Vancouver resident and recycling enthusiast, Allison Boulton, is looking at fun ways to become more knowledgable about recycling and reusing household items. “Before you throw it in the garbage, try and reuse it for something,” Allison says.

On Saturday June 6th, to get you thinking in this direction, Allison has organized an interactive challenge event outdoors from 10am-2pm at George Wainborn Park downtown. There will be a racecourse set up in the park with a challenge to recycle properly and also a What-To-Do-With-This brainstorming table that focuses on reusability. Visitors will have the opportunity to ask questions about recycling as well as try out the recycling racecourse. There is no cost or registration required to attend. Allison has been working with Encorp, Electronic Recycling Association, and the City of Vancouver to get impactful information into the hands of her fellow community members.

George Wainborn Park, Location of Allison Boulton’s June 6th Intervention. Photo by Allison Boulton

Looking at choosing a location to host this event, Allison went for a stroll into George Wainborn Park and realized it had everything she needed: a picnic bench for headquarters, proper garbage can facilities, and large rocks where she can run the recycling race. “I live next door to that park,” Allison explains. “I wanted it to be my community that I can make an impact on.” George Wainborn Park also offers views of the Brazilian artists OSGEMEOS’ mural on Granville Island — a fantastic inspiration of repurposing urban spaces.

Allison Boulton Begins Her Intervention Plans at a 100 in 1 Day Vancouver Workshop. Photo by Lea Chambers.

Ready! Set! Recycle! is an intervention for 100 in 1 Day Vancouver, a citywide movement that focuses on low-cost ways to showcase ideas for stronger communities. After deciding to be an urban intervention leader, Allison says “I love it.” She has been busy planning and organizing, on top of tending to other ongoing activities/travels. Support and encouragement from friends to follow through and “Do It!” regardless of time pressures has motivated her to do this as best she can.

When asked what her ideal community would look, act, and feel like, Allison responded that it would be interactive. “One step at a time, moving forward, take action toward the world you want to see,” she encourages. A smile you give to a stranger might be returned by an even bigger smile that ends up lifting you, she says.

You are invited to tweet about Allison Boulton’s intervention Ready! Set! Recycle! using #enviroalley. And find out more details at the 100 in 1 Day Vancouver website.

Visit 100 in 1 Day for more information on public interventions happening on June 6th with 100 in 1 Day Vancouver.

Care to leave the studio, classroom, or apartment with your art supplies?

On May 10th, Opus Art Supplies is having an Outdoor Drawing Challenge on Granville Island. There are 9” x 12” surfaces available to work on if you register, and a chance of prizes at the end of the day. It’s going to be an exciting day to be in the public space for all levels of art enthusiasts. Invite your friends and family members, and see what the day brings.

Granville Island is a unique space within Vancouver: it’s an island in the middle of the city! Visitors arrive for many reasons. The boats, kids programs, shops, and public market experience each have their charm. And the wandering that happens between these places is also what’s so joyful about being there. Getting lost along your way, you might find an amazing broom store, a beautiful green park, or a waterfront tennis court. Your feet will walk under the beautiful Granville Street Bridge, your tastes will bring you into Bridges for pistachio gelato, your eyes will draw you out to the open water views, and your curiosity will pull you back into the little alleys where you can find sake and tea seated as neighbours to a number of galleries.

What I love so much about cities is exactly what I find time and time again on Granville Island. There is so much happening on a regular basis within a short radius. On many days there is live music played in several public locations. You can walk from one end of the island to the other in about 5 minutes but why would you when there’s so much to see – and draw, sketch, and paint! Look ahead, mark the date –May 10th– and check it out for yourself.

(Editor’s Note: Did the dreary arrival of spring leave you with lots of time for reflection and contemplation? Itching to get out there and contribute to your community once the weather brightens up? Read on for one of our volunteers’ account on, well, volunteering. If you’re feeling inspired, contact the VPSN Volunteer Coordinator for projects and opportunities.)

Volunteering has given me the ability to more efficiently value my time. Over the past year I have taken part in a number of volunteer roles and each one has been very special to me. I have met many interesting individuals and am developing a network of people who know what’s important to me. What volunteering has taught me is to appreciate every hour I have, and see the world in a new way.

After moving to Vancouver in January 2014, I gradually began this new lifestyle. My first volunteer experiences were for running races as a course marshal. These were fun places to practice enthusiastic cheering and cowbell ringing. I have run in races before and wanted to share the power of a compliment with other runners along the way to the finish line. Reaching these volunteer dates is always something I look forward to; early mornings of fresh air and great energy!

 Later in the spring I found a posting on the Alliance For Arts and Culture website for a digitization photographer at the Vancouver Police Museum. I submitted an application for the role and was taken in kindly by the curator. I have gained an understanding of museum artifact documentation and have had the pleasure of seeing what value photography is for an organization like this. Each time I visit, it’s a positive reinforcement that what I’ve chosen to contribute to is going to have an impact on how people access the information of this museum.

 In the summer I spotted a post on my Facebook newsfeed from a friend who was looking for a social media account manager volunteer. I sent a message and found out that she’d had an extraordinary experience in Uganda as a student and, as a result, was creating a social enterprise. The network of friends she has enlisted are scattered across Canada. It has been a humbling and spirited experience to have their passion filter through my typing hands. FullSoul (the name of the organization) is just as it sounds: full of soul! I am delighted to see how this group of volunteers supports one another by connecting personal interests to a team effort that may one day be a sustainable life-saving organization. Here’s hoping!

Your volunteer coordinators and peers may become mentors and part of your growing social network. They may imbue you with relevant information at pivotal times, and assist in the development of career skills. What you will learn from volunteering, is how much time you really have every day and week and month. Worlds open and you will become wiser. It’s a great stage to test and question your opinions and passions.

For more exploration of my interest in photography, social media, and love of Vancouver, I participated last summer in the outdoor city events Vancouver Draw Down and 100 in 1 Day Vancouver as a volunteer photographer. This brought me to public spaces in the city with new intention. I will be helping this year again with 100 in 1 Day Vancouver documentation and hope to see some of you out there, creating a community you are proud of, and valuing your time in brand new ways! Smile!