Wes is a 14 year old boy with a big heart!
A Note From Wes….
playgrounds are a way for kids to be kids but most northern communities do not have
playgrounds. My mission is to build a playground in every northern community in Canada that doesn’t have one! We will start with James Bay and when that is done – we will look for other communities that need a playground and build one there too! I can’t do my mission alone – I need all my friends and family to help me along my journey,,,voting, supporting, donating clothes and cash. Together – we can give hope to these children!
The name:
“Northern Starfish” comes from The Starfish Story adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley 1907 – 1977
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “I made a difference to that one!”
March 2010 – camped out to raise funds and awareness for Attawapiskat housing crisis
April 2010 – first trip to Attawapiskat, ON
August 2010 – Awarded $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant
November 2010 - traveled to Attawapiskat with Canada AM to announce playground
August 2011 – Attawapiskat Playground build
November 2011 – 1st Runner up in One Dreem’s Canada’s Next Young Philanthropist
December 2011 – Top 5 Niagara News Makers for 2011
January 2012 – Recognized as: Free The Children’s All Star World Changers
October 2012 – National Role Model and Keynote speaker for Global Dignity Day Canada 2012
