Wow! What an amazing learning experience we had today. What really amazed me about all the speakers was once they had an idea, or heard about a need that caught their attention, they actually took action to turn their ideas or dreams into reality instead of just sitting around and procrastinating. That's a challenge that I have almost everyday; to take action.

Environmental Biologist
Tanis Douglas

Tanis is a  biologist with a passion  to protect  the environment. She has traveled  to many places and  thinks about the big picture as she  works on the details in her job with Capital Regional District. One of her main projects is the restoration of Bowker Creek.  She helps local governments  and others institution work together to  improve the environment.<what students said> < view her interview>

Themes
Living more sustainably
Importance of nature to  those living in cities
Changing the way  people think and live
Restoring a creek in a city
Big picture thinking
Lessons learned from the road
Challenges and  victories

Young Philanthropist

Oscar and Bill Clinton have a few things in common. They both love to travel and to help people whom they haven't met yet. At nine years of age, Oscar is curious and active. The questions he's asked himself have lead him to take on big challenges, like setting up a foundation to raise money for a school in Africa.< What students said about Oscar> < listen to some of his interview>

Themes:

Helping people

Generosity: in order to be happy, you have to give happiness

Wisdom: if you don't know anything you can't do any thing.. I get wisdom from vacations, doing stuff, asking questions,

Curiosity

Engineering Student: Seeing a Future of Caring

Guest #4 Jason Heinrich -- see recent updates and media files

Jason Heinrich, a fourth year engineering student has won many academic awards such as the Top Academic/Governor General's Award, UVic Excellence Scholarship and Richard Talbot Engineering Award. His athletic and leadership haves been recognized by the Coach's Choice award for high school Soccer, MVP for the basketball team, and the Baynes Award in Engineering for athletic involvement.

However, his work with community volunteerism and leadership stands as highlights in his life. Stemming from high school, he has volunteered locally and internationally, applying a lending hand and his educational background from Victoria to East Africa. His personal challenges have included helping close relatives deal with substance issues and handicaps. Learn how he copes with demands at school and work. Find out what motivates him away from the ordinary in almost every part of his life. < Read what students said>
<view what Jason shared>

Themes:

Peak Performance

Family challenges

Developing wider horizons

Adjusting to new cultures

Meeting international needs