The Capitol Hill Mural project was a great success. The grade 5,6 and 7 students of Capitol Hill School took part in the program and were amazing in painting the building.

The in class session were the most engaging to date. Through the in-class sessions we learned about one of the most vital species on the planet. Guess what? Sea Otters.
The next step in the evolution of the Art of Empowerment program was in full swing where I challenged the students to look at themselves to identify their strongest talents and then to look at the world and determine what is most important to them. They were then assigned a mission over the summer, to come up with an idea of how they can use their talents to support what is most important to them. They don’t know it yet, but I have been invited to return to the school in October to check up on their action plan… and of course, to paint another mural with them.

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All students participated in painting fish as a symbol of the connectivity of aquatic ecosystems.
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I managed to get a little painting in as well


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Through our class and painting sessions we learned, myself included, that sea otters are one of the most important species on the planet. The story of sea otters, which were nearly hunted to extinction, is a true tale of the complete inter connectivity of Eco systems.
Here is how it goes:
Sea otters eat sea urchins, sea urchins eat and destroy sea kelp, sea kelp produces more oxygen than all of the worlds above water forests combined. If not controlled by the voracious eating habits of sea otters, urchin populations explode, capable of wiping out entire kelp forests. Again sea kelp and other oceanic algae produces 70% of the worlds oxygen. 70%! With the sea otter’s near extinction just a few decades ago, we were that close to a very scary situation.

A great story and example of governments, and policy makers stepping in before it was too late. Sea otters are making a marvelous comeback and populations along the west coast of North America are stabilizing again.

Amazing project! Amazing kids! Thank you City of Burnaby and Capitol Hill for allowing this to all happen.

A very special thanks to my friend Ken. Without his caring for his community and kicking butt to make change happen this wall would still be bare and I never would have met those great kids from Capitol Hill School and the great neighbors of this community! Great work Ken. You are truly amazing and inspiring!!