingly Canadian, The Hockey Song, has passed away from natural causes at the age of 77.

He left this message for his family to pass along to his fans upon his death:

“Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin’ Tom.”

“It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it’s beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world.”

“I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future.”

“I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done.”

Sincerely,

Your Friend always,

Stompin’ Tom Connors

Stompin’ Tom was probably most famous for 1973’s, The Hockey Song, which I have probably listened to and performed about 3,000 times and have also attached below. Please feel free to share your Stompin’ Tom stories below. My favourite thing about him was that he was wildly in love with his country. You can’t ask for much more than that! RIP Tom.

Phineas & Ferb: Animal Agents DVD Giveaway {Canada}

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Perry Files

Hi. My name is Chris and I am addicted to Phineas & Ferb. There, I said it. Since the moment I got my first taste of this show I have been hooked. My house is littered with action figures, DVD’s, stuffed animal and even Phineas & Ferb cutlery. What can I say, I believe that this is the perfect animated show for children and adults alike.

My kids agree as well, having logged more hours on this show than any other. You know Disney is on to something when the kids select a DVD of Phineas & Ferb episodes instead of an actual movie on movie night. I was really excited to find out that Disney was releasing a new “Perry Files” DVD, not only because I love the show but also because Agent P and Dr. Doofenshmirtz have quickly become my favourites. Here is some info about the new DVD, which is available at your local retailer starting today, February 26th!

Phineas & Ferb: Animal Agents

How well do you really know your pet…or ANY animal? Behind a cute and/or cuddly exterior there may lurk a cunning crime-fighter with a brown fedora, a top-secret identity and a license to thrill! Meet the heroic Animal Agents of the O.W.C.A. (Organization Without A Cool Acronym).

Join Perry the Platypus – a.k.a. Agent P – and his fellow operatives as they team up to thwart Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his dastardly “Inators.” Be they furry or feathered, scaly or slimy, these fearless agents roll over for nobody when it comes to crushing evil in the Tri-State Area and beyond. Fully loaded with over two hours of animal-themed adventures, including the exciting, two-part Phineas And Ferb cliffhanger “Where’s Perry?”, this fun-filled, action-packed laughfest will drive you wild!

DVD Giveaway!

I’m so happy to be able to provide a copy of this new “Perry Files” DVD to one of my readers. All you have to do to enter is Leave a Comment Below telling me who your favourite Phineas & Ferb character is. It’s as easy as that! This contest is open to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) and closes at midnight on Thursday, March 7th. Good Luck!

Let’s Have a Caption Contest!

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Headless Female

Let’s have some fun this week! I took this picture of a headless women’s washroom sign and figured we could have some fun with a caption contest. I’ve even decided to chip in a prize for this one.

I’ll do a random drawing from all the entries and maybe create a meme out of the one that makes me laugh the hardest. I have decided to donate a $25 gift card to Chapters/Indigo as the prize. The only catch is that the card is only good in Canada. That doesn’t mean my American friends can’t play along though, so please feel free to comment with your best captions as well.

To enter, simply leave your caption in the comments below and I’ll draw the winner on Thursday morning. Good Luck and please don’t hold back on your captions!

Congrats to the winner, Michele!

It’s Time to Vote in the Starbucks Canada “Name Your Blend” Contest

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Starbucks Finalists

You may remember back in January, I had asked you to submit your entries in Starbucks Canada’s “Name Your Blend” contest. Well, the entries have been tabulated and the 3 finalists (shown in above photo) are waiting to find out if they will be crowned the winner!

That’s where YOU come in! Starbucks Canada needs your help in selecting the winner. That person will have their winning name featured on the packaging and will also receive a trip for two anywhere in Canada that has a Starbucks location. You can VOTE HERE until February 27th!

Don’t forget to stop in to say hi to Starbucks Canada on Twitter and Facebook as well! Have a great day!!!

Starbucks Blonde Roast

Today Is Mental Health Awareness Day; And So Is Tomorrow; And The Next Day

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Baby Hands

I decided to take part in Bell Canada’s Let’s Talk day, yesterday. As part of my contribution, I shared something about myself that not very many people know about and had a very hard time hitting the “Publish” button. The response to that post has been overwhelming to say the least and I appreciated all the kind messages I received, both publicly and privately.

I went into the day not knowing how I felt about the corporate tag being attached to the concept of speaking out about mental health and I wasn’t alone. I saw a lot of discussion surrounding the issue, some reasonable and some just bashing for the sake of bashing, but I wanted to add my thoughts to the discussion. The reason I decided to share my story on this particular day was because I knew that I would be able to generate more discussion than if I posted it on any other day. It wasn’t about the page views; it was about starting a dialogue. And it worked.

For me, the day changed from a corporate marketing event to the real deal when I received this comment from a complete stranger, “After reading your story I now feel that there may be light at the end of this and it’s as easy as talking to your family doctor. Thank you again”. It may not be as easy as going to a family doctor but it’s a better start than doing nothing. Either way, the thought of someone reacting to something I had written in that way, was eye opening.

That comment made me realize that there are so many people suffering in silence and that inspired me to reach out even further. So, I put out an offer for people to email me if they needed to talk, not thinking anyone would actually do it, and to my surprise I received two emails during the day. I read the emails, without judgment, and welcomed them to write me anytime they wanted. I don’t know if it helped them to send me their story but it certainly couldn’t have hurt. I also made sure to point out that I am not even close to “professional” help.

I want to stop here for a minute because as I write this, I can’t help but feel like this is sounding a lot like a “Look at me!” post, and I want to assure you that it is not. A lot of things have changed about me since I have been blogging and the biggest one is the realization that this voice I have created is useless if it is not used to do some good. It also means that if there needs to be a corporate tag attached to an event to get people talking, then so be it. If we’re being completely honest, fear of failure and crickets is why I wouldn’t have started a movement like this by myself, so I’m glad a corporation took the initiative. Maybe I’ll get there someday.

All that said; my offer still stands. If you are having a rough go and need to just share your story with anybody, please feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will gladly lend an ear. I am no counselor, so I can’t offer anything but an ear but maybe it’s a start. You don’t have to suffer alone, please remember that.

I guess the main thing I learned by participating yesterday is that we need to be supportive of each other. Everybody has a story to tell and it’s not always easy for them to share it. Yesterday was a great start. I saw so many posts on blogs, Facebook and Twitter, of people sharing their struggles with anxiety and depression, and I hope we can keep the conversation going outside of just that one day. It’s an important discussion and one that deserves a high amount of attention.

Until we meet again, thanks for listening!