FREE HUGS VIDEO LEAVES LASTING LEGACY FOR
SIMCOE & BRANTFORD
Earlier this summer, local humanitarians and community partners participated in four FREE HUGS Celebrations in both Simcoe and Brantford Ontario. The celebrations created several spontaneous heart-warming moments, which can now be shared with the recent release of the SIMCOE & BRANTFORD FREE HUGS VIDEO available for reviewing world-wide on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdnceqQ_16E
The Celebrations were intended to translate the goodwill within our local communities. Random moments between strangers are captured, as volunteers holding signs offering FREE HUGS attempted to eliminate barriers due to this random act of kindness. “I haven’t received a hug in 6 years”.... “You don’t want to hug me, you do, really?”...”Why are you doing this?”....“Sure why not”...”What a great idea!” ...”I think people, don’t hug enough”...and “Can I join you?”were just a few of the intimate exchanges between strangers while they embraced. In fact, many very meaningful conversations were shared with HUGS TEAM members, as participants revealed their personal stories and the value of the hug gesture they had just received. “We had no expectations and were fully prepared to watch more people walk by, but to our surprise we estimate between 800 – 1,000 hugs were exchanged,”shares local FREE HUGS organizer and humanitarian Wanda Heimbecker of Norfolk County. “The special moments these connections created will stay with us forever and wasn’t something we anticipated. Even if a hug wasn’t received, you could be sure a smile or funny remark would follow.”
A special thank you to the many partners who contributed to the celebrations! Core HUGS TEAM organizers Debi Dion of Brantford, Laurie Cappe a Simcoe resident, John Orser of Hamilton (dedicated in loving memory), and family and friends who joined the celebrations. Community Partners and Event Hosts - Tourism Brantford at Lion’s Park where the event was held in conjunction with the new pride of place program ‘Love MY Brantford Campaign’ www.discoverbrantford.com/ Sears at Lynden Park Mall, Brantford www.sears.ca Simcoe Mall and their Merchant’s Association, The Haldimand-Norfolk Soroptimist www.soroptimist.org/index.html and Norview Lodge. Video production suppliers included the generous goodwill of the following companies, Music - Canadian Composer Aria, Aria Works www.whistlinggardens.ca/ariaworks/index.php and Video Footage and Production - WMD Consultants, Marketing & Communications www.wmdconsultants.com/
The Celebrations were intended to translate the goodwill within our local communities. Random moments between strangers are captured, as volunteers holding signs offering FREE HUGS attempted to eliminate barriers due to this random act of kindness. “I haven’t received a hug in 6 years”.... “You don’t want to hug me, you do, really?”...”Why are you doing this?”....“Sure why not”...”What a great idea!” ...”I think people, don’t hug enough”...and “Can I join you?”were just a few of the intimate exchanges between strangers while they embraced. In fact, many very meaningful conversations were shared with HUGS TEAM members, as participants revealed their personal stories and the value of the hug gesture they had just received. “We had no expectations and were fully prepared to watch more people walk by, but to our surprise we estimate between 800 – 1,000 hugs were exchanged,”shares local FREE HUGS organizer and humanitarian Wanda Heimbecker of Norfolk County. “The special moments these connections created will stay with us forever and wasn’t something we anticipated. Even if a hug wasn’t received, you could be sure a smile or funny remark would follow.”
A special thank you to the many partners who contributed to the celebrations! Core HUGS TEAM organizers Debi Dion of Brantford, Laurie Cappe a Simcoe resident, John Orser of Hamilton (dedicated in loving memory), and family and friends who joined the celebrations. Community Partners and Event Hosts - Tourism Brantford at Lion’s Park where the event was held in conjunction with the new pride of place program ‘Love MY Brantford Campaign’ www.discoverbrantford.com/ Sears at Lynden Park Mall, Brantford www.sears.ca Simcoe Mall and their Merchant’s Association, The Haldimand-Norfolk Soroptimist www.soroptimist.org/index.html and Norview Lodge. Video production suppliers included the generous goodwill of the following companies, Music - Canadian Composer Aria, Aria Works www.whistlinggardens.ca/ariaworks/index.php and Video Footage and Production - WMD Consultants, Marketing & Communications www.wmdconsultants.com/