Anonymous UBC student hides over 100 gift cards across campus
An anonymous student at UBC is helping spread some joy during stressful times for students, by hiding gift cards across campus.
According to the university, over the past year Reddit user “AJazzy69,” who goes by the name Jazzy, has been tucking coffee gift cards in library books, on shelves and on chairs in various locations.
He will take photos of the cards and post them on UBC’s Reddit page with hints of the locations, so students can enjoy a free coffee on him.
Jazzy said it all started when he was returning to in-person classes in the fall of 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On Reddit, there was lots of gloom and negativity and stress. I was stressed, too, and I thought, ‘Is there any way I can help? I might as well try,'” Jazzy said in a news release from the university.
Jazzy said he purchased his first gift card that day, posting about it on Reddit, promising to hide more cards around campus in the coming weeks.
Since then, he estimates he’s handed out at least 100 gift cards to both Starbucks and Tim Hortons, with the value of the cards ranging from $5 to $75.
“I’ve experienced depression and anxiety in my life, so I’m passionate about giving back and improving mental health, just spreading a little bit of positivity across campus,” Jazzy said.
He adds that he’s fortunate his job allows him the financial flexibility to hand out the gift cards, which he typically distributes during stressful times for students, including exam season.
Jazzy has chosen to remain anonymous, not even telling his parents about what he’s doing.
“You just do it for the sake of doing it,” he said. “That’s why it’s anonymous. I was just raised like that. You give back. It gives me a sense of trying to do my part.”
Jazzy said he hasn’t decided what will happen to his project once he graduates, but he’s considering finding someone to keep it going.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From collapsing ecosystems to artificial intelligence running wild, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the coming years.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.