Whole Foods wants you to skip the shopping bag and support local charities

This Whole Foods store on Robson Street in Vancouver appeals to your sense of social responsibility by donating 10 cents to charity each time you forego a disposable shopping bag. Great idea! Not sure if other Whole Foods locations are doing the same thing. If you do decide you need a bag, it's biodegradable paper.

You are what you eat. And you are what you eat, ate.

Another clever sign. This one at Morningside Bakery on Salt Spring Island.

Want more support? Don't forget to explain "why".

One more in my series of posts about signage. For many people, it's more effective to remind them WHY you want them to do something, rather than to just tell them to do it. Community support can make a big difference too. Nearly every resident along this narrow stretch of road on Salt Spring Island has posted this sign. It makes an overwhelming statement about how drivers should act in a neighbourly way.

More creative signage

While we're on the topic of creative signage, here's another one that puts a fun spin on a tired message.

Who reads signs?

Let's face it. Signs that tell you to "do this" and "don't do that" are not very memorable. But inject a little creativity and people will understand and remember the message – like this example at the Salt Spring Island goat cheese farm.

notafactory.com

Kudos to Hope Hill Farm for such a clever web site address!

Say "thank you" to the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue

Sometimes it just blows my mind how residents in small towns can come together and solve big problems. Picture this: 1,000 kms of remote shoreline. A gazillion houseboats. Inexperienced operators. No search and rescue.

The solution?

Residents from Sicamous, BC (population 3,000) banded together to create a 25-volunteer arm of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxilary on Shuswap Lake. Known as the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, they help boaters in crisis. They also transport paramedics to medical emergencies - a service that was not previously available.

This group is now one of the busiest Coast Guard posts in Western Canada.

Did I mention they're all volunteers?

Got creativity?

People who rip off a great creative advertising slogan don't normally get my respect. But I'll make an exception with this.