Click here to read more about the BC Used Oil Ambassadors and Program.
BCUOMA Ambassador Travelog
Two ambassadors canvassing B.C. with a mission to ensure all oil materials are properly recycled. Follow us for updates on our journey!
Day 72: Last Trip of the Summer!
August 26, 2010
Michelle and I are making sure to make the most of our last trip this summer. What a beautiful drive we got to experience on the Sea-to-Sky Highway on our way to Squamish. We were lucky to get a beautiful day to enjoy the spectacular ocean and mountain views on the way.
Michelle’s actually excited to visit the doctor in Squamish – the first rate engine doctor that is, Fred Hinchclife located at 2595 Mamquam Road (she was mostly excited to play with his dog at the facility in Squamish).
Bubbles was soaking up the sun in Whistler outside used oil collection site SMD Automotive, located at Unit A 1216 Alpha Lake Road.
Tomorrow we head to Lytton, Boston Bar and Hope to end our final adventure as the BC Used Oil Ambassadors!
Day 68: Sunny Days in the Fraser Valley
August 22, 2010
This week Katya and I traveled to Surrey, White Rock, Abbotsford, Mission, and Langley and officially finished visiting all the lower mainland facilities!
Did you know that a bunch of John Deere locations in BC accept used oil, filters, and containers? In Abbotsford we visited Friesen Equipment Ltd. which is one of the John Deere stores on the program.
Here I am with one of their giant tractors!
And here’s Katya with a slightly…smaller model
We spent Thursday in the office making calls to a bunch of the facilities that were closed or no one was available when we visited.
Doesn’t hurt that the office has a pretty great view of downtown
We really want to make sure we get feedback from as many facilities as possible. This summer our goal is to visit 480 of the 500+ facilities in the province!
On Monday we will be at the PNE promoting used oil recycling! Come stop by our booth for a visit when you need a break from riding the Playland Roller-coaster (my personal favorite). Feel free to bring by some mini donuts…
Day 64: PoCo Downtown Car Show
August 15, 2010
Today Michelle and I headed to Port Coquitlam for the Downtown Car Show. It was a beautiful hot sunny day.
We were very thankful for the shade from our tent!
This car was clearly very happy to be at the show.
We loved the mini from Valley Custom Rods in Abbotsford
Michelle is happy to pose with the Sirius Satellite puppy. We’re lucky to have Sirius in the 2010 Jetta we’ve been travelling the province with. Love the commercial free radio.
So many Mustangs at the car show! They even had an area called the Mustang Corral.
Next week watch for us visiting sites around the lower mainland!
Day 63: The Last Big Trip Comes To An End
August 10, 2010
Since the Hot Nite in the City car show on Saturday in Kamloops, Katya and I have done quite a bit of driving and today we passed the monumental 15,000km mark! Since we started the ambassador journey on May 10, that’s 15,000km in just 3 months! Crazzyyy.
In 100 Mile House we stopped in to visit Ian at the Petro Canada Bulk Sales Plant. They provide oil collection service for all of 100 Mile House!
Question….where do they start counting the miles? And why???
After logging all those miles on Bubbles we endured many more smooshed bugs than we would have liked. We used up all our windshield washer fluid so it was time for a top up!
I don’t exactly have the steadiest hand so Katya suggested I use an oil spout. And it worked! The handy (and FREE) spouts are so useful. Michelle-1 Bugs-0
Our final stop on this trip was in to Alexis Creek.
Here’s Katya at Doug’s Repairs, the one facility in town. Lovely window box I might add..
That’s it for this trip! Tomorrow morning we head home to Vancouver. Keep recycling!
Day 61: Hot Nite in the City!
August 7, 2010
Today Michelle and I attended the Kamloops Hot Nite in the City Show-n-Shine. There was a big crowd even though the weather wasn’t so great. Downtown Kamloops was filled with amazing old and new cars. It was a great way to connect with public to inform them of the local oil collection sites in Kamloops .
We were set up right across from the Boys and Girls Club display – they were also lucky enough to have Volkswagen sponsor them! What generosity on VW’s part…
The crowd loved the free oil spouts.
Michelle and I were lucky that we were able to hide from the rain under our tent.
Day 60: Looping Back Up To Kamloops
August 6, 2010
On Thursday Katya and I left on our last big trip of the summer! With only about a month left in the Summer Ambassador journey we can hardly believe how fast the last few months have flown by. On this trip we have already made stops into Merritt, Logan Lake, Kamloops, and Chase with Ashcroft, 70/100/150 Mile House, Williams Lake, and Alexis Creek left to visit after the weekend.
Here I am with the rainbow of oil that Canadian Tire has for sale in Merritt. It’s great to know that they are doing their part by accepting it all back.
SOME EXCITING NEWS: As of July 1st, 2011 antifreeze (or coolant, whatever you like to call it!) is going to be joining the oil stewardship program. This means, that many of the facilities that currently accept oil will be taking your antifreeze for free as well.
So next year you will be able to look on the www.usedoilrecycling.com website and see places like Kamloops Ford listed as antifreeze drop sites.
We’ll be hanging out in Kamloops for the next couple days so look for us there, and at the Hot Night in the City Car Show! Hopefully all this rain helps fight the fires in this area, its pretty smoky even in Kamloops.
Day 58: Wrapping Up The North Island Adventure
August 1, 2010
After Tuesday Katya and I really started driving! In just a few days we have been all the way from Tofino to Port Hardy and now back to Parksville.
On our way back to the Island Highway from Tofino we stopped in at Catherdral Grove to see all the beautiful and HUGE trees.
I love trees! Help keep your forests beautiful/hug-able by properly recyling your used oil materials
Katya pondering life while in awe of “The Big Tree” – the biggest one in the forest.
Our first facility after Tofino was in Qualicum Beach
Here Katya is at the one QB facility – Arrowsmith Automotive and Towing located at 20 Hilliers Rd
From there we visited Bowser, Royston, Courtenay, Merville, Campbell River, Port McNeill, Port Hardy, and finally Parksville!
In Port McNeill we visited the Seven Mile Recycling Center where we spoke with Carl who was extremely nice.
Here I am showing off their great facility located on Highway 19 between Port McNeill and Port Alice
Today we will be at the Oceanside Overdrive in Parksville all day. Come check us out and pick up an oil spout if you’re in the area!
Day: 58 (Part 2) Parksville’s Oceanside Overdrive
August 1, 2010
Today Michelle and I enjoyed a beautiful day at the Oceanside Overdrive in Parksville on Vancouver Island. The show took place at the beach so we got a nice breeze coming off the ocean to keep us from overheating. Lots of families came out to check out the cars. As usual Bubbles was a hit with the kids, we heard quite a few “Mom LOOK that car has bubbles on it! Cooool” and oil spout were a hit with the adults.
Michelle and I made friends at the show.
Check out how spotless this engine is – the owner must use an oil spout to top up his oil to avoid spills!
People loved to check out the plastic pellets that used oil containers are recycled into. These pellets can be used to make new oil containers, drainage tiles and parking curbs.
Next week Michelle and I are heading off on our last big trip – heading to the Thompson Nicola Region!
Day 53: Island Love Affair Part 2
July 27, 2010
We’re back on the island! This time Michelle and I are traveling the Northern part of Vancouver Island. First stop was Coombs. Although the Coombs Fair doesn’t start until August 14th Michelle and I still had fun exploring the town.
Not very original pose with the Buddha statue I know, but I need my good luck.
Driving Bubbles, our 2010 VW Jetta around this summer has turned Michelle into a major Volkswagen fan. Definitely a good look.
After Coombs we traveled to Port Alberni.
The Canadian Tire, located at 3550 Johnston Rd. is clearly happy to be located in Port Alberni and they’re also happy to take your used oil, oil filters and containers!
Today we visited facilities in Ucluelet and Tofino. We definitely had to head to Long Beach after work. 
Although it was a gray day in Tofino, there were still lots of people surfing the beautiful shore line!
Day 51: Home Sweet Home
July 22, 2010
After 16 days in Northern BC, Katya and I are home in Vancouver. The trip was amazing! We went everywhere from Fort St. John to Prince Rupert and officially passed the 10,000km mark for driving this summer. Overall, we gathered that used oil recycling awareness is high in the north which is pretty awesome to hear!
It’s great to be back home for a while but I will miss the gorgeous scenery of the north.
Like the beautiful Twin Falls (ok, so we could only fit one of them in the photo)
We had a day off in McBride and Katya and I took that opportunity to drive to Tete Jaune Cache and go white water rafting! Even though it was a stormy day we had such a great time. The guys at Stellar Descents were, well…stellar and our experience was the definition of amazing!
The photos are all pretty comical but this is one of my favorites…couldn’t really be much more stoked on life
Our next trip is on Monday when Katya and I head out to Vancouver Island again. This time we are starting in Coombs and moving north. Until then, remember One Drop of Oil Makes a Difference!
