The Beginning

In September 2008 I was attending a weekend retreat with my university program. On the Saturday morning we were to partake in a goal-setting workshop with the organization, Imagine1Day. I had done some research on Imagine1Day ahead of time and realized that their values and aspirations were very much in line with my own. I have long been an advocator for women’s rights, and believe that education is one of the main solutions to gender issues.

During the workshop I set one large goal. To support my principles of living life independently, I set the goal that by the end of summer 2009 I will travel alone across Canada in a way that will have the least amount of environmental impact as possible, and demonstrate my own strength as a woman.

Throughout the workshop, the facilitator/executive director of Imagine1Day and I connected well, and so afterwards I approached her about the organization. I knew I wanted to get involved. We met a month later and discussed possibilities, but she did not want me to volunteer as an envelope stuffer (and I agreed). She basically left the choice up to me by asking, “How can I help Imagine1Day and feel passionate about the efforts I am making?”

We left the meeting at that; I told her I would get back to her when I had a few ideas. A week later I responded with the idea of combining my own goal of travelling across Canada (which she had already heard all about and very much encouraged) with supported the organization.

If you would like to read further about the work of imagine1day www.imagine1day.org