Pulling Together Arriving in Bamfield

Pulling Together Arriving at Toquart Bay

Amazing Canoe Pics... Enjoy!

Photos Submitted by Maize Longboat

In the Bow

SCPT Family Circle Discussion

This is Ingrid.

This is Ingrid.  She is one of the bow's women of the SD46 canoe.  I would consider her to be the Dr.Phil of the SD46 Canoe.  Ingrid is extremely organized, orderly, and disciplined.  She LOVES paddling... and this is an understatement.  What I love about Ingrid is her "tell it like it is" approach to people and situations.  There is no fooling around with Ingrid, but she loves to have fun and eat red licorice.  I have a deep respect for her honesty and her practical approach.  She is a highly skilled paddler and has a huge desire to keep the crew safe.  Thank you Ingrid for your expertise and wisdom.  As much as she would hate to know that her picture has been posted on the blog, I would like to conclude with a Top 10 list of Queen songs that her man gave her as a small gift for the Journey.  He presented her with 10 envelopes to open one per day containing quotes, quips, and favorite songs from Ingrid's favorite band.  Quotes and quips were posted on Twitter @PullingTogether.  Listed below is the Top 10 Queen songs as they relate to Pulling Together.  Thank you Ingrid for sharing your story.

Day 1: These Are the Days of Our Lives
Day 2: You're My Best Friend
Day 3: We are the Champions
Day 4: Pain is So Close to Pleasure
Day 5: Another One Bites the Dust
Day 6: Keep Yourself Alive
Day 7: A Kind of Magic
Day 8: Now I'm Here
Day 9: Under Pressure
Day 10: Staying Power

Big B

The Engine Room

This is Bradyn.

This is Bradyn.  Bradyn is another youth part of the 2011 Pulling Together Journey.  I have fond memories of Bradyn.  He is a soft spoken one... unassuming... but always willing to help.  Braden paddled with the SD46 Canoe and he made up half of the "engine room."  The engine room of the SD46 canoe is exactly how it sounds... He is all POWER.  You would not suspect this from this 6 foot plus youth, but his contribution as a puller was phenomenal.  How do I know this?  In Bamfield, 4 members from the SD46 canoe was asked to help out the skipper from the Dancing Serpent.  The Dancing Serpent was the last canoe to be transported by barge and needed a crew to bring her to shore.  Bradyn, Josh, Signy, and myself were asked to help out.  It was an amazing experience and Bradyn set the pace.  He had certainly impressed the skipper of the Dancing Serpent.  He definitely impressed me.  Bradyn practically pulled the entire canoe and the rest of us were ornaments.  Well, we did help but truthfully... I barely managed to keep up with the pace.  Way to go Bradyn.  Aside from mishearing Bradyn from time to time (sorry, my bad), Bradyn was a welcomed addition to the SD 46 canoe and the Sunshine Coast Pulling Together family.  Love you Big B.

Special Relationships - Margaret

On this Pulling Together Journey, I will remember Margaret.  This is one amazing young woman.  When we first met, I was intrigued most by her fabulous laugh and by her great geometric haircut.  Wondering about her cut and her stylist actually started one of our first conversations, funnily enough.  It turned out to be a ‘lead in’ to discovering a great deal about this young, sensitive, thoughtful, growing person.  On our first staging day, she, Kristy and I went exploring our area of Tofino and found delicious – and hot! Roibois tea (Lovely hot cup of tea!  What a gift!) At the coffee shop, we also were given a map (with instructions from the friendly barrista) that led us to explore behind our campsite to an almost hidden beach path.  We followed the path and then headed down steep stairs to discover this gorgeous stretch of white beach, big rock formations and expanse of water that seemed simply majestic in the setting sun. All three of us just stood and took it all in, each in our own thoughts before heading back up. 

As I spent more time with Margaret, I realized that she was on her own personal journey as well.  I watched her grow and blossom during the 10 days with all participants, from fairly reserved to totally involved.  Margaret still sat quietly at times, just making her dreamcatchers, but she also joined others in the ‘gift-making circles’ that occurred more often as we had more free time.  In addition, her lovely singing voice grew in strength and confidence as our Sunshine Coast Family sang and drummed songs together under our tent.  I was honoured to be present as she shared many incidents from both her past and present that were shaping and defining decisions about her life path.  She reclaimed her education goal while on this Pulling Together Journey.  I know Margaret will do well on her continuing journey.  She is a strong youth leader. I thank her for our time together.

Submitted by Tamara Forsyth

Special Relationships - Ashley

Cnst. Taylor & Bradyn

Pulling Together 2011 offered many unique opportunities for developing special relationships with others.  I realize that the idea for this blog is to talk about a special relationship that developed between someone else and myself, but instead, I’d like to offer a different perspective if I may.  I have had a relationship with Ashley Taylor prior to coming on this journey.  I volunteer with the Sunshine Coast Community Justice Program as a Circle – or Conference – Facilitator.  As an RCMP constable, Ashley has participated in a number of circles that I have facilitated.  Trust me, in circle justice, you want someone like Ashley – someone who is 100% involved in the process, a strong participant, straightforward, articulate, doesn’t pull any punches, and yet helps to facilitate the process, whereby the youth takes ownership of ‘making things right’ again.  On this journey, I saw ‘more’ of this amazing young woman. 

Ashley is the epitome of ‘youth liaison’.  From taking ‘pink pyjamas’ morning teasing (and giving it right back!) to being one of the last ones around the campfire at night, roasting S’mores with the youth, Ashley filled her days participating 100%.  She joked with - and challenged - the youth and other adults.  She was both ‘Cnst. Muscles’ and ‘Bow Babe’.  Our family’s stories ‘touched’ her heart.  As ‘skipper-in-training’, she was frequently called upon to take charge in a variety of areas.  Ashley: Calm.  Direct.  Skilled.  Helpful.  Sensitive.  Leader.  I was honoured to journey with her.

Submitted by Tamara Forsyth