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Spreading the love

Thomas Haney secondary leadership students try to cheer up Maple Ridge motorists with positive campaign.
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Thomas Haney secondary leadership students Carolyn Lee (left) and Hayley Jones 'Spread the love' to passing motorists along Lougheed Highway on Wednesday.

Thomas Haney secondary vice-principal Kristi Blakeway wanted to show her leadership students how they can have a positive effect in the community, but even she was surprised how quickly their message spread.

The students in her grades 11/12 class lined Lougheed Highway in downtown Maple Ridge in the morning Wednesday, holding up hand-made poster signs with positive messages, such as "Spread the love" and "Honk if you love someone" – waving, hollering and smiling in attempts to get reactions from passing motorists.

And many did honk.

Soon Blakeway got a call from the school office, saying it was inundated with inquiries and messages in support of the students' campaign.

It's called "Honk if you love someone" and was initiated in Washington, D.C., by a young man named Massoud Adibpour. He just wanted to cheer up Monday morning commuters and was also surprised how quickly and widespread his message resonated.

Soon he was featured in the Washington Post, then by a middle eastern news agency. A video about the campaign now has more than 54,000 hits.

Blakeway was one of them. Then she showed the video to her class, and they decided try it for themselves.

"I like any opportunity for students to be positive in the community," said Blakeway, holding her own poster sign.

"It's better to get out and show some leadership than just sit in class and talk about it."