In 1995, a young diver named Chad Pregracke decided to clean up the Mississippi River – armed with just one boat and a boatload of nerve.
His organization, Living Lands and Waters, has since grown into a national crusade, with thousands of volunteers picking up millions of pounds of garbage from America’s waterways.
Vancouver-based Hemlock Printers, with presenting sponsor Sappi Papers, is bringing Chad to Vancouver and Victoria March 3rd and 4th. It’s the latest in Hemlock’s popular Paper’n’Eggs breakfast series, and they asked Unicycle Creative to develop the branding and invitation for the event.
It was a delightful opportunity to combine the sunny-side-up brand of the breakfast series format with the genuine grit, personality and humour of Chad Pregracke’s presentation.
Once the idea was approved, I had a weekend to find a photographer and a bunch of trash. Hans Sipma agreed to make his studio my temporary dumping ground. Arno Apeldoorn rolled up his sleeves for the high-res photoshop work. Robert Pascal at MB Superior Recycling started me out with the barrel and metal bacon strips. The rest of the trash, including tires, was somewhat depressingly easy to come by just driving around some of Vancouver’s industrial neighbourhoods, and the prop search turned into a uni-cleanup effort all its own.
That’s nothing compared to what Chad and his team goes through, however. 80 bicycles. 830 chairs, 1,019 propane tanks, 55,195 tires, 11 bowling balls… the list goes on.
Sappi Fine Paper North America has partnered with Chad to launch LOE Lustro Offset Environmental, their new premium recycled paper line. It’s a partnership that makes a lot of sense. Sappi gets a real environmental hero, with an engaging story to tell, and Chad gets to spread the Living Lands and Waters word further than would otherwise have been possible. Green marketers take note.
Chad has inspired people worldwide and shows us all how much difference one person can make. We hope you can join us for an inspirational breakfast that will leave you wanting more.
Contact Jamie Slade at Hemlock Printers to see if there are any eggs left. 604 439-5004.
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