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Whistler Question
Published Date:
2006-07-13
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Spreading positive Whistler vibe
By Jennifer Miller, Reporter
Question, others set to launch ‘Pay It Forward’ initiative
Don’t be surprised if it seems like people around you start getting
nicer, or at least more courteous, in the coming weeks. Perhaps someone
you don’t know will buy you a coffee. You might find quarters left in a
pay phone booth just when you need to make a call, or someone who sees
you’re in a hurry might trade places with you in the grocery store
checkout line.
It’s likely these not-so-random acts of kindness will have something to
do with Whistler… Pay it Forward, a new initiative and contest that will
be launched in partnership with The Question in the coming weeks.
It’s about doing nice things for others, and ultimately making Whistler
a more positive place where people feel welcome, said Kelly Oswald,
local business owner and one of the creators of Whistler… Pay it
Forward.
“It’s like smiling — smiles are contagious,” she said. “It makes you
feel good.”
Here’s how it works: pick up a Whistler… Pay it Forward card from one of
the participating merchants in town and start looking for ways to do
some of the nice things that are listed on the card.
Some examples are to walking a dog at WAG, paying someone’s bus fare,
helping an overloaded shopper, and clearing your own dishes at a café.
You can also add your own ideas to the card.
Once you’ve completed 10 kind actions for others, return the completed
card to one of the participating merchants and it will be entered into a
weekly draw for prizes. Then, pick up another card and keep going.
In addition to weekly prizes, a grand prize draw will take place at the
Power of You conference, Oct. 6 and 7 at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
“Pay it Forward is about creating a sense of abundance instead of a
sense of lack,” Oswald said of how the idea got started. She and some
friends started talking about ways to create a more positive attitude
about Whistler among the people who live and work here.
Once the idea of doing nice things for others got started, Oswald said
she and friend Tricia Beauregard began having a friendly competition
with each other — calling each other to report the kind act they had
just completed. Oswald helped direct lost tourists, paid $2.35 for
someone who was short of cash for groceries, and even loaned a customer
$35 for gifts for his mom until the following day when he could bring in
the money.
As she started doing these things, she began to see more opportunities
to do nice things for others — and people started doing nice things for
her. She was having so much fun with it she felt it needed to be shared
with the entire community.
“You give and you get, right?” she said. “Whatever it is it’s a positive
energy flow.”
Look for Whistler… Pay it Forward cards in the coming week at
participating merchants and keep reading The Question for more
information. |
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