Formerly homeless man with autism creates free treasure hunting group in Lake Cowichan
Andrew is wearing a pirate patch over his right eye and carrying two big bags on his back. This is not the path he expected to be walking now, especially after his early academic success.
“I skipped three grades,” Andrew says. “Seven, eight, and nine.”
Andrew was told his I.Q. was very high, and his math marks were the best. They also said he had autism.
“I hear all the conversations at once,” he says gesturing all around us.
When I say that must overwhelming, he nods his head in agreement. “Always.”
There are many more things, like filling out forms. Andrew says it’s so challenging to do it, he’s missed out on opportunities for support. He says it led to a life without a home and little food.
“My physical body started deteriorating,” he says, with tears welling. “Every day it got harder to work because I would hurt and then I would have problems because I would have to carry everything.”
Andrew says he carried the physical and emotional weight of having all his belongs on his back for years, but never alleviated it with drugs or alcohol. After eventually finding a stable home and a loving relationship, Andrew realized there was one thing he did crave: an Easter egg hunt.
“I really just wanted one to be a kid again,” he says. “Just for a day.”
That led Andrew to wonder if he could find the same feeling of unbridled joy with an expanded scavenger hunt instead:
“Why don’t I do it for the community?!”
After a lifetime of facing his own obstacles, Andrew started capitalizing on the advantages of his autism to help others.
“I want to make sure that kids who don’t have money and moms who might not have enough to do extras can show-up with no barriers,” he says.
Andrew used his unique abilities to find a way to buy toys on his limited income and created the free Lake Cowichan Treasure Hunters group. Every Saturday, at 11 a.m., he posts clues to find a pirate’s bounty, which includes a treasure box containing a real silver coin.
The Facebook page is filled with pictures of smiling kids wearing pirate patches and holding the treasure they found.
“The kids and parents who talk about it makes me feel like I made the right call,” Andrew says.
The group’s attracted more than 300 members and prompted a local business — The Tube Shack — to sponsor the cost of the toys.
After years of struggling to find a home, Andrew is now building a community by spreading joy.
“I feel like the king of the world! I couldn’t be happier,” Andrew says. “If I never became wealthy, but this continued, I’d be satisfied beyond satisfied.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Most of the city is evacuating': Gridlock on Alberta highway after evacuation order in Fort McMurray
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.
Oilers starting Calvin Pickard in goal for Game 4 vs. Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers will start Calvin Pickard in net Tuesday for Game 4 of their playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker rails against Pride month, working women in commencement speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.
King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
King Charles III has unveiled the first portrait of the monarch completed since he assumed the throne, a vivid image that depicts him in the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards against a background of similar hues.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alberta announces the 4 health agencies that will replace AHS later this year
The province has released more information on its plan to break up Alberta Health Services and replace it with four sector-based health agencies.
Biden administration moving ahead on US$1 billion arms package for Israel, AP sources say
The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it is sending a new package of more than US$1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said Tuesday.