Jamie Bastedo in Nova Scotia

“Believe in the power of one!” That’s how I sign my books which are about kids making the world a better place – from saving the wild horses of Sable Island to tackling global climate change head-on. During my Nova Scotia tour, I’d often ask kids, “How would you make the world a better place?” Their responses both broke me up and moved me to tears. My favourite came from a Grade 4 boy at the Dartmouth Regional Library. “I know they’re really, really ugly. But once I’m old enough to drive, I’m going to get a Smart Car to help fight climate change!”

There are distinct peaks and troughs in any author’s journey. My red carpet Book Week tour was definitely among the highest and funnest peaks of my career. Upon stepping off the plane in Halifax, I was treated like royalty by fellow nature writer Kathleen Martin. She handed me a super well organized itinerary that took me down the south shore, from Halifax to Port Joli, a part of the world that was entirely new to me. Kathleen chose the historic town of Lunenburg as a main base camp for me, where, after a fun-filled day visiting nearby village schools, I could recline on a king-sized bed and gaze upon the sparkling harbour with the mythic Bluenose II floating nearby (albeit shrink-wrapped for the winter). All along the way the kids had been pre-pumped by enthusiastic teachers, making for a spirit-lifting week that I will never forget.

After a slightly off-the-wall presentation at Halifax’s Cornwallis Junior High, packing up my strange whistles, funny hats, moose poop necklace, and a boomerang, I asked a Grade 9 student in front of me, “So, what did you get out of all that?” ‘Well,” he said, “that one person can make a difference and have a lot of fun doing it.” I high-fived him and left the classroom feeling equal measures of gratitude and gratification – my own little “GG” reward – for the great privilege of doing this tour. Kudos to all the sponsors, teachers, librarians and volunteers along the south shore that helped fill my sails for a wonderful week!