Students from a Richmond school are spreading positivity across the city with encouraging messages on magnets.
Canada Star secondary launched The Magnet Project, in collaboration with students from the leadership class at Kamloops' Valleyview secondary, to give the Richmond community a boost in kindness and encouraging words.
More than 1,000 magnets with seven positive messages, such as "you are beautiful" and "you are enough," have been placed by students throughout Richmond, with more expected to come.
This campaign was inspired by Canada Star Secondary's principal, Robert Antsey, during his trip to Chicago where he found a "you are beautiful" magnet stuck to a stop sign post.
The Magnet Project draws inspiration from artist Matthew Hoffman's "You Are Beautiful" campaign, which began in 2002, where simple stickers with uplifting messages were distributed anonymously across Chicago.
Antsey said that starting a similar campaign in Richmond was a way to remind people that they are "seen, valued and appreciated" no matter where they are or what they are going through.
"Finding that magnet in Chicago was a small yet profound reminder of the good in the world—a spark I knew our students could bring to our community," he said.
"The Magnet Project is about more than words; it’s about creating profound moments of joy and connection through simple acts of kindness."
The magnets can also be found in Vancouver and will be randomly placed in public spaces, hoping to offer "moments of surprise and encouragement to those who discover them."
B.C. residents are encouraged to take the magnets home as a reminder of hope, connection and inspiration.
Canada Star secondary and Valleyview secondary schools are inviting community members to join in the initiative and share their magnet discoveries on social media using the hashtag #TheMagnetProject.
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