When Sara moved to Saint John eight years ago she didn`t know what to expect.  Born and raised in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, she had visited the Maritimes as a child on summer vacation with her family.  She had vague memories of the smell of the sea and the Reversing Falls, but certainly no true sense of the community and what life would be like here.

To the city`s credit, her first impression of Saint John was the result of a very fast introduction to her new neighbours.  "The day I moved in, two strangers appeared out of nowhere, took one look at me struggling to haul my bed up the stairs to my apartment building and offered their help." She says with a grin.  "Later that same day, the couple who lived in the next apartment came over to introduce themselves, noticed my lack of furniture and immediately gave me some of their own.  Later that week even more neighbours wandered over to introduce themselves, and before I knew it I had a gardener, a babysitter for my dog, and my own lobsterman who provided my first fresh lobster dinner!"  Sara has moved around a bit in her life and says she has never received such a warm welcome, not even close.  She had been officially adopted by her new home.

She spent a lot of time exploring the area, discovering fun restaurants and nightclubs, fantastic outdoor places like beaches and hiking trails - all things that would soon become the backbone of her lifestyle here.  She met a huge variety of people who were more than happy to assist her in her exploration, "It seemed everyone here had a favourite place that I just had to see and they would be the ones to take me there personally!"  Then she made a discovery that would be incredibly significant to her future life - this was a city that she could influence, where she could get involved and have an impact on the things that really mattered to her.  She started volunteering.

Today she is on the Board of Directors for the local animal shelter, works with anti-poverty groups and volunteers with community special events.  "I have had the pleasure of discussing the things I care about one-on-one with the local public, and the electrifying experience of standing in the Municipal Council Chambers and Provincial Legislature to argue for my causes.  I have been interviewed in all forms of media and had access to all kinds of `movers and shakers` that I might never have met in some of the other places I`ve lived."  And whether they agree or disagree, all of these diverse people have been supportive of the little trailblazer who wants to change the world!

Since moving here Sara has been offered jobs across Canada, in the US, South America and Europe.  Some of those offers have been very lucrative or exciting, the kind of thing anyone would give serious consideration.  But she`s still here in Saint John, and has good reason for it.  "Right here, right now I have a life that`s tailor-made for me!" she exclaims.  "A life on my terms!"