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NEWS ITEMS

 

2010:

  • BLUE WAVE is now rolling out Events and Presentations to various schools across British Columbia and Alberta.

  • May 18  -   BLUE WAVE Receives a $5000 Grant Award

    BLUE WAVE was presented with a cheque for $5,000.  The presentation was held at the Delta School District office where 7 winning entries from all the Delta high schools were recognized. . Grade 10 students of schools across Canada each choose a charity and participate in the annual Youth & Philanthropic Initiative Program (YPI) run by the Toscan Casale Foundation.  A group of 4 students at the Sands high school in Delta, BC, chose BLUE WAVE as their charity, doing a presentation to their peers at school, competing against other groups with their chosen charities … they won with the BLUE WAVE entry!! Charities are not allowed to approach schools or students with regard to the YPI program … the students themselves investigate a list of registered charities and make their own choices of which one they want to champion.  Students from 3 schools in the Lower Mainland, BC, selected BLUE WAVE this year. 

  • May 3  -  4Refuel Canada Ltd Recognized for Commitment to BLUE WAVE

    The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) announced the winners of its 2010 CFA Recognition Awards on May 3, 2010. The awards were presented during a gala awards presentation dinner at the 19th annual CFA National Convention in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.

    Category: CFA Corporate Citizenship Award
    Recipient: 4Refuel Canada Ltd
    4Refuel makes it more than their duty to be part of a solution; it’s their purpose. Charitable giving goes beyond corporate responsibility and the additional efforts of this franchise system’s staff and franchisees has made real differences in their communities.

    The franchise system has drawn special attention to the mental health issues faced by youth through the BLUE WAVE Foundation, working to remove the shame and stigma attached to mental illness, chronic depression and suicide. It works to address issues of early intervention and education, directing young people and their families to resources to help make challenges easier to deal with.

    The CFA Corporate Citizenship Award is given to a franchise system that has demonstrated genuine and ongoing concern and support for a community or social service group(s). Award recipients are selected based on their philanthropic innovation, support and impact to the community whether on a local, regional, national or global scale. Elements taken into consideration include involvement throughout the franchise system and integration into the corporate culture, profile given to the support recipient organization(s), sustainability, innovation in how funds are raised, demonstrated benefit to the community, and amount of funds raised.

2009:

  • October 4 - 9 : BLUE WAVE attends 2 events in Edmonton, AB:

    Mental Illness Awareness Week (Canada) October 4-9. The photos were taken on Monday October 5 at the Stanley A. Millner Library/Teen Section. The display was designed with the aid of BLUE WAVE resources and books relating to mental health and teens.
    Homeless Connect  Sunday October 4. Homeless Connect is a community event bringing together agencies, businesses and volunteers, on one day and at one location. Homeless Connect Edmonton is a broad-based community-inspired initiative, providing free appropriate services to homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless. Check out pictures 1; 2

  • July 15  -  BLUE WAVE Volunteers in Edmonton, AB

    Volunteers put up BLUE WAVE posters along the parade route for Edmonton's Capital Ex. Check out the pictures (1).(2)

  • July 5  -  BLUE WAVE Attends Hip Hop for Hope, Edmonton, AB


    BLUE WAVE had a booth at an event called Hip Hop for Hope, held in the Winspear Center, where brochures, posters, BLUE WAVE DVD’s and glow in the dark BLUE WAVE balls were given to the attendees.  BLUE WAVE balls were juggled and given away to young people during the intermission.

  • May 4  -  BLUE WAVE WINS AN AWARD!

    In May 2009, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Edmonton Region, announced in a press release that their 2009 Business Award winner was BLUE WAVE Foundation.  (See photograph below)

    This CMHA award is for a business or an individual working within the Edmonton region business community who has made an exceptional contribution toward the support of resilience, recovery and quality of life of persons with mental health issues, and the encouragement of pro-active mental health for clients and associates. 

    BLUE WAVE was recognized for the dynamic, inter-active, youth-centred website www.ok2bblue.com  offering a place of hope and encouragement to all young people struggling with various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, etc – to name but a few.  The website also offers much needed support and information to concerned parents in understanding the challenges that their youth may be encountering. 

    BLUE WAVE Foundation     is creating waves of anticipation in schools and post-secondary institutions with planned annual BLUE WAVE DAYS, i.e. one day each year that would be dedicated to education and awareness of mental health issues faced by youth.

    CMHA also commended BLUE WAVE on their long-term goal to establish BLUE WAVE CENTRES – safe help and support centres for youth in major regional centres with in-house counselling.


    *** BLUE WAVE POSTERS and BROCHURES Now Available  ***

    In conjunction with timing of this prestigious Award, BLUE WAVE has now released posters available for public locations drawing the attention of youth to the OK2B BLUE website.  CMHA counselling services throughout the BC Fraser Region and Vancouver are eagerly taking advantage of this (no cost) resource, along with BLUE WAVE brochures. 

    BLUE WAVE     works hand-in-hand with all local authorities, mental health groups, organizations, schools and post-secondary institutions in raising awareness and education toward removal of stigma surrounding mental health issues amongst so very many young people.  Together, this represents a combined force – a “wave of positive movement” toward bringing this most serious problem out of the shadows, benefiting all youth and working toward restoration of mental health and wellness.


 

 

  • March 21  -  HIP-HOP COMPETITION, EDMONTON, ALBERTA


    BLUE WAVE had a booth at Artists Emerge, held in the Jubilee Auditorium, where brochures and BLUE WAVE DVD’s were given to the attendees.  The BLUE WAVE main video was shown during the finals of the competition. 

Artists Emerge is a platform upon which Canada’s most enthusiastic artists had the opportunity to showcase their talents through breakdancing, MC’ing and  beatboxing.  The Hip-Hop competition was attended by 2,100 people.  As stated by Luke Geldert, creator of the event and president of 3rd Street Beat, Artists Emerge is promoting the “Youth Against Violence” and “Youth Helping Youth” message.  

BLUE WAVE will be working with 3rd Street Beat to create a production to present at schools promoting the BLUE WAVE message for ending the stigma surrounding depression and suicide. 

      We give a huge thanks to 3rd Street Beat and to all the volunteers that helped at the BLUE WAVE table.

 

2008:

  • December  -  SHAW TV Interview, Edmonton

    (Click on live link below to view the interview)
 

  • November 14  - Video Shoot Reunion, Vancouver

    On Friday evening, BLUE WAVE held a reunion function at the Sandman Hotel on Davie Street, Vancouver, BC.  The reunion was with the young people who participated in the BLUE WAVE video shoot at end July in Vancouver. 

      The group celebrated the making of the website main page movie video as well as viewing all of their own individual interviews placed into video clips in the Media Centre section of the website.

Because the July video shoot ran over 2 full days, some of these young people were actually meeting one another for the first time.  It was just great to see the synergy amongst them.  They all grasped, with keen excitement, the fact that they were amongst the FIRST, "Riding The BLUE WAVE" ... and they felt like founding members of the BLUE WAVE Movement.  All were keen to stay involved and stay in touch with BLUE WAVE, wanting to help out in any way they could.

BLUE WAVE presented each one with a BLUE WAVE hoodie (blue, of course!), a BLUE WAVE toque, and a gift DVD copy of the movie video.  Below is a group photo of the Team ... a great memento - with many more to come!

 

"REUNION"