RSA running for the environment on the Toronto Island

Not only is RSA is a multi-year supporter of WWF-Canada’s marine conservation work but they always remember the planet in their employee programs – on this occasion with a generous donation to WWF. That’s where the Panda comes in!

(c) Juliana Dutkay/WWF-Canada
Young and old, the WWF six foot Panda never fails to generate a smile, thumbs up and some really profound comments! Panda gave high fives to about 650 members of the RSA community as they crossed the finish line. It is always a great feeling when people come up to you and ask you to take their photo with Panda, which often comes with an inspiring story about how they climbed the CN Tower to raise funds for WWF or how they recently adopted a new behaviour to do their part to protect the environment.  It is always encouraging to hear about people and companies who are committed to changing “business as usual” but what really gives you that warm fuzzy feeling is some of the comments that you hear from the kids. “Out of the mouths of babes” as the expression goes… At the RSA BBQ that followed the run when a six year old boy finished his hot dog, he didn’t ask me: “Where is the garbage?” but instead “Where is the recycling?”  A little girl who has been following Panda around for an hour (and well covered in Panda tattoos at this point thanks to my handy work) asks: “Why is the Panda here?”  I start to explain that Panda was from WWF and that we were invited to join the event today because …” until I was abruptly interrupted by her small but authoritative voice: “he is supposed to be in the forest”.  There just isn’t a come back to that except: “you’re right.”

Thank you RSA for supporting WWF and for demonstrating that by working together we can make the changes necessary to protect our planet for future generations who not only deserve it but, it appears, are (thankfully) coming to expect it!