It’s week six and we are charging full steam ahead with repurposing. Last week I found my way to the Le P’tit du Nord Rail Trail for three days of exquisite bicycling through the Laurentian Mountains. The ride was enhanced by plenty of sunshine and lots of spontaneous sights and events, including music, art festivals and sand sculptures along the way. And to top it off, I was cycling on something repurposed and it was teeming with activity. Pedestrians and cyclists make use of the longest rail trail in Canada in the warmer temperatures and snowmobilers and Nordic skiers partake of it in the winter months. Once a railroad that provided connections from Montreal to the mountain villages and subsequently to the well-renown Mont Tremblant ski area, the railroad was shuttered in the mid-1980’s after the construction of a four lane highway made transport by car much easier. Rather than let the railway and the multiple historic train stations (gares) disintegrate,
the Province of Quebec committed to repurposing the entire railway from Mont Laurier to Montreal. Over a million people make use of the trail each year whether it be for a one day activity or multi-day excursions. The repurposing effort has brought millions of tourism dollars into the region and it is the ‘joie de vivre’ of the Quebecois.
Rather than revamping a railway, I am wondering what repurposing project you have tackled in recent weeks? That is, what item which you no longer use can you turn into something else and use in a different way? The possibilities are vast and do- it- yourself websites are brimming with unique ideas and guidance. For instance, there are several ways to repurpose furniture especially with a bit of paint. 
Last weekend I spotted a wooden cradle that is now being used as a geranium planter and a well-worn toboggan is now used as to post menu items in a cafe.
Creating something new from something else is a powerful confidence booster. Repurposing primes 
our imagination, can put us into flow as defined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and is a prominent statement about our individuality. Our colleague, Ashley Johnson is presently striving for an industrial look in her home. To do so, she has used former rake heads to hold necklaces, repurposed copper pipes and mason jars to hold plants and turned former s
ap taps into coat hooks. So, put your artistic flair to work this week. We all have the ability to repurpose something that speaks to us and tells a story about our unique personalities.
And the best news of all is that repurposing helps our environment by reducing the amount of waste we put into landfills. When you repurpose something you are automatically recycling it and thus better protecting our land, air and waterways. Music to my ears.
See you on the PATH Ahead,
Shevonne, Gillian, Ashley and Amy