Our friends at Power To Be are celebrating their 20th anniversary – that’s 20 years of making a difference and helping people with a barrier or disability to access nature!
Their life-changing programs are the connecting force between courage, nature, community, inclusion and generosity, as they have enriched the lives of more than 10,000 people over the past 20 years.
Power To Be began in 1998 with an idea, which grew into a community, connecting participants to adventures and supporters to opportunities, collectively redefining their definition of ability. The inspiring team at Power To Be empowers youth, young adults, and families living with a barrier or disability to explore their limitless abilities through inclusive adventures rooted in nature. They are redefining inclusion and focusing on people’s abilities, believing that physical activity and time in nature are vital for health and happiness.
Tim Cormode, Founder and Executive Director of Power To Be, has been involved in youth work and the non-profit sector for nearly 30 years. Initially supporting young adults with disabilities at a summer camp as a teenager, Tim’s passion for the outdoors and supporting others led to a leadership program at Yamnuska Mountaineering School in Canmore, Alberta. This is where the inspiration came to help youth and families living with barriers climb their own mountains and, with the help of a small government grant in 1998, the Power To Be adventure began.
Power To Be offers inclusive recreational activities through Adaptive Recreation, in Vancouver and Victoria, with nature-based adventures for people aged seven and up who live with a barrier or disability. It also offers Wilderness School, a three-year cohort-based program in Victoria for youth in grades 8-10 who live with financial and/or social barriers. The program provides monthly weekend trips and multi-day summer excursions with a focus on building confidence, providing positive mentorship and developing wilderness skills. Both program streams offer outdoor adventures such as hiking, surfing, kayaking, camping and snowshoeing.
“Since I joined Power To Be, I have been given opportunities that would have never happened in my lifetime. Nature has been a huge part of the healing process for grief, and has brought out the best qualities in me.” – Power To Be Participant
Power To Be & Nimmo Bay Partnership
Back in 2011, Tim was introduced to Fraser Murray, and Nimmo Bay, by a mutual friend who thought they should meet based on their like-mindedness and passion for sharing nature-based experiences. Fraser and Becky had been searching for new ways to support local organizations and they were instantly drawn to Power To Be’s mission, “inspiring youth and families in need of support to discover their limitless abilities through nature-based programs,” as well as their 3 values: respect, integrity, and innovation.
Over the years, Nimmo Bay has hosted Power To Be families, offering them the opportunity to experience the Great Bear Rainforest and to connect with each other amongst nature, as well as Power To Be advisors, for their annual strategic planning sessions. Nimmo Bay’s Murray family have both participated in and donated to annual fundraising events, while also introducing other Magnificent 7 properties to similar partnership opportunities with Power To Be.
Through this growing partnership, Tim has shared with Fraser an interest in the local community surrounding Nimmo Bay and the Broughton Archipelago. Tim was able to introduce Sea to Cedar, another local non-profit organization, to an investor whose contribution has been instrumental in helping with the various projects that the Sea to Cedar team have been passionately working on amongst the Great Bear Rainforest, connecting people to place.
What started as an introduction, turned into a strong synergy between two passionate families with a commitment to community. Support for each other was immediate and infectious. At the heart of it is nature, and the inspiring experiences and adventures that can be found and shared amongst the great outdoors. By joining forces, Power To Be and Nimmo Bay have connected opportunities and shared resources that exist through collaboration.
Where You Come In:
You Have The Power To Give
You can volunteer, partner, donate, fundraise!
Join Power To Be in being a catalyst for good.