Things will work out fine…

“Things will work out fine,” I kept telling myself, but I was a bundle of nerves. No reason for it, not after so much preparation. Maybe it was because of all the painstaking prep work that I was so keenly aware of the many pieces that all needed to fall seamlessly into place…

It was the morning of Saturday, January 9th, 1988. Snowhawks Ottawa’s first-ever motor coach charter was heading to Calabogie Peaks for the day with 27 new members, two parent chaperons, several more assistant chaperons for good measure, five ski instructors and a couple of assistant instructors. Several bus pick-ups across Ottawa went smoothly and everyone settled in for the 75-minute ride to Calabogie – everyone except Brenda B.

Though not a certified CSIA instructor, Brenda was half-way through her teacher’s college year at U of Ottawa, and on the way to what would become a very successful teaching career. Snowhawks’ programming has a reputation for engagement and animation, with fun, special events and activities mixed in with the ski and snowboard teaching. And I guess this began on Day One, when Brenda put her teacher skills to work and, without prior planning, she spontaneously got on the microphone at the front of the bus.

Some of the 27 new members arrived with siblings, some with friends, and most others came alone. Some kids may have been a little nervous, others more so… By getting up at the front, Brenda gave them a focal point, and they were amazed when Brenda announced that if all the kids told her their name, she would remember them all and say the names out loud on the mic, one after another.

One by one, the kids said their names out loud, which gave everybody a chance to know who was sitting nearby. They also gave their names to Brenda as she made her way down the aisle of the bus, talking to each child one by one, and repeating their names back to them. Then she returned to the front of the bus, got on the mic, and was ready to announce each member’s name… all 27 of them. Nobody thought she’d be able to do it, but she did!

Brenda did more that morning than simply announce names on a bus on route to Calabogie Peaks. She sent a message to each kid that not only did someone in authority know their name, but that somebody cared enough to learn and remember their name. At the same time, Brenda mentored the new instructors, demonstrating that social animation can be a fun part of their job, and that names are important.

It was a wonderful start to the day, and to our very first season on snow. And I knew that day, things will work out fine…

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