Dave Lawrence's 12th annual Fresh Start drew hundreds to Diana Krall Plaza in downtown Nanaimo and the adjoining Vancouver Island Regional Library Nanaimo Harbourfront branch on Saturday, for free haircuts and back-to-school supplies. (Image Credit: Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

styles and supplies

‘It’s just grown so much, it’s amazing:’ hundreds of Nanaimo kids get their Fresh Start

Sep 5, 2026 | 1:35 PM

NANAIMO — Hundreds of local kids are receiving the freshest possible start to a new school year.

The 12th annual Fresh Start event was held Saturday, Sept. 5, in downtown Nanaimo at Diana Krall Plaza and inside the Vancouver Island Regional Library Nanaimo Harbourfront branch, with barbers offering free haircuts and volunteers handing out backpacks full of school supplies.

Founder of the event Dave Lawrence, owner of That 50s Barbershop, told NanaimoNewsNOW mid-haircut he expected to see between 300 and 400 kids attend through the day, with staff on site until around 5 p.m.

“The past two or three years, it’s really grown. I think it’s just teaming up with bigger charity groups who help us out and the sheer amount of money we can get now. When we started, we probably raised $300, and that was a lot back then, and we got it done. It’s been about $8,000 raised this year, and with that we’re able to go buy $3,000 worth of winter coats and clothes, tonnes of supplies, and working out deals with bigger companies.”

A long line stretched through Diana Krall Plaza Saturday morning. (Image Credit: Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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A long line spanned the plaza Saturday morning as families worked their way from tent to tent, collecting supplies.

Many were donated directly, including backpacks, new clothing, and stationery, with Lawrence and his volunteers using cash donations collected in recent weeks to buy additional items to give away.

“It’s crazy, every year it grows and grows and grows, we get more and more. Bigger companies come on and make donations, and people overflow my barber shop with supplies,” Lawrence added. “It’s just grown so much, it’s amazing.”

He added people reach out almost year-round to share their stories and challenges, thanking Lawrence and his team for putting the event on every year.

Extra barbers were working the event too, helping more people get their back to school style and supplies. (Image Credit: Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

“The need is there, it’s always going to be there, and I just feel very passionate about it. It’s something that’s very much needed in community…and it’s something that I will do for the rest of my life.”

Whatever items are left over from each event are kept in a storage locker and offered the following year.

— with files from Kyle Ireland

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by Alex Rawnsley

‘It’s just grown so much, it’s amazing:’ hundreds of Nanaimo kids get their Fresh Start

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