Our MapleWishes
MapleWishes... born of the intention to inspire one another to leave positive and enduring footsteps in our wakes...
We believe that we are all ultimately responsible for our communities and the people with whom we share them - and that working together towards a common goal will reap benefits far greater than working alone.
Our 11 MapleWishes broadly span the categories of Health, Poverty, Fellowship, Education, and the Environment.
The Butterfly Project
#1
The pillar project of Maplewishes.
This project is close to our hearts and the foundation upon which MapleWishes was built.
Parkinson's disease affects all sorts of great people like Mohammad Ali, Michael J. Fox, and our grandfather, Francis Mathew ♥.
Our goals for this MapleWish are to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease amongst our peers and to raise a minimum of $50,000 through our middle and high school years for the Parkinson’s Research Consortium - The Ottawa Hospital.
Homeless to Home
#2
Homelessness is an issue that can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, or education. In fact, the changing face of homelessness shows that the characteristics society has come to believe predetermine homelessness no longer hold true.
The Shepherds of Good Hope and the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa are two local organizations providing shelter and a variety of services to homeless and at-risk individuals.
Through our A Sandwich or 2 and A Box of Socks projects, we commit to providing sandwiches and warmth to those in need.
MapleWrite
#3
Inspired by participation in the "InCoWriMo Challenge" to write a letter a day during the month of February, Rowan decided to start a writing campaign with the aim of reaching beyond her immediate community and exchanging words of appreciation and inquiry with 1000 people by 2025.
We believe that there is a lot that can be learned from others, particularly those with experiences different from our own, and that this connection begins with one person reaching out to the other.
What's your MapleWish? aims to share words of wisdom from some truly inspiring people.
Feeding the Future
#4
The 2nd of the United Nation's sustainable development goals - Zero Hunger - states that “Investments in agriculture are crucial to increasing the capacity for agricultural productivity and sustainable food production systems are necessary to help alleviate the perils of hunger”.
Ottawa's "Just Food" is a non-profit organization that supports community based agriculture - a keystone of sustainable practices. With the idea of "starting in our own backyard", we commit to volunteering at Plant-a-row Donate-a-row - a Just Food endeavor that cultivates produce to donate to the Ottawa Food Bank.
The Wishing Well
#5
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each story.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make a difference,
You see, it's up to you!
- poem, Ashish Ram
All ideas, big or small, have the potential to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately, the world.
Different issues are important to different people and there are innumerable worthy causes being campaigned for in incredible and unique ways. So twice a year, we commit to donating $500 dollars to a service campaign initiated by our peers and centered around a cause that they are intrinsically motivated to pursue.
QUAIL House
#6
The Quebec Association for Independent Living (QUAIL) operates a home in Chelsea, Quebec for 6 developmentally challenged adults. The home affords its residents the unique ability to live independently with the appropriate assistance.
QUAIL is in part funded by donations and fundraising. We commit to supporting their fundraising efforts with the sale of BetterThanPi chocolates and tokens at local markets and events.
To further raise awareness for QUAIL, we will be creating and administering a new website and social media pages.
More Bees Please
#7
Nearly 90 per cent of the world's plants rely on pollinators like bees and butterflies for fertilization and reproduction, including over 70 per cent of the major crops that we rely on for food. However, current commercial habits are threatening these pollinators. Bee and monarch butterfly populations are in serious decline, posing serious threats to our agricultural industry and our ecosystems.
We have committed to helping "bring back the bees and butterflies" to our communities with the creation of the very first "Monarch Waystation" in Chelsea Quebec. We will also continue to play an educative role in our school's annual "Butterfly Release".
I N S p i R E
#8
In keeping with our utmost respect and appreciation for all that is math, we hope to encourage the pursuit of higher math endeavors amongst our peers - not only as a pure subject, but as a tool that can be applied to our ever evolving world.
I N S p i R Ezine - Rowan's collaborative webzine, first published October 2018, addresses the dynamic and complex relationships between science and art, exploring singular topics from both scientific and artistic viewpoints. In this manner, we hope to encourage an appreciation of science by relating it to art and everyday life.
Check it out HERE ⊕
Canada Young
#9
As grandchildren of immigrants, we are very appreciative of the opportunities afforded our family by Canada’s open arms. We wish that everyone choosing Canada as home could share this same legacy.
The Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization - Youth Program (YOCISO) is uniquely committed to Canada's young. We can not think of a community organization that better defines the priorities of elaborating the Canadian mosaic and respecting the diversity of cultures.
We commit to lending support to their after-school program with bi-monthly art & games workshops.
GLOBAL CITIZENS
#10
On December 29th, 2017, we were privileged to attend the high school graduation ceremonies at the Kisaruni Group of Schools, in Kenya - a Me to We initiative. It was a monumental moment for a community whose possibilities for education beyond primary schooling were historically limited by cultural and financial hurdles.
Inspired by the community of students and a chance meeting with Mitch Kurylowicz, founder of "Project Jenga", we were motivated to start an annual campaign to sponsor 4 years of secondary schooling for Martin Isaiah, a Kisaruni learner who will graduate with the Class of 2021.
Bookmarked
#11
"The more you read, the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
-Dr. Seuss
With the goal of bringing new worlds and new opportunities to young Canadians, we commit to running an annual book drive to collect books and reading materials for underserved local community organizations.
As an addendum, our $1 Book Project will go towards funding the 
digital book drive.
We also hope to espouse an appreciation of reading by affording kids the opportunity to see their creativity in print in the quarterly issues of INSpiREzine.