Dave Lawrence of That 50's Barbershop undertakes one of the first of dozens of haircuts he'll do Saturday at the annual Fresh Start event in downtown Nanaimo. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley & Kyle Ireland

back to school

‘Just non-stop cutting hair:’ hundreds turn out for annual Fresh Start in Nanaimo

Sep 2, 2023 | 12:10 PM

NANAIMO — People were in line for around an hour before the 9th annual Fresh Start event even began its first back-to-school haircut.

Over 200 people were expected throughout Saturday, Sept. 2 at the downtown Nanaimo library branch where Dave Lawrence of That 50’s Barbershop and his team of hair stylists are giving out free trims plus a backpack full of back to school goodies.

Lawrence said he’s constantly overwhelmed by the size and scope of the event, and how it’s grown.

“It’s crazy, it’s been such a journey, we’ve helped so many kids,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW while cutting. “We’ve had more donations this year than we ever had, people really came out and donated so much. We have more haircutters this year than we ever have, I think we have six.”

People waited in line since 9 a.m. to be one of the first in the chair at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. Others arriving later will wait upwards of four hours. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Lawrence also praised local businesses who upped their contributions this year.

With the haircuts happening inside the main atrium of the library, the line grew constantly outside with Lawrence previously on record saying he’ll see every last kid in line despite the event wrapping officially at 4 p.m.

But he doesn’t afford himself the opportunity to see much of the task in front of him.

“I’m too busy [to see the size of the line], just non-stop cutting hair, I don’t leave.”

Lawrence said Fresh Start began due to the need in Nanaimo, with the first event put together in roughly three weeks and helping out 75 kids.

It’s grown exponentially since then.

A back room at the Library is full of school supplies which go into every brand new backpack given out to kids who come for a Fresh Start. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

In addition to a new ‘do’, kids go home with a backpack stuffed full of school supplies, clothes, shoes, comic books and anything else Lawrence and his team can fit in.

One mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said the event is immensely helpful for her family.

“It’s just became a tradition, we’ve come here for the past five years. They [her kids] know it’s back to school time, they come and get their hair cut and it’s fun for them. I work at Wal-Mart so I know the prices [for school supplies] are going up and it sucks. I don’t have to worry about it.”

Others were there for the first time, contributing to the event’s growth.

Fresh Start saw a milestone passed in 2022 with the 1000th child sitting in the barber chair.

Multiple barbers and hair stylists were working non-stop Saturday at the downtown Nanaimo branch of the Library. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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