StuLand

Once again, it’s been too long, friends!

Let’s make this brief, since I’ll be back soon with the annual video Chase Family Christmas Card!

So, what’s been shakin’? The Syrian refugee crisis is a mess,  Canada has a new prime minister, Halloween has come and gone,  ISIS/ISIL is terrifying, the Canadian dollar is down, mass shootings are up, and the Christmas shopping season is in full swing. That about covers it, yes?

Happily, amidst all that, I found a new job in past months, with the Make-A-Wish Foundation (BC & Yukon Chapter, specifically). It. Has. Been. Amazing.

I am the new Director of Marketing and Communications. What is Make-A-Wish? Let me communicate to you about that (see how I’m earning my paycheque?!)

The Foundation has the very cool mission of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. As in: let’s send kids to Disney resorts; let’s let kids get a new trampoline; let’s have a kid meet their hero. 

It’s straightforward, impactful, and very, very rewarding. I am a happy camper here. 

So far, I’ve gotten to do cool things like witness a wish kid turn on the lights at VanDusen festival of lights and launch Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt. Gotta love Christmas! 

Saying a few words on behalf of Make-A-Wish at
The Hyatt Vancouvers' Gingerbread Lane launch. 

The lighting of the VanDusen gardens with Wish Kid Hannah,
family .. and some strangers in red suits.

What else? Still doing the paddling thing. Just did a first set of TeamBC canoe-kayak winter dryland tests this past weekend. I haven't done one of these sets of tests since the early 2000's. Long story short, basically its me at age 36 vs. a bunch of way-in-shape 15-19 year olds. Buncha punks.

One of them expressed near disbelief when I told them I wasn't there to coach, but to participate in the testing. I says PARDON? 

Here, a 30 second vid I slapped together of one of the tests! It's called a benchpull for those unitiated.

Okay, that’s enough for now! As I said, see you again shortly with the video Christmas card! I hope all your holidays are bright!