I heard some great stories recently. The people who told them called them Asset Building Stories. They are also Neighbourhood Heroes stories.

Asset Building is about the small, everyday things we can all do to help young people succeed in life.

George Colussi from the Boys and Girls Club of Nanaimo started by giving simple examples of Asset Building in action.

Nine years ago, for some forgotten reason, Colussi asked a young fellow named Sam how things went at school that day. Sam's response was so positive, asking the question became a daily ritual.

"Hi Sam. Come in in. How was school today? That's great Sam." That's all there was to it.

Some weeks later, one of the program coordinators came into Colussi's office. "Something is wrong with Sam," she said.

When a concerned Colussi approached the young boy, Sam mumbled through his tears, "You didn't ask me how I did in school today."

Colussi then told another story about an incident that happened just last week.

A few months ago, Page, a ten year-old girl, volunteered to answer the phone at the Boys and Girls Club. Whenever Colussi would see her at the front desk, he would stop and pretend he was an outside caller and have Page rehearse her lines.

"Good afternoon, Boys and Girls Club. How may I help you," she would say. And then, she'd continue to explain, "When they tell me the name of the person they want to speak to, I will put them on hold and transfer the call."

"That's great," Colussi would respond. "Good work."

Last week Colussi returned from a meeting to find Page at the reception desk and an adult standing nearby. Once again, he went through his routine.

As he stepped into his office he could tell Page was grinning as she turned to the adult, "See. I told you, he always asks."

Keith Pattinson is the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of BC. His story was about a police Constable named Jim and a boy we'll call Bobbie.

Last summer at a youth camp, Jim spent much of his time playing his fiddle and guitar for the campers.

Bobbie, a bit of a loner, approached one day and asked Jim to teach him how to play.

It turned out that this young fellow wasn't much of a musician but with Jim's attention his personality sure began to "sing". The "loner" slowly emerged from his shell.

Eventually the summer came to an end and Jim found himself with a pack on his back, his guitar in one hand, his fiddle in the other and a box in between. He was just a little nervous when he saw the narrow, somewhat shaky, ten-foot plank stretched between the dock and the boat.

As he was about to take the first step, Bobbie piped up with the "big question".

"Constable Jim, would you trust me to carry your fiddle across the plank?"

"Well sure," Jim replied handing Bobbie the fiddle with only the slightest hesitation.

Half way across - with Jim close behind -- Bobbie stopped and carefully turned abound.

"If I fell in," he asked, "would you save me or your fiddle first?"

"I'd save you of course," Jim assured him.

"What if you knew I could swim?" came the second question.

"I'd still save you first," Jim affirmed and a small, thoughtful voice responded.

"Thanks. I needed to know that."

Like the song says, "Little Things Mean a Lot."